NTAIBC Confession of Faith

New Testament
Association
of Independent
Baptist Churches

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The NTAIBC Confession of Faith

Introduction

At the formation of the New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches in the Beth Eden Baptist Church of Denver, Colorado, May 28, 1965, a brief doctrinal statement was adopted for one year, and the report of the Committee on the Confession of Faith, Dr. Felix Runquist, Chairman, was returned to the Committee for further improvment.At the first annual meeting in the Eagledale Baptist Church of Indianapolis, Indiana, the Confession of Faith as presented by the Committee was adopted provisionally.At the second annual meeting of the Association, recommendations were adopted from a Confession of Faith Committee, Dr. Warren Vanhetloo, Chairman, and the following statement of faith was thus permanently adopted as Article III of the Constitution of the New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches.

I. Concerning the Scriptures

We believe that the Bible, sixty-six books in the Old and New Testaments, is without error in its original writing;¹ its author was God,² using Spirit-guided men,³ being thereby verbally and plenarily inspired;⁴ it is the sole authority for faith and practice.⁵

References:¹Prov. 30:5, 6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18, 19.²II Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 3:21; Jude 3,; Heb. 1:1-3.³II Pet. 1:19-21; II Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; I Cor. 2:13, 14.⁴II Tim. 3:16; Matt. 5:18; Gal. 3:16.⁵II Tim. 3:15; Rom. 1:16;I Cor. 10:6-12; Eph. 6:17; I Tim. 5:18; II Tim. 3:17; II Pet. 3:15, 16; John 10:35; Acts 17:11; I John 4:1

II. Concerning the True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God,¹ an infinite, eternal, self-existing, perfect Spirit;² He is a personal Being, the creator and upholder of the universe;³ in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,⁴ equal in essence and in every divine perfection,⁵ but having distinct work.⁶

References:¹Deut. 6:4, 5; Jer. 10:10.²John 4:24; James 1:17; Hab. 1:12.³Heb. 3:4; Ps. 139:1-16.⁴Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16, 17; II Cor. 13:14; Ps. 2:2,; Isa. 48:16; Isa. 63:10.⁵John 10:30; John 17:5; Phil. 2:5, 6; I Cor. 8:6.⁶John 3:16; John 15:26.

III. Concerning Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of Creation and that it is to be accepted literally and not figuratively;¹ that the six days of creation in Genesis chapter one were solar, that is twenty-four hour days;² that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law is that they bring forth only "after their kind";³ that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness and did not evolve from any lower form of life.⁴

References:¹Gen. 1:1 - 2:25; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17; Ps. 33:6-9; Neh. 9:6; Rev. 4:11.²Ex. 20:11; 31:17.³Gen. 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25.⁴Gen. 1:26.

IV. Concerning the Fall of Man

We believe that man, although created without sin,¹by one transgression fell,² so that all mankind are now sinners by state, disposition, and act,³ justly under condemnation.

References:¹Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 2:16, 17.²Gen. 3:6, 7; Rom. 5:12, 19.³Eph. 2:2, 3; Isa. 53:6; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; Rom. 5:15-19; Rom. 8:7; John 3:6; Gal. 3:22.⁴John 3:18; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 1:20, 32; 2:1-16; 3:19; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10.

V. Concerning the Way of Salvation

We believe that the only way of salvation for sinners is by grace¹ made possible by the substitutionary death of the Son of God,² Who, though eternally God,³ was born of the virgin Mary,⁴ assumed human nature, yet without sin, and lived a perfect, sinless life,⁵ shed His precious blood on the cross,⁶ arose bodily from the grave,⁷ and ascended to reign on high.⁸

References:¹Eph. 2:8; I John 4:10; Acts 15:11; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.²John 3:16; Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 18:11; Heb. 2:9, 14; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 3:25, 26; I Cor. 15:3; Heb. 9:14, 15: II Cor. 5:14, 15.³John 8:58; Phil. 2:6, 7; John 1:1, 14; John 17:5.⁴Matt. 1:20-25; Luke 1:30-35; Isa. 7:14; Gal. 4:4, 5.⁵II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 5:8, 9; Phil. 2:8.⁶Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:19.⁷Matt. 28:1-10; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6, 7; John 20:9; Rom. 4:25; I Cor. 15:4-8.⁸Acts 1:9; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 4:14; Heb. 1:3; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34.

VI Concerning the Blessings of Salvation

The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel;¹ it is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith;² nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.³We believe that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified, their sin is pardoned,⁴ and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to them;⁵ that they are regenerated or born again, and are given spiritual life,⁶ manifesting repentance and faith;⁷ and that such true believers grow in grace⁸ and shall persevere to the end.⁹

References:¹Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17; Isa. 55:1; John 10:9.²Rom. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 20:21.³John 5:40; Prov. 1:24; I Tim. 2:4.⁴Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1, 2; Isa. 53:11, 12; Rom. 8:1; Zech. 13:1; Acts 10:43; Titus 3:7; I John 2:12.⁵II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:17, 19; Phil 3:9; Rom. 3:24-26; Rom. 4:22-25; I Cor. 1:30. ⁶John 3:3-8; I Pet. 1:23; I Cor. 2:14; Ezek. 36:26; Rom. 5:5; Col. 3:10; Rom. 8:9.⁷Acts 3:19; Rom. 10:9-13; Ps. 51:3-7; Rom. 1:17; Acts 16:31; Acts 17:30; 20:21; Luke 18:13; II Cor. 7:11; Heb. 11:6.⁸II Pet. 3:18; I Pet. 2:2; Col. 3:1, 2, 8-17; Rom. 6:22; Eph. 4:24; Gal. 5:16; Gal. 5:22-25; Phil. 2:12, 13.⁹John 8:31; Phil. 1:6; John 6:37, 39; I John 2:19; John 10:27-29; Jude 24, 25; II Cor. 13:5.

VII. Concerning Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is presented in three phases in Scripture:that believers have been made partakers of Christ's holiness,¹ that they are being progressively sanctified,² and that they will be completely sanctified at His glorification;³ that there is no complete eradication of the old nature in progressive sanctification,⁴ and that speaking in tongues is not a sign of either regeneration or sanctification, nor is the New Testament gift of tongues in existence today, but has ceased.⁵

References:¹Heb. 10:10; I Cor. 6:11; I Cor. 1:30.²John 17:17; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 4:15; Eph. 5:26, 27; I Thess. 4:3; Rom. 1:17; II Cor. 3:18. ³Col. 3:4; Phil. 3:21; Prov. 4:18; Phil. 2:12, 13; Eph. 1:4; II Pet. 1:5-8; I John 3:2.⁴Phil. 3:12-16; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:18-25.⁵Acts 2:8; 10:46; I Cor. 14:19; I Cor. 12:11, 30; I Cor. 13:8.

VIII. Concerning the Local Church

We believe that a local, visible church¹ is a congregation of baptized believers² associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ³ and governed by His Word;⁴ seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops (or pastors) and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.⁵

References:¹Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1.²Acts 2:41,42.³Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23, 24; Heb. 10:25.⁴II Tim. 3:15, 16.⁵I Tim. 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9.

IX. Concerning a GospelChurch in Its Independence and Relationships

We believe that the local visible church of Christ is a voluntary and independent autonomous group of baptized believers;¹ that it is a pure democracy, which organically can join nothing, and that it has the power and right within itself to confess its own faith in accordance with the New Testament;² and that each congregation recognizes its own democratic self-containing government as its highest authority for carrying out the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.³

References:¹Matt. 18:15-18; I Cor. 5:4, 5, 13.²I Tim. 3:15; Jude 3; Rev. 2 and 3.³Matt. 18:15-18; Acts 6:3-5; I Cor. 5:4, 5, 13; I Tim. 3:15.

X. Concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper

We believe that both Christian baptism and the Lord's Supper are each a memorial, a symbol and a prophecy.¹We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,² in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;³ to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful figure, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;⁴ that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership; and a prerequisite to the Lord's Supper;⁵ in which the members of the Church by the use of bread and fruit of the vine commemorate together the death of Christ;⁶ preceded always by solemn self-examination.⁷

References:¹Rom. 6:3, 4; I Pet. 3:21.²Acts 8:36-39; John 3:22, 23; 4:1, 2; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8.³Matt. 28:19.⁴Rom. 6:4; Col.2:12; I Pet. 3:20, 21; Acts 22:16.⁵Acts 2:41, 42; Matt. 28:19,20.⁶I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29.⁷I Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 11:17-32.

XI. Concerning the Lord's Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, and is a Christian institution;¹ it is to be kept sacred to spiritual purposes by abstaining from all unnecessary secular labor and recreation, for it commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead;² by the devout observance of all the means of growing in grace, both private, and public;³ and by predicting the rest that remaineth for the people of God.⁴

References: ¹Acts 20:7; Col. 2:16, 17; John 20:19; I Cor. 16:1, 2.²Acts 20:7; Mark 16:9; John 20:19.³Heb. 10:24, 25. ⁴Heb. 4:3-11

XII. Concerning Civil Government and Religious Liberty

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;¹ and that civil authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed;² except only in the things opposed by the Word of God, which reveals the will of our Lord Jesus Christ,³ Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth;⁴ and that church and state should be separate, the state owing the church protection and full freedom;⁵ no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the state;⁶ the state should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion; a free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.⁷

References:¹Rom. 13:1-7.²Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Pet 2:13, 14; I Tim. 2:1-3.³Acts 5:29; Acts 4:18-20.⁴Matt. 23:10; Ps. 72:11; Ps. 2; Rom. 14:9-13.⁵I Tim. 2:1, 2.⁶James 4:12.⁷Matt. 22:21.

XIII. Concerning the State of the Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the rightieous and the wicked;¹ that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and santified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His sight;² while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked,³ and under condemnation, and that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and a resurrection of the unrighteous.⁴

References:¹Mal. 3:18.²Rom. 1:17.³John 3:18.⁴Dan. 12:2; Matt. 7:13, 14; Luke 9:23-26.

XIV. Concerning Future Events

We believe the Scriptures teach that at death the spirit and soul of the believer pass instantly into the presence of Christ and remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when Christ¹ comes for His own;² the blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal, pre-tribulational, premillennial appearance of Christ to rapture the church,³ His bride;His righteous judgements will then be poured out on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation (the seventieth week of Daniel), the last half of which is the Great Tribulation;⁴ the climax of this fearful era will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to introduce the Davidic kingdom;⁵ Israel will be saved and restored as a nation;⁶ Satan will be bound and the curse will be lifted from the physical creation;⁷ following the Millennium, the Great White Throne judgement will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be reunited and cast into the Lake of Fire.⁸

References:¹II Cor. 5:8. ²I Cor. 15:51-57.³Titus 2:13; I Thess. 4:14-17.⁴Matt. 24:21.⁵Rev. 19:11-16.⁶Rom. 11:26, 27.⁷Rev. 20:2, 3.⁸Rev. 20:11-15.

XV. Concerning Heresy and Apostasy

We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy.We believe the Scripture teaches that we are to: 1. Try them.¹ 2. Mark them.² 3. Rebuke them.³ 4. Have no fellowship.⁴ 5. Withdraw ourselves.⁵ 6. Receive them not.⁶ 7. Have no company with him.⁷ 8. Reject them.⁸ 9. Separate ourselves.⁹

References: ¹I John 4:1. ²Rom. 16:17. ³Titus 1:13. ⁴Eph. 5:11. ⁵II Thess. 3:6. ⁶II John 10, 11. ⁷II Thess. 3:14. ⁸Titus 3:10. ⁹II Cor. 6:17.

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