NPEBC STATEMENT OF FAITH
“If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31- 32
1. GOD
We believe that there is one triune, holy God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of Whom possesses equally and eternally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purpose.
2. THE BIBLE
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture thus at the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the scriptures are infallible (i.e., not misleading) and inerrant (i.e., contains no errors) in the original manuscripts.
They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
3. THE HUMAN RACE
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. We affirm that all mankind are born as either male or female and we reject all other man-created ‘genders’. The greatest purpose of all human beings is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven, and reconciled to God in order to know and please Him.
4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for human sin by dying on the cross as a substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
5. SALVATION
The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call fallen men and women back into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and thus was alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unwilling and unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of the human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God.
Salvation is wholly a work of God’s free and sovereign grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by the gifts of repentance and faith. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in his word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life, and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation, and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service, and mission.
7. THE CHURCH
The corollary of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The scriptures command believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, the observance of baptism and communion as the Sacramentarian ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world.
8. BAPTISM & THE LORD’S SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism by immersion in water is a symbol of the believer’s union with Christ and entry into His Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watch and care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
9. FUTURE
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to perpetuate in eternal retribution their own rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
10. MARRIAGE
The Scriptures clearly teach and so we believe that marriage is between one biological man and one biological woman, who commit themselves to a monogamous marital relationship for the remainder of their natural lives, or until our Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory.
11. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to sinners the accomplished redemption of the Son, Christ Jesus. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Saviour, and regenerates them. He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the upbuilding of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christlike character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.
12. FAITH AND PRACTICE
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom He or she alone is ultimately responsible.
For a fuller statement of faith, we encourage you to read the: London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689.
C.H. Spurgeon who published this confession for his own congregation wrote, “This little volume is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of faith, whereby you are to be fettered (i.e. bound) but as an assistance to you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness.”