articles of Confession

Article 1: The Scriptures

We affirm and proclaim that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, verbally inspired by the Spirit of God, without error in the original manuscripts and sufficient for all matters pertaining to salvation, worship, and our relationship with our Creator.

Article 2: The Triune God

We affirm and proclaim that there is one Triune God eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections and equally deserving of worship and obedience.

Article 3: God the Father

We affirm and proclaim that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is the Creator and omnipotent Ruler of all things and is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He is Father of all but only spiritual Father to those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Article 4: God the Son

We affirm and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ as the second Person of the Trinity and the eternal Son of God the Father. Christ was sent to earth, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and became fully man while maintaining full deity. He lived a sinless life, was crucified and shed His blood as a substitutionary atonement for sin, died, was buried and rose victoriously from the grave on the third day, thereby securing salvation for all who believe. He then ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the throne of God, serving as our Great High Priest. He is the only Mediator between God and man as well as final Judge over all.

Article 5: God the Holy Spirit

We affirm and proclaim that God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity works to execute the Father’s divine will by glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. His primary work in this age began at Pentecost and continues as He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, drawing the unredeemed to repentance and faith. He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers and bringing them into union with Christ and His Body the Church. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service.

Article 6: Man

We affirm and proclaim that God created mankind – male and female – in His own image and likeness with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God. God’s intention was that man should glorify and enjoy Him and in so doing fulfill God’s purposes. But in the sovereign plan of God, the first man, Adam, freely chose to disobey God and exalt himself. This act brought sin, death, and condemnation to all mankind. All human beings, therefore, are inheritors of a sinful nature and are totally depraved. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, man must depend on God’s grace which alone provides salvation and redemption through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Article 7: Salvation

We affirm and proclaim that salvation is wholly of God, initiated and executed by His grace. Christ’s righteousness is applied to sinful people, who put their faith in the merit of Christ’s shed blood as their substitutionary sacrifice and the foundation of their acceptance and forgiveness. Salvation is not on the basis of human merit or works.

Article 8: Regeneration

We affirm and proclaim that the supernatural work of regeneration is initiated by the triune God. Regeneration is the instantaneous impartation of eternal spiritual life to people who were formerly spiritually dead but have embraced Christ by faith because of God’s grace. This act of grace is effected entirely, without human aid, by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and results in believers being new creations.

Article 9: Election

We affirm and proclaim that election is the sovereign act of God by which, before the foundation of the world He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. God’s choice of certain persons to salvation is based on His own sovereign will and not on any foreseen virtue or worthiness of an individual. This does not contradict or negate man’s responsibility to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Instead, it affirms man’s total dependence on God’s grace and mercy for the work of salvation.

Article 10: Justification

We affirm and proclaim that justification before God is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us.

Article 11: Sanctification

We affirm and proclaim that God sanctifies, that is, sets apart the believer both positionally and progressively. Positional sanctification provides instantaneous positional justification by which a forgiven sinner is declared holy, forever to be identified as a saint. In progressive sanctification, the Holy Spirit grows the believer in Christ-likeness and moves him toward his ultimate and final sanctification, which is glorification.

Article 12: Security

We affirm and proclaim the eternal security of all redeemed saints. The believer’s security is grounded in the unchanging love, infinite power, and saving will of the Father. It is secured by the merits of Christ’s saving work and present intercession. And it is sealed for the day of redemption by the guarantee of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Article 13: Separation

We affirm and proclaim that believers will not continue practicing sin as a way of life. It is out of our deep gratitude and joy for the Lord’s saving work that we will instead pursue holiness and shun worldliness. We will strive to live in a manner that demonstrates our adoring love of God so as to not bring reproach on the church, the Gospel, or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Article 14: The Church

We affirm and proclaim that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united, universal, spiritual Body of Christ, of which Jesus is the head. The formation of the universal church began on Pentecost and will be completed at Christ’s return. Until that time the universal church remains concretely expressed in local church gatherings, devoting themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, fellowship, the ordinances of baptism and communion, service to the local body through the development and use of talents and spiritual gifts, and outreach to the world to make disciples.

Article 15: The Second Coming

We affirm and proclaim that the end of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ's eternal kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. We eagerly wait for that day when we will enjoy perfect union with the Triune God and fellow saints forever and ever. Amen!