MEADOWBROOK BAPTIST CHURCH
Covenant and Articles of Faith

A. CHURCH COVENANT

B. ARTICLES OF FAITH

I. Of the Scriptures

II. Of the True God

III. Of Jesus Christ

IV. Of the Holy Spirit

V. Of the Devil or Satan

VI. Of the Creation

VII. Of the Fall of Man

VIII. Of the Atonement for Sin

IX. Of Grace in the New Creation

X. Of Justification

XI Of Faith and Salvation

XII. Of the Local Church

XIII. Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

XIV. Of the Security of the Saints

XV. Of the Righteous and the Wicked

XVI. Of Civil Government

XVII. Of the Last Things

XVIII The Charismatic Movement

XIX. Summary

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MEADOWBROOK BAPTIST CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We purpose, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to attend its services regularly; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to give faithfully of time and talent in its activities; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout all nations.

We also purpose to maintain family and private devotions; to train our children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our conduct, to abstain from all forms of activity which dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ, cause stumbling to a fellow believer or hinder the winning of a soul to Christ; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of Christ, our Savior; and to give Him preeminence in all things.

We further purpose to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord’s return; to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to seek it without delay.

We moreover purpose that when we remove from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other church of like faith and order where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.  In the event there is no such church, we shall seek, with the Lord’s help to establish one.

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ARTICLES OF FAITH

I. OF THE SCRIPTURES – We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired (II Timothy 3:16-17) and the product of Spirit-controlled men (II Peter 1:19-21), and therefore has truth without any admixture of error for its matter (John 14:6).  We believe that Bible to be the true center of Christian union (John 8:32) and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (Hebrews 4:12).

II. OF THE TRUE GOD – We believe there is one, and only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4, and infinite intelligent Spirit (John 4:24), the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth (Genesis 1); inexpressibly glorious in holiness (Hebrews 1:3), and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love (Revelation 4:11); that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons (II Corinthians 13:14), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14).

III. OF JESUS CHRIST – We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner (Luke 1:28-38), born of Mary (Luke 2:6-7), a virgin (Luke 1:34), and He is both Son of God (John 1:14), and God the Son (John 1:1). He lived a sinless life (II Corinthians 5:21), died a vicarious death (I John 2:2), rose in bodily form (Matthew 28:5-7), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), where He now intercedes as our high priest (Hebrews 4:15), and is coming back to this earth to establish His earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:6).

IV. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person (John 14:16-17); equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature (John 14-16); that He was active in creation (Genesis 1:2); that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled (II Thessalonians 2:7); that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11); that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching (I Corinthians 2:4-5) and testimony (John 16:13); that He is the agent in the New Birth (II Corinthians 5:17); that He seals (Ephesians 1:13), baptizes (Acts 11:16), endues (Luke 24:49), guides (John 16:13), teaches (John 14:26), witnesses (Romans 8:16), sanctifies (I Peter 1:2) and helps (Romans 8:26-27) the believer.

V. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN – We believe in the personality of Satan (Ephesians 2:2), the unholy god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4) who fell through pride and rebellion against God (Isaiah 14).  He is the enemy of God (John 8:44) and all believers (I Peter 5:8), the accuser of the saints (Job 1:8-10), the author of false religions II Corinthians 11:3), the chief power back of the present apostasy (Mark 13:21-22) and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire prepared for him, his angels and his followers (Revelation 21:8).

VI. OF THE CREATION – We believe the Genesis account of creation (Genesis 1-2), and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution (Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3).  We believe that God created the world in a literal six day period (Genesis 1) and on the seventh day He rested from His creative acts (Genesis 2:2-3).  We believe that while God did not have to have six days to create that He did so to set a pattern for mankind in understanding the importance of honoring a day of rest (Exodus 20:10-11).

VII. OF THE FALL OF MAN – We believe that man was created in innocence (Genesis 1:26-28; ;2:25) under the law of his maker (Genesis 2:16-17), but by voluntary transgression (Genesis 3:6) fell from his sinless and happy state (Genesis 3:8-10) in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners (Romans 3:23) not only by constraint (I Corinthians 15:21-22), but by choice (Romans 3:23); and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Romans 1:20).

VIII. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN – We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8); through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God (I John 2:1), who by the appointment of the Father (John 3:16) freely took upon Him our nature (Philippians 2:5-7), yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), honored the divine law by personal obedience (Philippians 2:8), and by His death made a full and substitutionary [vicarious] atonement (Philippians 2:9-11) which consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution [exchange] of Himself in the sinner’s place (Hebrews 1:3), the Just dying for the unjust (II Corinthians 5:21); Christ, the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree (Isaiah 53:6); that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven (Hebrews 1:8), and uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection (Hebrews 7:25-27), He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior (Hebrews 4:15-16).

IX. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION – We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3); that in the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17); that it is instantaneous and not a process (I John 5:1); that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature (Romans 2:8-9); that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9), not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:3) in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel (Romans 10:13); that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance (John 1:12-13) and faith Galatians 5:22) and newness of life (Ephesians 5:9).

X. OF JUSTIFICATION – We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification (Romans 5:9); (a) that justification includes the pardon of sin (Romans 8:1), and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness (Titus 3:5-7); (b) that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done (Isaiah 64:6), but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (Revelation 1:5), His righteousness is imputed unto us (Hebrews 9:25-26).

XI. OF FAITH – We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation (Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7).

XII. OF THE LOCAL CHURCH – We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers (Acts 2:41), associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (Acts 2:42); observing the ordinances of Christ (John 14:15); governed by His laws (Acts 4:19-20); and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word (Ephesians 4:1-13); that its officers are pastors (I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), and deacons (Acts 6:1-7; I Timothy 3:8-13) whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (I Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-9); we believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity (Matthew 28:19-20).  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 (Ephesians 5:18-32); that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith (Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-3), and for the furtherance of the Gospel (Ephesians 4:11-13); and every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation.  We believe that wisdom demands that we use discretion and discernment when engaging in cooperation, so that the body would not be deceived by associations with groups that are not in doctrinal agreement with the Word of God (I John 4:1).  On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Acts 15:13-18).

XIII. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER – We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water (Acts 8:26-40) to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior (Romans 6:3-5), with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Colossians 2:12); that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation (Acts 2:41).  We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come (I Corinthians 11:23-28), and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination (II Corinthians 11:28-30).

XIV. OF THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS – We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1).  We believe that we are kept by the power of the Holy Spirit who seals us into Christ’s body (Ephesians 4:13), and becomes the down payment and guarantee of our redemption (Ephesians 4:14).

XV. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED – We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked (Malachi 3:18); that such only as through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24), and sanctified by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11), are truly righteous in His esteem (Philippians 1:11); which all such as continue without shame [in impenitence] and in unbelief are in His sight wicked (Romans 3:10), and under the curse (Hebrews 9:27); and this distinction holds among men both in and after death (John 8:21), in the everlasting happiness [felicity] of the saved (Revelation 21:2-4) and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Luke 16:19-31).

XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT – We believe that civil government is of divine appointment (Romans 13:1-7), for the interests and good order of human society (II Samuel 23:3); that magistrates are to be prayed for (Titus 3:1), conscientiously honored (Romans 13:2), and obeyed (I Peter 2:13); except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:29), Who is the only Lord of the conscience (Hebrews 9:14), and the coming Prince of the kings [Kings] of the earth (Philippians 2:10-11).

XVII. OF THE LAST THINGS – We believe that the pretribulational [imminent] rapture of the Church is the next prophesied event to occur according to the Scriptures (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).  This meeting of all believers with Christ in the air will announce the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24-29) which includes the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (the Great Tribulation – Jeremiah 30:7) and culminates in the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).  We believe in the premillennial return of Jesus Christ [at the close of the Tribulation period], and that He [Jesus Christ] will come a second time to the earth and establish His earthly kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16), occupy the Throne of David (Hebrews 1:8) and reign for 1000 years on the earth (Revelation 20:4).  Following the Millennium, Satan will be loosed to deceive until God terminates his activity with a judgment of fire from heaven (Revelation 20:7-10).  All the wicked of all ages will then appear before the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15); finally, all believers in Jesus Christ will abide in the presence of God for eternity (Revelation 21:7).  Those who reject Christ will be consigned to eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

XVIII. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT – We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-11); and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today (Ephesians 4:11-13); and, that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (I Corinthians 13:8-10).  We believe that the authority of the Word of God has been established and is sufficient to draw us into an understanding of the will of God in our lives, and that there is no need of any sign gifts to attest to the veracity [truthfulness] of the message (Hebrews 4:12).  We believe that upon salvation we are sealed by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13-14) and baptized by the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13) and have no further need of a second blessing of the Holy Spirit.

XIX. SUMMARY – We understand that the above articles do not by any means exhaust the content of our creed, which is the whole Bible (II Timothy 3:16-17), and that they are not intended to set a limit beyond which faith cannot go within the Word of God; but we do believe that insofar as these articles extend, they are a true presentation of the sound doctrine taught in the Scriptures, and are therefore binding upon us Christian believers (II Timothy 3:14).