Baptist Articles of Faith
Calvary Baptist Church adheres to the New Hampshire Baptist Confession of 1833. This Confession was drawn up by the Rev. John Newton Brown, D. D., of New Hampshire about 1833, and was adopted by the New Hampshire Convention, and widely accepted by Baptists, especially in the Northern and Western States, as a clear and concise statement of their faith.
Table of Contents
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a
perfect treasure of heavenly instruction (1); that it has God for
its author, salvation for its end (2), and truth without any mixture
of error for its matter (3); that it reveals the principles by which
God will judge us (4); and therefore is, and shall remain to the end
of the world, the true center of Christian union (5), and the
supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions
should be tried (6).
2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John
10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psa. 119:11; Rom. 3:1-2;
2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John
5:38-39;
Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4
Rom. 2:12; John 12:47-48; 1 Cor. 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48;
Phil. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11;
1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John
4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph. 6:17; Psa. 119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11
We believe that there is one, and only one, living
and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is
JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth (1);
inexpressibly glorious in holiness (2), and worthy of all possible
honor, confidence, and love (3); that in the unity of the Godhead
there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
(4); equal in every divine perfection (5), and executing distinct
and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (6).
John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10
Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8
Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12-13
Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7
John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil.
2:5-6
Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7
We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker (1); but by voluntary transgression fell from
that holy and happy state (2); in consequence of which all mankind
are now sinners (3), not by constraint, but choice (4); being by
nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God,
positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation
to eternal ruin (5), without defense or excuse (6).
Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16;
Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12;
Rom. 5:19; John 3:6; Psa. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7;
Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom. 3:9-18;
Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15;
Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20; 3:19; Gal. 3:22
of grace (1); through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God (2);
who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon him our
nature, yet without sin (3); honored the divine law by his personal
obedience (4); and by his death made a full atonement for our sins
(5); that having risen from the death, he is now enthroned in heaven
(5); and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies
with divine perfections, he is every way qualified to be a suitable,
a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour (7).
Eph. 2:5; Matt. 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; Acts 15:11 John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb. 4:14; 12:24;
Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; 2 Cor. 5:21
Isa. 42:21; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 3:21;
Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1
Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15;
Heb. 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col. 3:1-4 ;
Heb. 7:25; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18; 7:26; Psa. 89:19; Psa. 14
We believe that the great gospel blessing which
Christ (1) secures to such as believe in him is Justification (2);
that Justification includes the pardon of sin (3), and the promise
of eternal life on principles of righteousness (4); 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 (5);
by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed
to us of God (6; that it brings us into a state of most blessed
peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful
for time and eternity (7).
John 1:16; Eph. 3:8
Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom. 8:1
Rom. 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43
Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom. 5:21
Rom. 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9
Rom. 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12
Rom. 5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made
free to all by the gospel (1); that it is the immediate duty of all
to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (2); and
that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth
but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel
(3); which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation (4).
Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17
Rom. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17
John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:32; Prov. 1:24; Acts 13:46
John 3:19; Matt. 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1:8
We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must
be regenerated, or born again (1); that regeneration consists in
giving a holy disposition to the mind (2); that it is effected in a
manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in
connection with divine truth (3), so as to secure our voluntary
obedience to the gospel (4); and that its proper evidence appears in
the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (5).
John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27
2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13
1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11
Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20;
1 John 5:4, 18
Of Repentence and Faith
We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred
duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the
regenerating Spirit of God (1); whereby being deeply convinced of
our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by
Christ (2), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession,
and supplication for mercy (3); at the same time heartily receiving
the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying
on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour (4).
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1
John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31
Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor. 7:11; Rom.10:12-13; Psa.
51
Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; 8:25; 2
Tim. 1:12
We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of
God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and
saves sinners (1); that being perfectly consistent with the free
agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the
end (2); that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign
goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable (3);
that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love,
prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy
(4); that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree (5);
that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe
the gospel (6); that it is the foundation of Christian assurance
(7); and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and
deserves the utmost diligence (8).
2 Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1
John 4:19; Hos. 12:9;
2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14
Exod. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:23-24: Jer. 31:3;
Rom. 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 11:32-36;
1 Cor. 4:7; 1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:5-7;
15:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7;
John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 2:12;
2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 2 Pet. 1:10;
1 Thess. 1:4-10;
Rom. 8:28-30; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29
2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11
We believe that Sanctification is the process by
which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his
holiness (1); that it is a progressive work (2); that it is begun in
regeneration (3); and that it is carried on in the hearts of
believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer
and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed
means-especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial,
watchfulness, and prayer (4).
1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4;
Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16;
John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14
Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5;
Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30
Of the Perserverance of Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as
endure unto the end (1); that their persevering attachment to Christ
is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial
professors (2); that a special Providence watches over their welfare
(3); and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation (4).
John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18
1 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer. 32:40; Psa. 121:3; 91:11-12
Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5;
1 John 4:4
Of the Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and
unchangeable rule of his moral government (1); that it is holy,
just, and good (2); and that the inability which the Scriptures
ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from
their love of sin (3); to deliver them from which, and to restore
them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is
one great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected
with the establishment of the visible Church (4).
Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; 4:15
Rom. 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Psa. 119
Rom. 8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44
Rom. 8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude 20-21; Heb. 12:14;
Matt. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:28
Of a Gospel Church
We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a
congregation of baptized believers (1), associated by covenant in
the faith and fellowship of the gospel (2); observing the ordinances
of Christ (3); governed by his laws (4), and exercising the gifts,
rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word (5); that its
only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons (6),
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles
to Timothy and Titus.
1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17;
14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5
Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13
1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt.
18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17
Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess.
4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles
Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14
Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1
Of Baptism And The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion
in water of a believer (1), into the name of the Father, and Son,
and Holy Ghost (2); to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem,
our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its
effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (3); that
it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to
the Lord's Supper (4), in which the members of the Church, by the
sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying
love of Christ (5); preceded always by solemn self-examination (6).
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8
Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28
Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16
Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles
1 Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
1 Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John 6:26-71
We believe that the first day of the week is the
Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath (1); and is to be kept sacred to
religious purposes (2), by abstaining from all secular labor and
sinful recreations (3); by the devout observance of all the means of
grace, both private (4) and public (5); and by preparation for that
rest that remaineth for the people of God (6).
Acts 20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Cor.
16:1- 2
Exod. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa. 118:24
Isa. 58:13-14; 56:2-8
Psa. 119:15
Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; 13:44; Lev. 19:30; Exod. 46:3; Luke 4:16;
Acts 17:2, 3; Psa. 26:8; 87:3
Heb. 4:3-11
Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine
appointment, for the interests and good order of human society (1);
and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored
and obeyed (2); except only in things opposed to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ (3) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and
the Prince of the kings of the earth (4).
Rom. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod. 18:23; Jer.30:21
Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8
Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20
Matt. 23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13
Of the Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential
difference between the righteous and the wicked (1); 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 (2); while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief
are in his sight wicked, and under the curse (3); and this
distinction holds among men both in and after death (4).
Mal. 3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Gen. 18:23; Jer. 15:19;Acts
10:34- 35; Rom. 6:16
Rom. 1:17; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Rom. 6:18, 22; 1 Cor. 11:32; Prov.
11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17-18
1 John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; John 3:36; Isa. 57:21; Psa. 10:4; Isa 55:6-7
Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Prov. 10:24; Luke 12:4-5;
9:23- 26; John 12:25-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matt. 7:13-14
Of the World to Come
We believe that the end of the world is approaching
(1); that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven (2), and
raise the dead from the grave to final retribution (3); that a
solemn separation will then take place (4); that the wicked will be
adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy
(5); and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men
in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness (6).
1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; 1 John 2:17;
Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40; 2 Pet. 3:3-13 ; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;5:1-11
Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-59; Luke 14:14; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29;
6:40; 11:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42 ; Matt. 13:49, 37-43; 24:30-31; 25:31-33
Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 22:11; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Pet. 2:9;
Jude 7; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 6:32; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; 2 Cor.
4:18
Rom. 3:5-6; 2 Thess. 1:6-12; Heb. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31;
Rom. 2:2-16; Rev. 20:11-12; 1 John 2:28; 4:17