Articles of Faith 13 through 17

In our Sunday School class we are still going over the Articles of Faith. We are almost finished, but we are now covering articles 13 through 17. 

Article of Faith XIII – Of the Gospel Church

Of a Gospel Church We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers

1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5

associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel

Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13

observing the ordinances of Christ

1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17

governed by his laws

Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles

and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word

Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14

that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons

Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1

whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8

 XIV.  OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5; John 3:22-23; John 4:1-2; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:32-34; Acts 18:8)
into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Galatians 3:27-28)
to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16)
that it is prerequisite to the previleges of a church relation; and to the Lord's Supper; (Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles)
in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; (1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20)
preceded always by solemn self-examination.  (1 Corinthians 11:28; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Corinthians 10:3-32; 1 Corinthians 11:17-32; John 6:26-71)

 XV. OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH 

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian  Sabbath; (Acts 20:7; Genesis 2:3; Colossians 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, (Exodus 20:8; Revelation 1:10; Psalms 118:24)
by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations: (Isaiah 58:13-14)
by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private  (Psalms 118:15)
and public; (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 11:26)
and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:3-11)

 XVI.  OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT 

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;  (Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-23; Jeremiah 30:21)
and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed;  (Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-3)
except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Daniel 3:15-18; Daniel 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20)
who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. (Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:16; Psalms 72:11; Psalms 2:1-12; Romans 14:9-13)

XVII.  OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE
WICKED 

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; (Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16)
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; (Romans 1:17; Romans 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:7; Romans 6:18; Romans 6:22; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:17-18)
while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; (1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalms 10:4; Isaiah 55:6-7)
and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. (Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; Luke 9:23-26; John 12:25-26; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Matthew 7:13-14)