What We Believe

Taken from the Discipline of the Evangelical Church (above).

 
  CHAPTER 1: DECLARATION OF FAITH 
 
  Article I - The Triune God 
¶101. The Holy Scriptures declare there is but one true and living 
God, 1   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. 2  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. 
1  Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 8:58 
  2  1 Timothy 1:17 
  3  Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14 
 
  Article II - Jesus Christ, The Son of God 
¶102.  The  Holy  Scriptures  declare  that  Jesus  Christ  is  truly  God 1  
and  truly  man, 2   in  Whom  the  divine  and  human  natures  are 
perfectly  and  inseparably  united.  He  is  the  eternal  Word  made 
flesh, 3  the only begotten Son of the Father Who was conceived by 
the  Holy  Spirit  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 4   As  ministering 
Servant, He lived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, 
rose from the dead 5  and ascended bodily into heaven to be with the 
Father,  from  whence  He  shall  return. 6   He  is  eternal  Savior  and 
Mediator, 7   Who  intercedes  for  us,  and  by  Him  all  men  will  be 
judged. 8  
  1  Acts 17:3; Colossians 2:9 
  2  Hebrews 2:16-17; Acts 2:22; 4:10 
  3  John 1:14 
  4  Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 
  5  Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 
  6  Acts 1:9-11; Acts 2:22-24 
  7  Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2-5 
  8  2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15 2 
 
  Article III - The Holy Spirit 
¶103.  The  Holy  Scriptures  declare  that  the  Holy  Spirit  proceeds 1  
from and is one Being with the Father and the Son. 2  He convicts 
the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. 3  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. 4  
  1  John 15:26-27; John 14:16-17 
  2  Acts 5:3, 4 
  3  John 16:8-11 
  4  John 16:7, 12-13; John 14:26 
 
  Article IV - The Holy Scriptures 
¶104. The Holy Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired, inerrant, 
written Word of God. 1  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. 2  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 4  they 
are nevertheless not exempt from the keeping of the moral laws. 5   
1  2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21 
2  Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19 
3  1 Timothy 2:5 
4  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 V - Depravity and Prevenient Grace 
¶105. The Holy Scriptures declare that through the transgression of 
Adam  man  is  fallen  from  original  righteousness 1   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, 2  and except a 
man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. 3  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 3 
 
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 4  is enabled to exercise his will for good 
and to the glory of God. 5  
  1  Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:10-18, 23 
  2  Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3 
  3  John 3:3-7 
  4  Romans 2:4 
5   Acts  17:24-28;  Romans  5:15-21;  Philippians  2:13;  Titus  2:11; 
Ephesians 2:8-9 
 
Article VI - Provision for Salvation 
¶106.  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 VII - Justification, Regeneration, Adoption 
¶107.  The  Holy  Scriptures  declare  that  we  are  never  accounted 
righteous before God through our works or merit, 1  but that those 
who fully repent of their sins are justified or accounted righteous 
before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 2  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. 
  1  Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:16 
  2  Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1- 2; Romans 4:3-5; Galatians 5:5-6 
  3  Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:12 
  4  1 John 3:1; 2 Corinthians 6:18 
  5  Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:4-7 
 
 4 
 
  Article VIII - Sanctification 
¶108. 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, 1   and  to  seek  earnestly  for  holiness 
without which no one will see God. 2  
  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. 3   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. 4  
  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. 5  The Christian must continue to guard 
against the temptation to spiritual pride and seek to gain victory 
over this and every temptation to sin. 6  There also follows a life of 
Christian  perfection  which  consists  in  a  purity  such  as  that  of 
Jesus, 7   resulting  in  the  same  mind  which  was  also  in  Him,  and 
enabling us to walk even as He walked. 8  
  1  Acts 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-4; 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 
  2  Hebrews 12:14 
  3  Matthew 22:37; Galatians 5:22- 23; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:9 
  4  Romans 6:1, 2, 11-14; 12:1-2 
  5  Hebrews 12:10-15; Philippians 2:1-5 
  6  Colossians 1:9-14 
  7  1 John 3:3 
  8  Philippians 2:2 
 5 
 
  Article IX - Security of the Believer 
¶109.  The  Holy  Scriptures  declare  that  the  believer  is  secure  in 
Christ as long as he walks in obedience and faith. 1  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. 2   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. 3  
  1  Philippians 1:6; 2:12 
  2  Hebrews 6:1-6; 10:26-31; Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 5:4 
  3  Galatians 6:1 
 
Article X - Good Works 
¶110. The Holy Scriptures declare that good works are the necessary 
fruits of faith and follow regeneration, 1  but they do not have the 
virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. 2  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. 3  
  1  Ephesians 2:10 
  2  Galatians 2:16 
  3  James 3:10-13; 2:17-18; Philippians 1:10-11; John 15:1-8 
 
Article XI - The Church 
¶111. 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 XII - The Sacraments 
¶112. 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 6 
 
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 2   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. 
  1  Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-39; 16:30-33 
  2  Luke 22:19-22; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 
 
  Article XIII - Healing 
¶113. 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 XIV - The Lord’s Day 
¶114. 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 XV - Public Worship 
¶115.  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. 2  
  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. 3  
  1  Psalm 95:1, 2, 6; Ephesians 5:19 
  2  Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 
  3  Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7 
 
  Article XVI - The Second Coming of Christ 
¶116.  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  
  Article XVII - Resurrection, Judgment and Future State 
¶117. The Holy Scriptures declare that there is a resurrection of both 
the  righteous  and  the  unrighteous. 1   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 2   and  the  wicked  in 
endless punishment in hell. 3  
  1  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 
  3  Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8 
 
  Article XVIII - Christian Property 
¶118.  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 XIX - Civil Government 
¶119. 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. 2  (See¶213) 
  1  Matthew 22:17-21; Romans 13:10 
  2  Titus 2:11-12