Great Dunmow Baptist Church

The Baptist Church worshipping at "The Ark" Chapel, Great Dunmow affirmed the following Articles of Faith at a Church meeting on the 2nd April 2006.

1. We believe in the divine inspiration of the whole Bible. It is the sole source for all we teach and believe.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

2. We believe that there is one living and true God; that there are Three Persons in the Godhead, - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These Three Persons are equally God.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one

3. We believe that, before the foundation of the world, the Father elected certain of the human race to be saved and adopted as children of God through the merits of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

We believe he made a covenant with the Son and with the Holy Spirit on behalf those chosen. In this covenant the Son was appointed as their Saviour.

John 17:6,9 … thine they were, and thou gavest them me …  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ

4. We believe that because Adam and Eve sinned they died spiritually and that their descendants are in the same condition -

Romans 5:12 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

unable to spiritually seek after, or love God until drawn by him.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him

5. We believe that God the Son as the Surety of his people became truly human. He existed from all eternity as the eternal Son of God. His human body was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

Galatians 4:4 when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law

We believe that Christ’s human nature consists of a true body and soul, which the Son of God took into union with his Divine Person at the time of his incarnation. This human nature was pure and holy - not sinful, or liable to sin, or under sentence of death because of sin (mortal) though capable of death by a voluntary act.

John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father

We believe that on behalf of his people Jesus, God the Son, lived a holy life and fulfilled the law. He suffered, bled, and died instead of his people and satisfied all the claims of God’s justice on their behalf.

Isaiah 53:10-11 It pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: … He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ rose physically from the dead.

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have

6. We believe that God’s elect are justified by the imputation of the  righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and not by their works before or after calling. Through the blood of Christ their sins, past, present, and to come, receive full and free pardon.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us

Ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast

7. We believe that regeneration is an act of God by The Holy Spirit.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

8. We believe that all those chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son will be convinced in their hearts of sin and guilt before God by the Holy Spirit, and come to Christ for salvation. Not one of the elect shall perish, but all arrive safely in glory.

John 6:37,39 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day

9. We believe that by nature, all are spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath.

We believe that those born again by the Holy Spirit will trust in nothing but the blood and righteousness of Jesus for salvation. And we believe that this teaching will not lead to licentiousness, but to a life of good works that are acknowledged to be acceptable to God only through the merits of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:2 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

10. We believe that no one can do works pleasing to God, unless they know Christ as their Saviour.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity

11. We believe that faith, true spiritual repentance, hope, and assurance of pardon are God’s gifts. As through faith Christ is made precious to the soul so the soul responds with love to God. This will result in a lifestyle consistent with the Gospel.

James 2:18 I will show thee my faith by my works

12. We believe that everyone’s body will be resurrected.

John 5:28-29 the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation

Those who trusted in Jesus for salvation will be resurrected in glory and honour. They will be openly acknowledged as children of God, acquitted in the Judgment Day and eternally blessed both in body and soul. The rest will be resurrected to be condemned, body and soul to hell, an eternity with the devil and his angels separated from God.

Matthew 25:34,41 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

13. We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Christ, to be continued until His Second Coming. Baptism is by immersion in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience by those who have trusted in Christ alone for salvation. Baptism itself has no regenerating merit. Only those who have professed faith and obeyed the Lord’s command to be baptized may partake of the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:24 Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

14. We believe God’s people are sanctified i.e. set apart by and for God.
i)  They are the elect of God the Father.
ii)  They are redeemed by God the Son.
iii) They are given new spiritual life, made a ‘new creature’ by God the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are  passed away; behold, all things are become new.
New spiritual life, an implantation of the Divine nature, produces an inward longing to be holy as God is holy, and to perfectly fulfil all the good pleasure of the Father’s will which is constantly opposed by the old, fallen, human nature

Romans 7:22-23 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind,  
God’s children do not experience any weakening, subduing, or rectification of the old nature or any general improvement that makes them at any time less dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ, or less a sinner in their own estimation

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us

15. We believe that the grace of God will produce real change giving both the desire and the ability to resist ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live in a God honouring way. There will be growth in grace i.e. a growing practical knowledge of the sinfulness of the old nature, the vanity of the creature, the glory of God, the spirituality of His law, and the need for and worth of Jesus Christ. This is accompanied by a deepening distrust of everything but the grace and love of God in Christ for salvation. There will be no growth in conscious goodness, but rather a deeper need for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Romans 7:14-2.

16. We believe it is possible for the children of God to backslide, and that God will discipline his people for sin. A child of God is called from a life of sin to a life of righteousness, and would, according to the law of his mind, or new nature, in all respects obey God’s holy will as declared in the Scriptures, yet through the temptations of Satan, the allurements of the world, and the power and deceitfulness of indwelling sin, he may fall into sin for a while like David, Peter, and other Bible saints did. When this happens, God will, in various ways and degrees, discipline his children, not in vindictive anger, but in tender love, as a father does a son in whom he delights.

We believe that in this matter of chastisement for sin God will deal in a most sovereign way, and as a God of judgment; so that, though the punished child shall be made to discern the reason of the rod, it is seldom safe for others to judge according to the outward appearance.

Hebrews 12:5-6 despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth

We believe that no person living in habitual sin gives any proof that they are a child of God, we cannot, therefore, have fellowship with them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly

17. We believe that the gospel is to be preached or proclaimed to all the world and that the invitations of the Gospel are intended to be heard indiscriminately.

Mark 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature

We desire, by the grace of God, that our manner of life, both in the world and in the church, will be consistent with these doctrines and such as brings honour to the gospel of Christ.

Titus 2:12 …denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

We desire as a Church to worship God according to His revealed will; to live together in humility and brotherly love; to watch over each other, to stir up one another to love and good works; and, when the case requires, to warn and admonish one another according to God’s Word. Also to be sympathetic towards each other whatever situations God, in his providence, may bring to us; to bear with one another’s weaknesses, failings, and infirmities; and particularly to pray for one another, and for all saints, that the gospel and its ordinances may build up and comfort our souls, and bring salvation to God’s elect.

For every blessing, temporal or spiritual, we ascribe all the praise to God