Articles of Faith: An Exhaustive Study Guide

The Scriptures

Definition and Authority: The Scriptures are recognized as the primary articles of faith, serving as the foundational source of divine revelation.
Composition: These consist of the Old and New Testaments, written by men divinely inspired.
Purpose: They are considered a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, intended to guide human conduct and belief.
Ethical Foundation: The Scriptures have God for their author, salvation for their end, and truth without any mixture of error for their matter.
Supreme Standard: They reveal the principles by which God will judge us and serve as the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

The True God

Nature of God: He is the one and only living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is Jehovah.
Attributes: He is the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love.
The Trinity: In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Relational Dynamics: These three are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

The Fall of Man

Original Condition: Man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker.
The Transgression: By voluntary transgression, man fell from that holy and happy state.
Consequences of the Fall: In consequence of the fall, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice.
Total Depravity: Being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, humanity is positively inclined to evil.
Moral Standing: Because of this nature, humans are under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse.\n

The Way of Salvation

Mediatorial Office: The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God.
Appointment of the Savior: Jesus Christ, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin.
Atonement and Redemption: He honored the divine law by his personal obedience and by his death made a full atonement for our sins.
Exaltation: Having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven.
Character of the Mediator: He unites in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, thus being in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.

Justification

The Blessing of the Gospel: Justification is the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in him.
Scope of Pardon: It includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness.
Source of Merit: It is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood.
Imputation of Righteousness: By virtue of this faith, his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God.
Resultant State: It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

The Freeness of Salvation

Universal Availability: The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel.
Responsibility of Mandate: It is the immediate duty of all to accept these blessings by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith.
Hindrance to Salvation: Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel.
Condemnation: This rejection involves the sinner in an aggravated condemnation.

Regeneration

The New Birth: In order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again.
Process: Regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind.
Method of Operation: It is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth.
Transformation: Its objective is to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel.
Evidence: Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

Repentance and Faith

Sacred Duties: Repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God.
Nature of Repentance: Being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy.
Nature of Faith: At the same time, we heartily receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

God's Purpose of Grace

Election: Election is the eternal purpose of God according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.
Consistency with Free Agency: This purpose is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man and comprehends all the means in connection with the end.
Divine Attributes: It is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable.
Impact on Believers: It utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy.
Verification: It may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel.

Sanctification

Progressive Work: Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness.
Duration: It is a progressive work that is begun in regeneration.
Mechanism: It is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter.
Means of Grace: It involves the continual use of the appointed means—especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

Perseverance of Saints

Distinguishing Mark: Only those are real believers who endure unto the end.
Relationship with Christ: Their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors.
Preservation: A special Providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

The Law and the Gospel

The Moral Law: The law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government.
Holiness of the Law: The law is holy, just, and good.
Inability of the Sinner: The inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin.
Purpose of the Gospel: To deliver them from this love and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law is one great end of the Gospel.
Church Connection: This end is furthered by the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.

The Gospel Church

Definition: A visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.
Observance: The church is characterized by observing the ordinances of Christ and being governed by his laws.
Exercise of Gifts: It utilizes the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word.
Scriptural Officers: Its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Christian Baptism: This is the immersion in water of a believer into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
Symbolism of Baptism: It shows forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
Prerequisite for Ordinances: Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper: In this ordinance, members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

The Christian Sabbath

Sanctification of the Day: The first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes.
Abstinence: This involves abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations.
Religious Exercises: It is characterized by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public.
Preparation: The aim is to prepare for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.

Civil Government

Divine Appointment: Civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society.
Requirement of Obedience: Magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed.
Exception to Obedience: Obedience is required except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

Righteousness and Wickedness

Essential Distinction: There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked.
Definition of Righteous: Only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in his esteem.
Definition of Wicked: All such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked and under the curse.
Eternal Destiny: This distinction holds among men both in and after death, leading to the everlasting felicity of the righteous and the everlasting conscious suffering of the wicked.