ARTICLES OF FAITH

As the Lord in His providence has drawn together in this place a number of persons who, we hope, have experienced the rich Grace of the Redeemer, we feel it a rich and precious privilege, as well as an incumbent duty, with a view, as we trust to His Glory and the extension of His Kingdom among men, to associate and covenant together in bonds of Christian fellowship under the name of the Regular Baptist Church called ZOAR, and knowing that with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness, so with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation, We deem it expedient to make the following declaration of our views and Divine Truths:

ARTICLE ONE

We believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and was written by men moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20, 21). We hold this inspiration to be verbal and plenary, in that it was given by the very breath of God in words that extend to every part of the holy scriptures. The Holy Bible is a perfect rule of faith and practice and among other things, it teaches the following all-important truths.

ARTICLE TWO

The existence of one only Living and True God, Infinite in every perfection; and that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing (Genesis 1:1). We accept the existence of The Triune Godhead consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are the same in essence and equal in every divine perfection (John 14:16).

ARTICLE THREE

Man was created out of the dust of the earth on the sixth day, holy yet untested, and that he willfully disobeyed The Creator and fell from his state of holiness, losing all Communion with God. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). In Adam, mankind became wholly defiled and dead in trespasses and in Sin, so that by nature we are indisposed to all good, inclined to all evil, and Children of wrath and subject to death – Temporal, Spiritual, and Eternal. (Romans 3:10-11).

ARTICLE FOUR

The only way of Salvation from this state of guilt and condemnation is through the Righteousness and Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we were yet sinners, Chris died for us (Romans 5:8-10). Those who are called by Divine Grace and believe on Him will be saved by His righteousness (Romans 4:22-25).

ARTICLE FIVE

That all the Children of God are chosen in Christ to Salvation from before the foundation of the world; and that in consequence of the love of God to them through Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost is sent to affect the work of Regeneration in their hearts, without which Regenerating influence none would ever repent or believe (Ephesians 1:4,5 and 1 Peter 1:9).

ARTICLE SIX

That those who are begotten unto a Lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation (1 Peter 1:3-5).

ARTICLE SEVEN

That The Church of Jesus Christ is on this earth and composed of True Believers (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:23) and that such, only, are privileged with Baptism (Acts 16:31-32) and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is necessary before communion and that baptism is only properly administered by immersion which is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4-5). Spiritual baptism takes place at the moment of Faith in Christ, and is a work of God through the agency of The Holy Spirit, and places one in the body of Christ, The True Church (Romans 8:9).

ARTICLE EIGHT

That there will be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the Just and the Unjust. The Resurrection of the Just will begin with the pre-tribulation return of Jesus, who will, along with those who are alive and remain unto His coming, be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). That there will be a pre-millennial return of Christ after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-16) and at the end of the 1,000 year reign, the Unjust will be resurrected and stand before the Great White Throne of God (Revelation 20:11-15) to be judged. Those who have died impenitent and unreconciled to God will be justly sentenced to endless torment. Then will those who have been redeemed by Grace Divine and have washed their Robes in The Blood of The Lamb, be completely delivered from the Dominion of Sin and admitted into The Holy and Heavenly Jerusalem with songs of everlasting Joy – So shall we ever be with the Lord (Revelation 21).