326 – The Church’s Articles of Faith

SEMESTER 2

326 – The Church’s Articles of Faith

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY II LESSON # 26
THE CHURCH’S ARTICLES OF FAITH

INTRODUCTION:

1. The term “Articles of Faith” simply denotes the plurality of doctrinal issues addressed in a “Confession of Faith” the terms essentially mean the same thing.
2. Justification for the existence of such articles is precisely the same as that introduced in lesson number 25.
3. Whereas the Covenant essentially addressees itself to practice, the Confession is occupied with doctrinal statement.

I. VARIOUS CONFESSIONS OF FAITH

1. Three major Confessions of Faith directly influence all Baptist Confessions of today. They are:

i. The London Confession (Particular Baptist of England).
ii. The Philadelphia Confession.
iii. The New Hampshire Confession.
These all essentially agree, though wording varies.

2. There are other less known Confessions yet, with names such as, the “Orthodox Baptist Confession of Faith,” a modification of the New Hampshire Confession.
3. Many churches have drawn up and adopted their own Confes­sion, giving it no name.
4. Both the origin of Confessions and the rise of others progres­sively are relevant to the continual rise of heresies as time progresses.
5. The reason for new or rewritten Confessions is twofold:

i. They address details, which were not issues at the par­ticular time the previous ones were written.
ii. They enlarge upon generalizations of past articles.
iii. No one ever expected that these articles would cover every issue, or be exhaustive on any, but would polarize us as to a proper basic biblical position.

II. THE ISSUES OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CONFESSION

1. What we believe of the Bible.
2. What we believe of God.
3. What we believe of the Holy Spirit.
4. What we believe of the devil or Satan.
5. What we believe of the creation.
6. What we believe of the fall of man.
7. What we believe of the virgin birth.
8. What we believe of the atonement.
9. What we believe of grace in the new creation.
10. What we believe of the freeness of salvation.
11. What we believe of justification.
12. What we believe of repentance and faith.
13. What we believe of the church.
14. What we believe of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
15. What we believe of perseverance of the saints.
16. What we believe of the righteous and the wicked.
17. What we believe of civil government.
18. What we believe of resurrection and return of Christ.
19. What we believe of missions.
20. What we believe of the grace of giving.

III. MUCH DENIAL OF THESE CONFESSIONS

1. Many pastors and churches, both covertly and overtly deny some statements herein.
2. They have this right and are obliged to do so if they feel them unscriptural.
3. They should, however, along with this denial, examine themsel­ves and the old Confessions and see if they are honest in calling themselves Baptists.