Articles of Faith of Gornal Baptist Church, Robert Street, Lower Gornal.
We, considering it to be our duty and privilege to unite together as a Church, do mutually agree to profess our unfeigned faith in the following articles:
- That there is but one living and true God, Jehovah: but that there are three divine persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in nature, power and Glory.
Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 45:22; Ephesians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Isaiah 48:12; 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26. - That Jehovah did from eternity elect, or choose a certain number of persons in Christ Jesus; and appointed them to life, salvation and glory, of mere grace.
Matthew 25:34; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 2:9; Jude 4. - That man is born in sin, and involved in the guilt of Adam’s transgression; and is consequently under the curse and exposed to the wrath of God.
Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:13-21; James 1:14-15; Ephesians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6. - That the Lord Jesus Christ, being really man and truly God; did labour, suffer, bleed, die, rise, and now intercedes in heaven for the salvation of His people: and that his redemption is special.
John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:9; Luke 22:24; Matthew 8:17; Galatians 3:13; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; 2 Corinthians 5:12; Hebrews 7:25; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:2. - That it is the work of the Holy Ghost to call, sanctify, and lead the people of God from nature to grace and from grace to glory.
John 3:3-6; 1 Corinthians 2:13-14; Ephesians 2:5; John 6:63. - That justification in the sight of God, is only by faith in Christ Jesus. Whose obedience is imputed to all who believe: but good works are necessary for the justification of our faith and profession before men.
Galatians 3:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:6; James 2:18; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 3:18. - That all those who are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall certainly persevere: and be all saved with an everlasting salvation.
2 Timothy 2:19; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:15-17; John 17:2; Hebrews 9:15. - That there will be a resurrection of the dead, both just and unjust: and that Jesus Christ shall judge the world in righteousness.
Acts 24:15; Job 19:26-27; Matthew 25:32; John 5:22; Acts 17:31. - That the righteous will be eternally happy in the presence of Jehovah; and the wicked eternally miserable, being banished from His presence for ever.
Revelation 7:13-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. - That there are two ordinances instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ:
a) Baptism; or immersion of believers in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
b) The Lord’s supper; in which the saints commemorate the vicarious sufferings of Christ for their salvation.
Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 8:38; Matthew 3:11-15; Romans 6:3; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Colossians 1:21-22. - That the church is the body of Christ, distinct from the world and in union with God; and is under the most sacred obligation to walk by the rules given in holy scripture.
Ephesians 5:30; Colossians 1:18; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Colossians 1:21-22; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 12:50; Revelation 22:14; Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 8:21. - That the books of the old and new Testaments, were written under the plenary inspiration of the Holy Spirit and are the true word of God, by which all doctrines must be tried, and according to which all believers are bound to walk.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Isaiah 30:21; Hosea 14:9; John 14:15-23. - That it is our duty to revere the authority of Christ Jesus; to love one another for His sake; to walk humbly with God; to live in union and peace submitting to the discipline in His word; and endeavouring by our whole conduct towards God, our Pastor, our Deacons, our fellow-members, and the world at large, to show that we are a peculiar people zealous of goods works.
John 15:17; John 14:15; Hebrews 6:11-12; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14.
TULIP
As a church holding to the inerrancy of The Holy Scriptures, as originally given, we therefore hold to what are known as The Doctrines Of Grace (T.U.L.I.P.) these being:
Total depravity: The total inability of man, not born again of the spirit to anything acceptable or good in the sight of God, or in the service of God. Romans 8:9.
Unconditional election: The selection of individuals to eternal life based entirely on God’s sovereign choice and not influenced by any works on that man’s part, good or bad, in eternity. Romans 9:11.
Limited atonement: Christ died only for his elect and by his death redeemed all for whom he died. John 17:2,9; Matthew 1:21.
Irresistible grace: The calling whereby God brings the elect into a vital relationship with himself by the quickening of The Holy Spirit. John 6:37; 2 Timothy 1:9.
Perseverance of the saints: All the elect of God will be kept by God and will be eternally saved. Though they may, for a while walk in darkness and disobedience losing the joy of their salvation. John 10:27-29.