STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE ABSTRACT OF PRINCIPLES (1858)
The Abstract of Principles* was originally adopted by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1858 and is considered to be a historically faithful and helpful standard of sound Christian doctrine upon which all members of Disciple Church must voluntarily and joyfully accept and uphold.
*This articulation of the Abstract of Principles has sought to substitute the original English with the use of the modern English language equivalent, yet without seeking to significantly change any doctrinal position through use of such language.
THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient (1), certain (2), and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge (3), faith (4), and obedience (5).
1. Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 4:4; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19. 2. Psalm 19:7; 119:86, 89. 3. Psalm 19:7-9; Luke 16:31; 2 Tim 3:5. 4. Acts 6:7; Romans 10:8, 17. 5. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:4, 33-34, 44, 115; Matthew 28:19-20.
GOD
There is but one God (6), the Maker (7), Preserver (8) and Ruler of all things (9), having in and of himself (10), all perfections (11), and being infinite in them all (12); and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience (13).
6. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5. 7. Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6; John 1:3. 8. Genesis 9:8-12; Acts 17:28; Romans 11:36. 9. Psalm 47:7; 95:3; Jeremiah 10:10; Colossians 1:17; Rev 1:5. 10. Exodus 3:14; Job 22:2-3; 41:40; Psalm 50:10-12; 90:2; Acts 17:24-25. 11. Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 11:7; 100:5; Matthew 5:48; 1 John 4:8. 12. Psalm 145:3; 147:5; 1 Kings 8:27; Revelation 1:8. 13. Acts 17:26-27;
Romans 1:21; 11:36; Phil 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:17.
THE TRINITY
God is revealed to us as Father (14), Son (15) and Holy Spirit (16) each with distinct personal attributes (17), but without division of nature, essence or being (18).
14. Psalm 68:5; 89:26; Matthew 23:9; 1 Peter 1:17. 15. Psalm 2:7; Matthew 4:3, 6; John 1:34, 1 John 5:20.
16. Genesis 1:2; Exodus 31:3; Luke 1:15; Ephesians 1:13. 17. John 14:26; Colossian 1:15, Peter 1:2.
18. Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30, 15:26; 17:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:17.
PROVIDENCE
God from eternity (19), decrees or permits all things that come to pass (20), and perpetually upholds (21), directs (22), and governs all creatures and all events (23); yet so as not in any way to be author or approver of sin (24) nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures (25).
19. Psalm 90:1-2; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8. 20. Isaiah 46:8-10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:3.
21. Genesis 8:22; Colossians 1:17. 22. Proverbs 16:9; 21:1; Jonah 1:17. 23. Genesis 50:20; Job 39:1-30;
Matthew 10:29; Romans 8:28. 24. Exodus 34:7; Psalm 5:4-6; 92:15; Proverbs 6:16-19. 25. Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28; Romans 14:12; Hebrews 4:13.
ELECTION
Election is God’s eternal choice (26) of some persons unto everlasting life (27) — not because of foreseen merit in them (28), but of his mere mercy in Christ (29) — in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified (30).
26. Deuteronomy 7:6; John 15:16; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 9:11. 27. Matthew 7:14, Mark 10:45,
1 Corinthians 9:22; Revelation 3:5. 28. Deuteronomy 7:7; John 1:13, Romans 4:2; 9:11, 16. 29. Deuteronomy 7:8; Romans 9:15. 30. Romans 8:29-30.
THE FALL OF MAN
God originally created man in His own image (31), and free from sin (32); but, through the temptation of Satan (33), he transgressed the command of God (34), and fell from his original holiness and righteousness (35); whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt (36) and wholly opposed to God (37) and His law (38), are under condemnation (39), and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors (40).
31. Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6. 32. Genesis 1:31. 33. Genesis 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3, Revelation 12:9.
34. Genesis 3:6, 17; Hosea 6:7. 35. Genesis 3:17-19, 24; Ecclesiastes 7:29. 36. Genesis 8:21; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:19; 7:18. 37. Genesis 6:5; Psalm 2:1-3; Romans 8:6-8. 38. Psalm 78:10; 119:53, Romans 8:7.
39. John 3:18; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18; 2:8; 6:23. 40. Psalm 14:3; 58:3; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4.
THE MEDIATOR
Jesus Christ (41), the only begotten Son of God (42), is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man (43). Having taken upon Himself human nature (44), yet without sin (45), He perfectly fulfilled the Law (46), suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners (47). He was buried (48), and rose again the third day (49), and ascended to His Father (50), at whose hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people (51). He is the only Mediator, the Prophet (52), Priest (53) and King of the Church (54), and Sovereign of the Universe (55).
41. Matthew 1:1, 16; Acts 2:36; Romans 1:1. 42. John 1:14, 18; 3:16; Hebrew 11:17; 1 John 4:9.
43. 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. 44. John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-7; Colossians 2:9, 1 John 4:2.
45. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrew 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5. 46. Luke 22:37; John 19:28, 36; Acts 3:18;
Romans 8:3-4. 47. Mark 15:32; Ephesians 2:16; Philippians 2:8, Colossians 1:20; 2:14. 48. Matthew 27:57-61; John 19:37-39; 1 Corinthians 15:4. 49. Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Acts 10:39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:4. 50.
John 3:13; 20:17; Acts 1:9-11; 2:32-33. 51. John 17:1-26; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1. 52. Matthew 21:10-11; Revelation 19:10. 53. Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 6:20. 54. Ephesian 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 55. Col 1:16-17,
1 Tim 6:14-15.
REGENERATION
Regeneration is a change of heart, effected by the Holy Spirit (56), who gives life to the dead in trespasses and sins (57) enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God (58), and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. (59) It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone (60).
56. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:5, 8. 57. Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 2:13. 58. Deuteronomy 7:7; John 1:13, Romans 4:2; 9:11, 16. 59. Deuteronomy 7:8; Romans 9:15. 60. Romans 8:29-30.
REPENTANCE
Repentance is an evangelical grace (61), wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit (62), made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin (63), humbles himself for it (64), with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-denial (65), with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things (66).
61. Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25. 62. John 14:16-17, 26; Acts 2:38. 63. Psalm 51: 3-4; Luke 15:21; Acts 2:37.
64. 2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 15:17-19. 65. Psalm 51: 1-4; Romans 7:24; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. 66. Deut 30:1-3; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 1:9-12.
FAITH
Saving faith is the belief (67), on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ (68), accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life (69). It is effected in the heart by the Holy Spirit (70), and is accompanied by all other saving graces (71), and leads to a life of holiness (72).
67. John 1:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:13. 68. Luke 24:44-47; Acts 24:14; Romans 10:14, 17; Hebrew 6:13-14.
69. Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9; Galatians 2:16. 70. Ezekiel 36:26-27; Romans 5:5;
2 Corinthians 4:13. 71. Acts 20:32; 2 Peter 1:1-2. 72. 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5; 1 Peter 1:14-16.
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is God’s gracious (73) and full acquittal of sinners (74), who believe in Christ (75), from all sin (76), through the satisfaction that Christ has made (77); not for anything effected in them or done by them (78); but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ (79), they receive and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith (80).
73. Romans 3:23-24; 6:23. 74. Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19. 75. Acts 10:43; 13:39; Romans 3:22; 4:3.
76. Psalm 103:2-3; 1 John 1:9. 77. Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17. 78. Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:5, 7. 79. Romans 5:17-19, Philippians 2:8. 80. Romans 3:21-22; 5:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9.
SANCTIFICATION
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified (81), by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them (82). This sanctification is progressive (83) through the supply of Divine strength (84), which all saints seek to obtain (85), pressing after a heavenly life in enthusiastic obedience to all Christ’s commands (86).
81. 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. 82. John 17:17; Ephesians 4:23-24, 5:26; 2 Timothy 3:16.
83. Romans 6:17-18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:10. 84. Philippians 1:6;
1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23. 85. Romans 6:1-2; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 1. 86. Matthew 28:20; John 14:15;
Romans 3:31; Philippians 3:14; 1 John 5:3.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved (87), and sanctified by His Spirit (88), will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end (89); and though they may fall (90), through neglect and temptation, into sin (91), whereby they greive the Spirit (92) , impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves (93), yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance (94), and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (95).
87. Romans 14:18; Colossians 1:13. 88. Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11. 89. Luke 15:24; John 10:28-29; Philippians 1:6; Jude 20-21. 90. Romans 8:15; James 3:2. 91. Mark 14:38; Hebrews 2:3; 2 Peter 1:9. 92. Isaiah 63:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:19. 93. Psalm 32:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:27-26; 1 Peter 4:17. 94. Luke 22:32, 61-62; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19. 95. 2 Timothy 4:7; 2 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19; Jude 1, 24.
THE CHURCH
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church (96), which is composed of all his true disciples (97), and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government (98). According to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular congregations or churches (99); and to each of these churches he has given needful authority for administering that order (100), discipline and worship which he has appointed (101). The regular officers of a Church are Pastors, or Elders, and
Deacons (102).
96. Ephesians 1:22, 5:23; Colossians 1:18. 97. Acts 11:26; 1 John 2:19; Hebrews 12:23. 98. Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:18. 99. Acts 16:5; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 16:1; Hebrews 10:24-25. 100. Matthew 16:18-19, 18:15-20; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:40. 101. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 1 Timothy 4:13, 15; 2 Timothy 4:1-5;
1 Peter 4:17. 102. Acts 6:1-7, 14:23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9
BAPTISM
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus (103), obligatory upon every believer (104), wherein he is immersed in water (105) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (106), as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ (107), of remission of sins (108), and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life (109). It is prerequisite to church membership, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper (110).
103. Matthew 28:19-20. 104. Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27. 105. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:16.
106. Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:5. 107. Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12. 108. Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:38.
109. Mark 10:38-39; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 3:21. 110. Acts 2:41; Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 11:19.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ (111), to be administered with the elements of bread and the cup (112), and to be observed by his churches till the end of the world. (113) It is in no sense a sacrifice (114), but is designed to commemorate his death (115), to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians (116), and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with him, and of their church fellowship (117).
111. Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23. 112. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. 113. Mark 14:25; Acts 2:42, 20:7;
1 Corinthians 11:26. 114. Hebrews 9:25-26, 28. 115. 1 Corinthians 11:26. 116. 1 Corinthians 10:16;
Ephesians 1:3, 3:16. 117. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21; 11:33.
THE LORD'S DAY
The Lord’s Day (118) is a Christian institution for regular observance (119) and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion (120), both public and private (121), resting from worldly employments and amusements (122), works of necessity and mercy only excepted (123).
118. John 20:1, 19, 26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Revelation 1:10 119. Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 56:4-8; Colossians 2:16; Hebrews 4:9. 120. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 33; 14:26; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16;
Hebrews 12:22-23. 121. Matthew 6:2, 7, 16; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25. 122. Nehemiah 13:15-18; Isaiah 58:13. 123. Matthew 12:1-13; Mark 1:21-26.
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE
God alone is Lord of the conscience (124); and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men (125), which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it (126). Civil magistrates being ordained of God (127), ought to be yielded to by us in the Lord in all lawful things commanded by them (128), not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake (129).
124. Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12; Romans 14:4 125. Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 7:23.
126. Exodus 1:17; Daniel 3:16-18; Acts 4:19, 29. 127. Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:14. 128. Daniel 6:13;
Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17. 129. Acts 23:1, 24:16; Romans 13:5; 1 Timothy 1:19.
THE RESURRECTION
The bodies of men after death return to dust (130), but their spirits return immediately to God (131) — the righteous to rest with Him (132); the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment (133). At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised (134).
130. Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36. 131. Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43. 132. 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23. 133. Matthew 25:41; Luke 16:23-24; Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19. 134. Job 19:26-27; Acts 24:15;
1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
THE JUDGMENT
God has appointed a day (135), wherein he will judge the world by Jesus Christ (136), when everyone shall receive according to his deeds (137); the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment (138); the righteous, into everlasting life (139).
135. John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31. 136. John 5:22, 27. 137. Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12.
138. Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 16:23-24; Jude 6-7; 2 Thessalonians 1:6. 139. Matthew 25:31-40;
2 Thessalonians 1:5.
OUR CONFESSION
THE LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION OF 1689 (2LBC)
We do hereby adopt as the fullest expression of our faith the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. We believe that this historic document is an excellent summary of the fundamental truths of God’s Word. We accept it, not as an authoritative rule or code of faith, but as an aid to us in controversy, a confirmation of what we believe, and as a means of growing together in grace.
