The Articles of the Doctrine of Faith of
The Providence Baptist Church
The Doctrines of this Church shall be in conformity with the twenty-four (24) Articles of Faith, which are briefly expressed as follows:
1. The Scriptures
2. The True God
3. The Son of God
4. The Holy Spirit
5. The Devil or Satan
6. Creation
7. The Fall of Man
8. The Atonement for Sin
9. Grace in the New Creation
10. The Freeness of Salvation
11. Justification
12. Repentance and Faith
13. The Church
14. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
15. The Eternal Security of the Believer
16. The Righteous and the Wicked
17. Civil Government
18. The Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events
19. Missions
20. Giving
21. Human Sexuality
22. Abortion
23. Lawsuits Between Believers
24. Angels
1. The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the Will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
(a) By the "Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God but is the very Word of God.
(b) By "inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by Holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Psalms 119:105; 130:1-5; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalms 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Revelations 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Luke 16:31; Psalms 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39)
2. The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love, that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons (the Trinity), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthian 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalms 147:5; 83:18; 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; II Corinthians 13:14)
3. The Son of God
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman. He is both the Son of God, and God the Son as evidenced in His participation in creation, His performance of miracles and His perfect sinless life. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalms 2:7; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47; Hebrews 4:15; II Corinthians 5:21)
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. And that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) is the evidence of His indwelling rather than the speaking in tongues and other spectacular demonstrations. We believe that the so-called sign gifts (tongues, healing, prophetic foretelling) of the early church were designed to give credibility to the Apostle's teachings, and that these gifts are not being distributed by the Holy Spirit today. (John 14:16-17,26; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-13; 15:26,27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18-21; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14-16; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26-27; Galatians 5:22,23)
5. The Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the anti-Christ, and the author of all the powers of the darkness... destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter 5:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Revelation 13:13-14; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11, 16, 20; 12:7-10; 20:1-3, 10; Matthew 25:41)
6. Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." (Genesis 1:1,11,24-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6)
7. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; 3:24; Romans 5:12, 19; 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32, 20,28; Galatians 3:22)
8. The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen a wonderful person who sympathizes with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior. (Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7,8; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7,11,12; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3,20; II Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 9:12-15; 7:25; I John 2:2)
9. Grace in the New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3,6,7; II Corinthians 5:17-19; Luke 5:27,28; I John 5:1; Acts 2:41; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:9)
10. The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1-7; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; Acts 2:38; John 3:15,18,26,36; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4, 5; John 5:40)
11. Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. (Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 8:1; 5:9,10; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38)
12. Repentance and Faith
We believe that in order to be saved one must be convicted by the Holy Spirit, repent of his sins, and put his total faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalms 51:1-4, 7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11)
13. The Church
(a) We believe that every born-again believer is, by the act of God, accorded a place in the body of Christ, and that this body is Biblically identified as "the Church". (Ephesians 2:12-22; Colossians 1:24-27; I Corinthians 1:2; 12:12, 13) (b) We believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are Pastors or Elders and Deacons/Councilmen whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for the true church to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and methods of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:11; I Corinthians 12:4-10; Romans 12:6-8; Acts 14:23; 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-7, 8-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23, 24; I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:22,23; Jude 3,4; II Corinthians 8:23-24; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32; I Corinthians 16:1,2; 6:1-3; 5:11-13)
14. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the elements of the Lord's Supper are unleavened bread or wafers and the non-alcoholic fruit of the vine. These elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ and do not confer saving grace to those who partake. It shall be administered to the assembly of believers on regular designated services. The Pastor and Deacons/Councilmen shall administer the Supper. Because it is the Lord's Table, none who are His shall be denied the right to commune with Him in this manner. It should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. (Acts 2:41, 42; 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6, 16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; I Corinthians 10:16,17; 11:23-30; Matthew 26:26-28)
15. The Eternal Security of the Believer
We believe that all Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ are saved FOREVER and will NEVER PERISH! (John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; Colossians 1:21-23; I John 2:19; Matthew 13:19-23; Romans 8:28, 35-39; Psalms 121:3; Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6)
16. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous (saved) and the wicked (lost); that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. We believe in the literal Biblical accounts of Heaven and Hell. (Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 4:18; Romans 1:17; I Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:16,23; I John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:34, 41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matthew 7:13-14; Revelation 21 & 22)
17. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. (Romans 13:7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21, 22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13, 14, 17; Acts 4:19, 20; Daniel 3:17, 18; Matthew 23:10; Philippians 2:10; Psalms 72:11)
18. The Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily "the third day according to the Scriptures"; that He ascended "to the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God"; that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven, bodily, personally, and visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall rise first"; that the living saints "shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" (Pre-Tribulation Rapture); "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David"; and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet." (Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:36-39,51; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6; Acts 1:9, 11; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:10, 21; Hebrews 8:1; 12:2; 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9,10; John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:27,42; Hebrews 9:28; I Corinthians 15:42-44,51-53; I Thessalonians 4:17; 5:9; Luke 1:32; I Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 11:4-5; Psalms 72:7-9; Revelation 20:1-6)
19. Missions
The commandment to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the churches. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15)
20. Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. All tithes and offerings once given becomes the property of Providence Baptist Church. The said church is to exercise good stewardship in the administration of these funds. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:1,2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; I John 3:17)
21. Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
22. Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortion of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
23. Lawsuits Between Believers
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31&32)
24. Angels
We believe that Angels were created by God and are spirit beings with great power, not able to reproduce, masculine in gender, that do not die. Their purpose is to minister to God and to us and carry out the commands of God. (Colossians 1:16; I Peter 1:12; Hebrews 1:14; 2:9; Isaiah 6:2,3; Revelation 7:1; Luke 2:9-14; Psalms 91:11; Luke 20:34-36)
