What We Believe

Articles of Faith
Antioch East Baptist Church

These Articles were approved by this church on the day of its founding, August 23, 1850.

Article 1

We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, constituting the only and sufficient rule of faith and practice by which any doctrine of discipline should be determined. (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:18-19)

Article 2

We believe that there is only one true and living God, and that He is revealed to us under the personal distinctions of Father, Son or Word, and Holy Spirit, but as one divine essence, infinite in every nature and divine excellence. (Deut. 4:35 & 39; Duet. 6:4)

Article 3

We believe that man was created holy, but by a willful disobedience to his Creator, he fell into a state of sinfulness, and brought death upon his race, which by natural descent is the unholy image of Adam, are children of wrath by nature, and without natural spiritual power to live a holy life, and in a happy state. (Gen. 1:27-31; Gen. 2:16-17; Jer. 17:9-19; Rom. 5:12-18; Eph. 2:3)

Article 4

We believe that the only way of deliverance from sin and death is by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, who having become incarnate, suffered the Just for the unjust, that He might redeem us to God by the sacrifice of Himself. (Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-8; Titus 2:14; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:21)

Article 5

We believe that election is the sovereign exercise of an all-wise God, who, according to His infinite wisdom hath chosen His people in Christ before the foundation of the world, and has predestinated them unto salvation through belief of the truth and sanctification, whom He doth keep by His power through faith. (John 3:6-16; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 17:8)

Article 6

We believe that God has sent His Son to be the propitiation of the sins of the whole world, and when the Gospel is preached, it is the duty of all men to repent and believe in Jesus Christ that they may be saved; that if they do not, their rejection of the Gospel is occasioned by their love of sin and aversion to holiness. (John 1:12; John 3:15-20; Acts 17:30; Rom 3:26; 1 John 2:2)

Article 7

We believe that there will be a resurrection of the just and of the unjust, that Christ will come to judge the living dead; then those who shall have died, or are then living in a state of justification through Jesus Christ, shall be completely delivered from the domination of sin, and be judged endless happiness in Heaven, and at the end of the millennium those who have died or are then living impenitent and unreconciled to God shall be sentenced to endless punishment, according to their works. (John 5:28-29; 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 Thess. 4:14-17; Rev. 20:12-15)

Article 8

We believe that a scriptural church is a congregation of baptized believers who meet steadily and covenant together to maintain the ordinances, discharge the duties, and enjoy the privileges of the New Testament as pertaining to the church of God. (Acts 2:41-42; Rom 16:4-14; 2 Cor. 1:1-2; Rev. 2:7)

Article 9

We believe that the baptism of believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a positive institution of Jesus Christ, and is only validly performed when the whole body is immersed in water, by a scripturally authorized administrator. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Acts 2:28-41, Acts 8:36-39, Acts 10:17-48; Rom. 6:3-4)

Article 10

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a positive institution of Jesus Christ, enjoined on all baptized believers who are in fellowship with each other and members of an orderly church. (Matt. 26:26-30; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:23-36)

Article 11

We believe that each church has the right to receive into her body those persons who have given satisfactory evidence of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who willingly submit to baptism, or bear sufficient evidence of having been scripturally baptized. (Rom. 16:1; Acts 2:38-41)

Article 12

We believe that the first day of each week should be observed as the Lord’s Day: a day of rest from common labor or worldly business, and devoted to religious duties. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2)

Article 13

We believe that it is the responsibility of the church to preach the gospel to all nations; that missionaries should be called of God, led by the Holy Spirit, and sent and supported by the churches; and that churches should cooperate in this enterprise. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:2-3; Rom 10:10-15; 2 Cor. 8:1-24; 2 Cor. 11:8)

Article 14

We believe it is the responsibility of the church to teach and to train her membership for the most effective spiritual service possible; that churches should cooperate in the matters of Christian Education. (Matt. 18:19-20; Eph. 4:11-15)

Antioch East Baptist Church has joined in association and fellowship with the Baptist Missionary Association of America for the purpose of missions and the furtherance of the gospel.

As a member of the BMAA, we accept the doctrinal statement entitled, “The New Hampshire Confession of Faith”.