General Association of Baptists - The Twelve Articles of Faith

The Twelve Articles of Faith

(From the Minutes of The One Hundred Sixty-Second Annual Session of The Union Association of The Baptist, Held with The Baptist Church of Christ at Spring Street, DeKalb County, Tennessee. October, 2008)

I. We believe in only one true and living God. the Father. the Word and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. (Isaiah 45:22; Isaiah John 5:7)

2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and the only rule of Faith and practice. (1st Peter 1:10-12; 2nd Peter 1:21; 2nd Timothy 3: 15-17)

3. We believe that by one man sin entered the World, and death by sin so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, and are by nature the children of wrath. (Romans 5: 12-17-19: Ephesians 2: 1-5)

4. We believe that Jesus Christ, by the Grace of God, tasted death for every man, and through his meritorious death the way of salvation is made possible for God to have mercy upon all who come unto him upon Gospel terms. (Hebrews 2:9-10: 10: 19-22: John 3: 16: Titus 2: II)

5. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the Righteousness of God imputed upon them, through their Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 5:1-5; 3:21-28).

6. We believe that the Saints will persevere in Grace, and not one of them will be finally lost. (Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 6:4-6, 18, 19; 1st John 3:9: St. John 10:27-29)

7. We believe that there will be a Resurrection of the dead. both of the just and the unjust. and general Judgment, and the happiness of the Righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be Eternal. (John 5:28-29; 1st Corinthians 15:42-49; 1st Thessalonians 4: 14-18)

8. We believe the visible Church of Christ is a congregation of Faithful men and women. who have given themselves to the Lord and obtained fellowship with each other, and have agreed to keep a Godly discipline according to the rules of the Gospel. (Matthew 16: 18: 18: 15-18: 1st Corinthians 12:27-28: Ephesians 2: 19-22)

9. We believe in revealed religion by operation of the Spirit, agreeable to the word of God. and that Jesus Christ is the great head of the Church, and the Government thereof is with the Body. (Matthew 16: 17: Galatians I: 15-16; 1st Corinthians 2:9-11)

10. We believe that true believers are the only fit subjects for Baptism and that immersion is the only mode, and that the Lord's Supper and the Washing of Saints' Feet are ordinances of Christ to be continued until his second corning. (Matthew 3:13-17: Mark 14:22-25: Matthew 28: 19-20; John 13:4-17)

11. We believe that none but regularly Baptized members have the right to commune at the Lord's Table, and no one has the right to administer the ordinance of the Gospel, except he be legally called and qualified. (Luke 10:2-3; Acts 13: 1-4; 1st Corinthians 5: II; II: 17; 20. 28, 29: Exodus 12:43-49)

12. We believe that the Lord's Day ought to be observed and set apart for the worship of God. and that no work or worldly business should be transacted thereon-works of piety and necessity excepted. (Acts 20:7; Colossians 2: 16-17)