The Articles of Faith 
(from the 2014 edition of The Discipline of The Evangelical Church) 

Article 1 - The Triune God.  
The Holy Scriptures declare there is but one true and living God, an eternal being without a body, indivisible, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness. He is the Creator and Preserver of all 
things visible and invisible. He rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of all 
men, to the glory of His name. In this Godhead there is a Trinity 3  of one substance and power, and 
coeternal, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  
Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 8:58, 1 Timothy 1:17, Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14  

Article 2 - Jesus Christ, The Son of God  
The Holy Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is truly God 1  and truly man,   in Whom the 
divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh,  
the only begotten Son of the Father Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin 
Mary.   As ministering Servant, He lived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from 
the dead   and ascended bodily into heaven to be with the Father, from whence He shall return.   He 
is eternal Savior and Mediator,   Who intercedes for us, and by Him all men will be judged.  
Acts 17:3; Colossians 2:9,Hebrews 2:16-17; Acts 2:22; 4:10, John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23,Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Acts 
1:9-11; Acts 2:22-24, Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2-5, 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15 2  

Article 3-The Holy Spirit 
The Holy Scriptures declare that the Holy Spirit proceeds   from and is one Being with the 
Father and the Son.   He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.    He leads 
men, through faithful response to the Gospel, into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, 
sustains, empowers and sanctifies the faithful, and guides them into all truth.  
John 15:26-27; John 14:16-17, Acts 5:3, 4. John 16:8-11, John 16:7, 12-13; John 14:26  

Article 4 - The Holy Scriptures  
The Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired, inerrant, written Word of God.   They 
alone contain the will of God as far as it is necessary for us to know it for our salvation, so that 
whatsoever is not contained therein, nor can be proved thereby, is not to be enjoined on any as an 
article of faith, or as a doctrine essential to salvation.    By the Holy Scriptures we understand those 
sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testament.  In both the Old as well as the New 
Testament, everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, Who being both God and man, is the 
only Mediator 3  between God and man. Even though Christians are not bound by the ceremonies 
and rites of the Old Testament   they are nevertheless not exempt from the keeping of the moral 
laws.  
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19, 1 Timothy 2:5, Galatians 3:11, 24-25; Galatians 4:9-10; 
Colossians 2:16, 5 Matthew 22:37-40; James 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:5  
Article 5- Depravity and Prevenient Grace  
The Holy Scriptures declare that through the transgression of Adam man is fallen from 
original righteousness   and apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is not only entirely 
destitute of holiness, but is inclined to evil, and that continually,    and except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the Kingdom of God.   Man in his own strength, without divine grace, cannot do good 
works pleasing and acceptable to God.  The Holy Scriptures further declare that man is a free 
moral agent and that he is responsible for his eternal destiny, and that, influenced and 
empowered by the Holy Spirit and due to the prevenient grace of God   is enabled to exercise his 
will for good and to the glory of God.  
Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:10-18, 23, Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3, John 3:3-7, Romans 2:4,Acts 17:24-28; Romans 5:15-21; 
Philippians 2:13; Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:8-9  

Article 6 - Provision for Salvation  
The Holy Scriptures declare that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The 
offering of Christ freely made on the cross through the shedding of His blood is the perfect and 
sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world, both original and actual, so that no other satisfaction 
is required.  
John 19:30; Hebrews 7:26- 27; 9:26; 10:12  

Article 7 - Justification, Regeneration, Adoption  
The Holy Scriptures declare that we are never accounted righteous before God through 
our works or merit,   but that those who fully repent of their sins are justified or accounted 
righteous before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.   Regeneration 3  is the renewal of man in 
righteousness through Jesus Christ after the image of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, 
whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life. This is initial 
sanctification. By this new birth the believer becomes a child of God, receives the spirit of 
adoption, 4  and is made an heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Holy Spirit bears witness to this 
gracious work 5  and immediately assures the regenerate believer that he has passed from death 
unto life, that his sins are all forgiven and that he is a child of God.  
Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:16,  Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1- 2; Romans 4:3-5; Galatians 5:5-6,  Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:12, 1 
John 3:1; 2 Corinthians 6:18,  Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:4-7 4  

Article 8-Sanctification 
The Holy Scriptures declare that sanctification begins in the new birth and is the work of 
God’s grace through the Word and the Holy Spirit, by which those who have been born again and 
delivered from the willful practice of sin are enabled to live in accordance with God’s will,   and to 
seek earnestly for holiness without which no one will see God.   There is a clear distinction that 
must be made between consecration and entire sanctification. Consecration is that more or less 
gradual process of devoting oneself wholly to God, consummating in the crucifixion of the old self 
or death to the Adamic nature, by the help of the Holy Spirit which comes to a completion at a 
point in time.  Total consecration of necessity precedes and prepares the way for that definite act 
of faith which brings God’s instantaneous sanctifying work to the soul.  
Entire sanctification is that second definite, instantaneous work of God, wrought in the 
heart of the believer, subsequent to regeneration, by which God cleanses the heart from all 
inherited sin and fills the soul and spirit with the person of the Holy Spirit, thus enabling us to love 
God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.   This 
gracious work is conditioned upon total consecration of the whole self to God, total death to all 
inherited sin, and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Entire sanctification does not 
deliver us from the infirmities, ignorance and mistakes common to man, nor from the possibility 
of further sin. A person is freed so that he may experience a continued growth in divine knowledge, spiritual strength and good works to the glory of God.    The Christian must continue to 
guard against the temptation to spiritual pride and seek to gain victory over this and every 
temptation to sin.   There also follows a life of Christian perfection which consists in a purity such 
as that of Jesus,   resulting in the same mind, which was also in Him, and enabling us to walk even 
as He walked.   
Acts 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-4; 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24,  Hebrews 12:14,  Matthew 22:37; Galatians 5:22- 23; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:9, 
Romans 6:1, 2, 11-14; 12:1-2 , Hebrews 12:10-15; Philippians 2:1-5  Colossians 1:9-14  1 John 3:3  Philippians 2:2 5  
 
Article 9 - Security of the Believer  
The Holy Scriptures declare that the believer is secure in Christ as long as he walks in 
obedience and faith.   The Scriptures also declare that it is possible after the experience of 
regeneration and/or the experience of entire sanctification to depart from grace and fall into sin, 
and if one remains in this state to be eternally lost.    However, by the grace of God, a man may 
through repentance and faith rise again from a backslidden state and be restored to 
righteousness and true holiness.   
Philippians 1:6; 2:12, Hebrews 6:1-6; 10:26-31; Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 5:4, Galatians 6:1  

Article 10 - Good Works  
The Holy Scriptures declare that good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow 
regeneration,   but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment.    We 
believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith 
for through and by them faith is made evident even as a tree is discerned by its fruit.  
Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 2:16, James 3:10-13; 2:17-18; Philippians 1:10-11; John 15:1-8  

Article 11 - The Church  
The Holy Scriptures declare that the church is the community of (born again) believers 
under the Lordship of Christ. It is the fellowship of the redeemed in which the Word of God is 
preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s 
own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of 
worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.  
Acts 2:47; 2:41-47; 1 John 1:7; Romans 1:18, 21  

Article 12- The Sacraments  
The Holy Scriptures declare that the sacraments, ordained by Christ, are not only pledges 
and symbols of the Christian’s profession, but they are also signs of God’s love and grace toward 
us, by which He works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in Him. 
Two sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  

1. Baptism  
Baptism 1  signifies entrance into the household of faith and is a symbol of repentance and inner 
cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian 
discipleship and is to be administered to those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  
Children are under the atonement of Christ, and as heirs of the Kingdom of God, are acceptable 
subjects for Christian baptism. The promise of God is “unto you and unto your children” (Acts 
2:39). Children of believing parents through baptism become a special responsibility of the 
Church. They must, however, be nurtured and led to a personal acceptance of Christ, and by 
profession of faith confirm their baptism.  Every adult person being baptized and the parents of 
every child to be baptized should have the privilege of choosing the mode of baptism, namely 
sprinkling, pouring or immersion.  
2. The Lord’s Supper  
The Lord’s Supper   is a representation of our redemption, a memorial of the sufferings and death 
of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and with one another. 
Those who rightly, worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of 
the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until He comes.  
Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; 16:30-33, Luke 22:19-22; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29  


Article 13 - Healing  
The Holy Scriptures declare that God is able to heal and that we ought to pray for the sick. 
Although healing cannot be demanded of God, it may be sought in accordance with the 
instructions in James. God heals in three ways: (1) through the natural processes of the human 
body which may be aided by medical help, (2) through the instantaneous intervention of God 
bringing healing to the body, and (3) through the death and resurrection of the body to a glorified 
state.  
James 5:13-16 7  

Article 14-The Lord’s Day 
The Holy Scriptures declare that the Lord’s Day is divinely ordained for private and public 
worship, for rest from unnecessary work, and should be devoted to spiritual improvement, 
Christian fellowship and service. It is commemorative of our Lord’s resurrection and is an 
emblem of our eternal rest. It is essential to the permanence and growth of the Christian Church, 
and important to the welfare of the civil community.  
Matthew 28:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 10:25; Revelation 1:10  

Article 15 - Public Worship  
The Holy Scriptures declare that divine worship is the duty and privilege of man, who in 
the presence of God, bows in adoration, humility and dedication. 1  It is essential to the life of the 
Church, and the assembling of the people of God for such worship is necessary to Christian 
fellowship and spiritual growth.   
The Scriptures further reveal that the order of public worship need not be the same in all 
places but may be modified by the Church according to circumstances and the needs of men. It 
should be in a language and form understood by the people, consistent with the Holy Scriptures 
to the edification of all, and in accordance with the order and The Discipline of The Evangelical 
Church.  
Whosoever willingly and purposely breaks the ordinances, ceremonies and rites of the 
Church to which he belongs ought to be rebuked openly, as one that offends against the order of 
the Church and wounds the consciences of the weaker brethren, in order that others may be 
deterred from similar neglect.   
Psalm 95:1, 2, 6; Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7  

Article 16- The Second Coming of Christ  
The Holy Scriptures declare the coming of Christ to be a bodily return to the earth and that 
He will cause the fulfillment of all prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph 
over all evil. Faith in the imminence of Christ’s return is a rational and inspiring hope to the people 
of God.  
Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Titus 2:11-13 8  
Article 17 - Resurrection, Judgment and Future State  
The Holy Scriptures declare that there is a resurrection of both the righteous and the 
unrighteous.    All men stand under the righteous judgment of God, both now and in that day. The 
Scriptures further teach an eternal state of rewards in which the righteous dwell in endless life in 
heaven   and the wicked in endless punishment in hell.   
Ecclesiastes 12:14; John 5:22; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Isaiah 35:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 21:22, Matthew 25:41; 
Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8  

Article 18 - Christian Property  
The Holy Scriptures declare that God is the owner of all things and that the individual 
holding property is lawful and is a sacred trust under God. Private property is to be used for the 
manifestation of Christian love and liberality, and to support the Church’s mission in the world. All 
forms of property, whether private, corporate or public, are to be held in solemn trust and used 
responsibly for human good under the sovereignty of God.  
Ephesians 4:28  

Article 19- Civil Government  
The Holy Scriptures declare the importance of recognizing the sovereign governments 
under whose protection we reside. The sovereignty of these governments should be respected. 1 
Generally speaking, war and bloodshed are not in keeping with the Gospel and Spirit of Christ, 
nevertheless, at times in order to preserve orderly governments in the world, war is the 
unpleasant alternative. As Christian citizens it is our duty to give moral strength and purpose to 
our respective nations through sober, righteous and godly living. 
Matthew 22:17-21; Romans 13:10, Titus 2:11-12 9