Union Primitive Baptist Church
"Come and see"
1.
We believe in one true and living God, that there is a Trinity in the
Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet,
there are not three Gods, but one God. John 1:1-14, 10:30; 1
John 5:7, Acts 5:3-4, 2 Cor 3:17; Is 6:1-8; Matt 28:19
2.
We believe in Adam’s transgression, he fell under the just condemnation
of God’s Holy Law, the entire human race was corrupted, and it is impossible
for any of the human race to recover themselves or gain favor with God by their
own works. John
6:44; 1 Cor 15:22; Rom 9:20, 3:9-20, 6:12-19; Eph 2:1-3; Ps 49:7-9; Job 40:9-14;
Is 64:6
3. We believe God, before the foundation of the world, unconditionally elected a definite number of the human family into Jesus Christ and ordained them to eternal life and glory. Rom 8:29-31, 9:11-13; Eph 1:4-6; 2 Tim 1:9
4.
We believe Jesus Christ suffered and died in the room and stead of His
elect only, and His elect are
justified in the sight of God by the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Acts 20:28; John 10:11, 6:37-39;
Heb 10:14; Matt 1:21; Eph 5:23-27; Rom 8:32-34, 9:23-24
5.
We believe the Holy Spirit
effectually calls, regenerates, and sanctifies all the elect of God.
John 10:27, 5:25, 6:44, 6:63; Eph
2:1; 1 Pet 1:2;
2 Cor 3:3; Titus 3:5-7
6.
We believe all the elect shall
be preserved in Grace by the power of God, and not one of them will be eternally
lost. John
6:39, 17:2
7.
We believe there will be a
resurrection of the dead, of both the just and the unjust, and a general
judgment or separation. We believe
the happiness of the righteous and the suffering of the wicked will be eternal.
Rom 8:23; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:12-21; Matt 25:31-46; Act 24:15; Rev 20:11-15
8.
We believe Jesus Christ is the
Great Head of the Church and her only law giver.
Matt 5, 6, 7, 16:17-19,
28:19-20; Eph 5:23, 4:11-16, 1:22-23; Col 1:18-22
9.
We believe the government of the
Church and the administration of the ordinances is with the local body of
members. Act
1:13-25, 2:42-46, 2:1, Act 4:31-33, 6:2-6,
15:4; Matt 16:19; Col 3:1-15
10. We
believe church discipline does not extend beyond scriptural jurisdiction, is
intended for the reclamation or expulsion of members who may become disorderly,
either in principle or practice. Col
1:19-22; 1 Cor 5:11-13; 2 Thes 2:15, 3:6, 3:14-15
11. We
become members of a local Church body by professing our Faith in Christ publicly
and in so doing, we gain fellowship with each other and submit ourselves to the
Lord in accordance with the Gospel. 1
John 1:3; Matt 11:28-30;
Mark 5:18-19; Act 2:37-38;
1 Cor 1:9; Phil 1:5, 2:1-2
12. We
believe good works are the fruits of Faith and follow after regeneration.
Good works are the evidence of our gracious state and only justify us in
the sight of men. John
1:11-13; Rom 2:14-26; Eph 4:1-17; Luke
6:43-45; Matt 7:15-20,
12:33-37; 1 John 2:29
13. We
believe baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and
washing of the Saints’ feet is an example Christ gave the Church.
We believe it is the duty of each member to follow both the ordinances
and the example of Jesus Christ because He is our Great Example.
Matt 3, 28:19-20;
Luke 22:19-20; John 13:1-15; 1 Tim 5:10; 1
Cor 11:23-28; Act 2:38;
Mark 16:15-16
14. We
believe true believers are the only subjects to the ordinances and the example
of Jesus Christ. Matt 3:7-8; 2 Tim 2:10; 2 Thes 3:1-2;
Rom 14:23; John 15:14,
4:23-24; Act 8:36-37, 13:26, 2:39
15. We
believe the only true method of baptism is immersion.
Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; 1 Pet
3:2-21; Matt 3:16
16. We
believe it is the duty and privilege of each member to keep these ordinances and
example, as long as health permits, for God’s glory and the peace and
fellowship of the church. Eph 2:10; John 15:13-17;
Matt 28:20; Rom 12:1-2; Heb
10:19-25
17. We
believe no minister has the right to administer the ordinances of the Church
until he is considered a biblically ordained elder: this being one who has
satisfied the Church of his membership of his calling, their having asked for
his ordination, and he having come under the hands of a presbytery. Titus 1:5-10;
1 Tim 3:1-9, 4:10-16
18. We
believe only members of the same faith and order have the right to sit at the
communion table. Mark 14:14; John 13:5; Act
2:41-42, 46-47; 1 Cor 5:11,
11:23-27, 10:16-22; 2 Cor 6:14-18
19. We
believe the Church should not retain members who have been married, divorced,
and remarried unless the reason for putting away was fornication or adultery.
Matt 19:9;
1 Cor 7:10-11; Ez 16:35-38;
Jer 3:6-15
20. We
believe no letters of dismissal should be written to members of our church
unless they are joining with another Church of the same faith and order. 2 Cor 6:14-18;
1 Cor 16:22; Heb 13:10; 1
John 2:19
21. We
believe the public worship of God is made up of spiritual singing, praying, and
gospel preaching. We do not believe
musical instruments are acceptable in the worship service, because no aspect of
the singing taught in the New Testament is performed with instruments.
Eph 5:19;
Col 3:16; Rom 12:1-2; John 4:23-24; 1 Cor 14:15; Amos 6:1-5; Is 5:11-12
22. We
believe there are only two offices of the Church, the first being the Elder or
Bishop, the second being the Deacon. 1
Tim 3; Titus 1; Phil 1:1
23. We
believe a church may have multiple elders, but only one pastor.
The duty of a Pastor-Elder is to take the leadership of the flock over
which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer. The duty of the Elder is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ,
by word and deed. Phil
1:1; Act 20:17,28;
1 Tim 3:4-5; Heb 13:7-8, 17; 1 Pet 5:1-4; 2
Tim 3:16-17; Titus 2:7-10; 1 Tim
5:17
24. The
duty of Deacon is to assist the Pastor in business matters of the Church, and to
help care for the formal needs of the widows, the sick, and the afflicted.
Phil 1:1; Act 6:1-4: 1 Tim
3:8-13
25. No
member of our church shall be a member or an active participant of any religious
order, society, or secret order having an underlying religious nature.
John 4:22-24;
Eph 5:8-14; Is 4:1
26. We
believe it is the duty of all members to support the church financially as the
Lord has prospered them. Tithing as
taught in the Old Testament was disannulled with the coming of Christ. First Fruits giving was begun in the Old Testament and
brought into full effect with the gospel church.
Our manner of collecting finances is separate and apart from public
worship. Deut 26:1-11; 1 Cor 15:20, 16:1-4, 2 Cor 9:5-12;
Heb 7