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History of CIBC Articles of Faith Directions to CIBC Becoming a Member
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I. Of The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth
without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of
the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of
Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be
tried.
- By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God but IS the very Word of God.
- By "Inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
II. The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite intelligent Spirit,
the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of
all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct
but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
III. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and
of the same nature; that He was active in the creation, and in His relation to the unbelieving
world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; for He convicts of sin, of judgment
and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony;
that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies
and helps that believer.
IV. Of The Devil Of Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition
to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels, that he is now the malignant
prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great
tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false
religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the Antichrist, and the author
of all the powers of darkness--destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's Son, and
the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
V. Of The Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not
allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after his own
likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or
developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and
vegetable life were made directly, and God's established law was that they should bring forth
only "after their kind."
VI. Of The Fall Of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary
transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind
are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation
without defense or excuse.
VII. Of The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary,
a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and he is both the Son of
God, and God the Son.
VIII. Of The Atonement For Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the
Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin,
honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious
atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as
a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the just dying for
the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from
the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies
with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an
all-sufficient Savior.
IX. Of Grace In The New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new
creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the
one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and received eternal
life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our
comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by
the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience
to the Gospel; that it's proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and
newness of life.
X. Of The Freeness Of Salvation
We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the
Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient
faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent
depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated
condemnation.
XI. Of Justification
We believe that the great Gospel of Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification;
that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works or righteousness which we
have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
XII. Of Repentance And Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations; and also inseparable graces, wrought
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 Savior.
XIII. Of The Church
We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant
of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws;
and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers
of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly
defined in the Scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission:
First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the Church; Third, to teach and instruct as
He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of the order; we hold that the local church has the
absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individual so
organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it
is scriptural for true churches 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; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of
benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
XIV. Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the
Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth
in a solemn and a beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its
effect in our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin
and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and
to the Lord's Supper; in which members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine are to
commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.
XV. Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering
attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors;
that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of
God through faith unto eternal salvation.
XVI. Of The Righteousness And The Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;
that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the
Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence
and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both
in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering
of the lost.
XVII. Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of
human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for; conscientiously honored and obeyed; except
only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience,
and the coming Prince of the kings of earth.
XVIII. Of The Resurrection And Return Of Christ And Related Events
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value.
Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ arose bodily "the third day according to the Scriptures";
that He ascended "to the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; "that this same Jesus which is taken up from you
into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven"-bodily, personally, and
visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall rise first"; that the living saint "shall be changed in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump"; "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His father David"; and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He
hath put all enemies under His feet."
We believe:
- In the bodily Resurrection. (Matthew 28:6,7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6)
- In the Ascension. (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2)
- In His High Priesthood. (Hebrews 8:6; 2:17; 5:9, 10; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1
- In the Second Coming. (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:28)
- In the Resurrection of the Righteous Dead. [Pre-Tribulation] (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52)
- In the Change of the Living in Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21)
- In the Restoration of the Throne of David. (Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30)
- In the Millennial Reign. (1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 11:4-5; 32:1; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:1-4, 6)
XIX. Of The Grace Of Giving
We believe that God's method of financing His earthly work of spreading the Gospel to all nations;
the care of the churches and the support of the ministry is by the tithes and offerings of His
people; that it is to be given to the Lord through His church or storehouse to be distributed as
directed by the leadership of the Spirit as the need arises; that the time to tithe is upon the
first day of the week; that everyone is accountable to the Lord for one-tenth of his income; and
that tithing was instituted long before the law was ever given and was practiced by the early church.
XX. Of Sign Gifts And Healing
We believe that God is Sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts and that the gifts of evangelists,
pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today.
We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues and working of sign
miracles, etc. were temporarily and gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed
and their authority became established.
We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or the
filling of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that God does work miracles today and He does hear and answer the prayer of faith in
accord with His own will for the sick and afflicted, but that the ultimate deliverance of the body
from sickness and death await the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 13:8-11; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31; John 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15; James 5:13-16, Romans 8:18-23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
© 2008 Calvary Independent Baptist Church
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