Abstract of
Principles of the Chattahoochee United Baptist Association
Last week I posted the Sharon
Confession of Faith as printed in the 1848 Minutes of the Chattahoochee
United Baptist Association (p. 4) of west central Georgia. I do not have a copy of the 1849
minutes, but in 1850 the Abstract of Principles is printed in a slightly
revised form (pp. 6-7).[i]
Scriptures proof-texts were added to all the articles.[ii] A
note defining original sin is included under article 3, and a new article is
inserted as article 6 (between the 1848 articles 5 and 6) on justification by
faith -- increasing the document to 13 articles versus the prior 12 articles in
the Sharon Confession.
Abstract of
Principles.
1. We believe in one only
true and living God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, and only
Law-Giver, and that there are three persons in the God Head, the Father, Son
and Holy Ghost, and these three are one. Isa. 44:6,8; 41:4; John 4:24; 2 Cor.
3:17; Luke 3:22; 1 John 5:7; rev. 1:8 to 17; Phil. 2:6; John 1:1,2,3; 10:30;
14:20; Math. 28:19.
2. We believe the
scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and only rule
of Faith and Practice. Acts 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:13 to 17; 2 Peter 1:24; 2 Sam. 23:2.
3. We believe in the
doctrine of original sin. John 8:44; 1 John 3:4 to 8; 5:19.
Note.—Original sin is that whereby our
whole nature is corrupted and rendered contrary to the Law of God. Adam, the
first man, was made in the image and likeness of God; but when he sinned, he
lost that divine image. And when he begat children, it is said in the Sacred
Scriptures, that he begat them in his own image.—Gen. 5:3; Prov. 14:3; Rom.
3:12.
4. We believe in man’s
inability to recover himself from the fallen state which he is in by nature, by
his own strength. John 6:44 to 65; Gal. 1:4; Math. 24:28; Isaiah 53:5 to 11; 2
Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:19; 8:3; Gal. 2:13; 1 Peter 2:21.
5. We believe in a
Covenant between the Father and Son, in which all Grace is treasured up; and in
the doctrine of election, according to the foreknowledge of God, through
sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth according to 1st Peter,
1st chapter, 2d verse; and 2d Thessalonians 2d chapter, 13th verse: “God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth.” But that election should not be so construed as to
make God the author of sin, either directly or indirectly. Nor, on the other
hand do we believe the creature can do any thing meritorious in his salvation.
1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thes. 2:13; Isaiah 65:2; 50:8,9; Rom. 8:32,33; 2d Tim. 2:10,11;
Titus 1:12, Numbers 23:12.
6. We believe that
believers are justified by the righteousness of Christ, only imparted to them
and received by the faith. Rom.4:3,5; 3: 22,24, 26; 1 Cor. 6:11: 2; 5: 54.
7. We believe that good
works are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification; that they are
the evidences of faith, and absolutely necessary to justification before men.
Rom. 3:2 to 28; Lev. 26:3; Eccl. 12:12; John 14:15; 1 Tim. 6:14; Luke 1:6; Heb.
10:22,23; 11:5,12; 2 Jam. 2:1,14,17, 20,26; 2 Peter 1:6,7,8.
8. We believe in a
general Judgment, when all shall be judged according to their works; that the happiness
of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be eternal. John
5:28,29; Rev. 2:14; Math. 25:45,46; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 14:11; Isaiah 24:10; Rev.
19:3; Hos. 13:44; Mark 12:23 to 27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor.
15:12,13,21,23.
9. We believe that Saints
will persevere in Grace to the end of their lives. John 10:28,29,30; 6:37,13; 1
Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; Deut. 33:3; Heb. 6:17,18; John 17:2,3; Rom. 8:38,39;
Eph. 1:21 to 23; 6:11 to 19; Co. 3:4; 1 Peter 3:22.
10. We believe that
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are standing ordinances of the Church of Christ,
and that immersion only is Baptism, and believers the only subjects. Math. 3:5
to 12; Mark 1:5 to 11; Luke 5:7 to 9; John 3:23; Acts 2:38 to 41; Rom. 6:3,4;
Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21.
11. We believe that no
Minister has the right to administer the ordinances of the Lord’s house, except
such as are called of God, approved by the churches, and regularly ordained.
Acts 13:23; 1 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 5:4; Lev. 9:6,7,8,10,15; 8:36.
12. We believe that men
by nature are so morally depraved that they will not come to God for life and
salvation, and but for the influences of the Holy Spirit none would ever come
to him. Gen. 6:3; 1 Peter 3:18; Ps. 24; 73; 28; 10; 7; 18; Heb. 7:19.
13. We hold that it is
the command of God to his people, to publish His Word, and promulgate the
Gospel of Christian to all nations, making known to the human family the plan
of redemption through the atonement of Christ; and we believe it is the duty of
every rational descendant of Adam, to whom the Gospel message of reconciliation
is addressed, to exercise repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ. Mark 13:10; Rev. 6:7; Math. 28:19; Luke 23:47,48; John 15:16; Rom.
10:14,15; 6:18; Isaiah 1:2,3; 2:10; Col. 1:23.
[i] James
Rees was moderator of the 1850 session of the Chattahoochee United
Baptist Association.
[ii] I tried to list these are
faithfully as possible, but in some cases did not understand the punctuation
and/or intention.
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