REPENTANCE AND FAITH
That, we believe, repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces in our souls by the
quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of
salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy at the same
time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.
Acts 20:21; 2:37-38; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3,5; 18:13; Rom. 10:13.
THE CHURCH
That, we believe, the New Testament church is an organised congregation of born again, scripturally baptised people
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 only offices are pastor
and deacon(s) whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that, we believe the
true mission of the church is found in the great commission; first, to evangelize, second, to baptise the converts,
third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. That, we do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold
that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy or
individuals or organisations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that, it
is Scriptural for the churches of like faith 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 method of its
cooperation; that, on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will
and decision of the local church is final. That, we believe the true New Testament church is a Baptist church, local, visible, self-governing, and independent of external control; that, the
Baptist church is the Bride of Christ. Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor.
11:2, Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:2,917.
The Foundation of New Testament Baptist Church is characterised by its:
- Founder – the Lord Jesus Christ, Mat. 16:18; 1 Cor 3:11
- Time – during His personal earthly ministry, Mat. 18:15-17; Acts 1:4, 23-26;
2:41-47; 15:4
- Place – started first in Jerusalem, Acts 1:8; 2:41-47
- Kind – Baptist kind (not
Baptistic), local, and visible, John 1:6; Mat. 3: 13-17; 16:18
- Mission – in irreversible order, Mat. 28: 18-20:
-
- Preach the Gospel
- Baptize those who believe
- Teach members the whole counsel of God for them to
observe
- Government – Theocracy, God rules through His servant, by His Word, Eph.
5:23; Col. 1:13-18
- Ordinances – Baptism and Lord's Supper, Mark 16:16; Luke
22:19,20
- Leader – the Pastor, 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
Acts 2:41; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11.
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