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ARTICLES OF FAITH

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLES OF FAITH AND BY-LAWS OF THE ALISAL BAPTIST CHURCH, INDEPENDENT MISSIONARY, WORSHIPPING AT 452 WILLIAMS ROAD, SALINAS, CALIFORNIA. (PLACE OF WORSHIP IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.)

PREAMBLE

We, the members of Alisal Baptist Church, Independent Missionary, in order to establish unity, justice for each member, insure peace and tranquility for the church, and provide for the defense of the faith by making clear what we believe as we preach the gospel to all nations, and secure the blessings of our Lord to ourselves and to our posterity, do ordain, establish, and adopt the following:

ARTICLES OF FAITH

I.   BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the infallible word of God, written by men and divinely inspired that it contains a perfect rule of faith and practice for a New Testament Church. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Ps. 119:89; 1 Pet. 1:25.)

II.   GOD
We believe in the triune God-head: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; that these three distinct persons are one; that this God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. The Holy Spirit - He is God (Act. 5:1-5); Christ is God (Col 2:9; John 10:30; 14:9; Heb. 1:8.) These three distinct persons were represented at the baptism of Jesus. (Matt. 3:16, 17; 1 John 5:7.)

III.   CREATION
We believe the Genesis account of creation. We believe that man was created by God, in the image and likeness of God. That he stood before God in the state of holiness and innocence. (Gen. 1:25, 27; Col. 1:16, John 1:1-3, 14.)

IV.   DEPRAVITY
We believe that man fell from his holy state by voluntary transgression and is now totally depraved, without holiness or any inclination thereto. That he is spiritually dead in trespasses and in sins. (Rom. 5:12; Isa. 1:5,6; Eph. 2:1-3, 5; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; Jer. 10:23; 17:9.)

V.   CHURCH
We believe a New Testament Church is a local, visible body of baptized believers in Christ, covenanted together to carry out the Laws of Christ as set forth in the New Testament and that it's sole purpose is to preach the gospel to all nations, baptize those who are saved, and then teach them to observe all things Christ commanded. (Acts 1:21, 22; Matt. 28:18-20.) It was established before Pentecost. (Luke 6:12, 13; Mark 3:14; Luke 16:13-18; Matt. 18:17, 22.)
  1. We believe in the perpetuity of the church: that there has been and will continue to be a true church in the world from the days of Christ until He returns to this earth. (Matt. 16:18.)
  2. We believe that the church can be identified by her doctrine in history through all generations from Christ and the apostles to the present. (Matt. 28:20; 2 Tim. 2:2.)
  3. We believe the officers of the church are pastors and deacons and that they are considered servants of the church. (Eph. 4:11; Acts 6:2-6.)
  4. We believe the pastor is the "overseer" of the church and the church is duty bound to follow the pastor as long as he follows Christ. (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Cor. 11:1.)
  5. We believe the deacons and all other members of the church are to aid or help the pastor when called upon. (1 Cor., 12:28.)
  6. This church will not call a pastor until she has investigated him and found him to be in harmony with this constitution. (1 Thess. 5:12a.)
  7. Should this church ever call a pastor and he is found to believe and / or preach contrary to this constitution, he is to be given a fair hearing, and if found guilty, he will be expelled from the office. If a majority of the members stand with him, the minority holding to this constitution will constitute the church, hold and own the property, and exclude the majority with the pastor. (Eph. 4:3; 1 Cor. 1:10.)
  8. No pastor shall be called or dismissed by this church until it has been announced three (3) times, once in each separate service covering a period of three (3 ) weeks.
  9. The pastor will be given an indefinite call by an open vote: raising the hand or standing to the feet.
  10. At no time shall the pastor of this church be dismissed by this church except first, ample charges based on the scripture be presented against him in the mouth of two (2) or three (3) witnesses showing him to be unfit scripturally for the office. (1 Tim. 5:19; Matt. 18:16.)
  11. The nature of this church is "Missionary Baptist" and shall be known as the Alisal Baptist Church, Independent Missionary, Church of Salinas.
  12. All members have a right to vote in all business meetings and on all items of business, when present, unless they are under discipline with charges placed against them; in such cases they will not vote on any proposition or have any part in the business meetings until they are exonerated.

VI.   DIRECT MISSIONS
This church will endorse as many missionaries as she feels the Holy Spirit leads as in Acts 13:1-4. There will be no agencies to serve as mediums between the church and missionary, such as Convention Boards, Missionary Committees, or Central Treasurers, but all support shall be sent direct from the church to the missionary as in Phil. 4:16. When it is possible, the missionary should report direct back to the church. (Acts 14:24-27.)

VII.   THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe the Lord's Supper is restricted to a New Testament Missionary Baptist Church whose members are in full fellowship continuing steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine. Visitors or non-members present at the time the church observes the supper will be refused a seat at the table. The only elements on the table will be the fruit of the vine (unfermented juice) and unleavened bread. (1 Cor. 11:18-26; 1 Cor. 5th chapter.) Steps to the Supper (Acts 8:38, 39.)

VIII.   BAPTISM
We believe that scriptural baptism is the dipping of a saved person in the water by the authority of a New Testament Church. The administrator is to be a minister ordained by a New Testament Missionary Baptist Church. (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:38, 39.)

IX.   THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that being born again is synonymous with regeneration and being quickened from the dead to eternal life and relationship with God as one of His children. That it is wrought in the heart of the alien sinner by the power of the Holy Spirit in a manner above our comprehension; at this point he receives the adoption of being a son of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit as evidence; he is a saint with an inheritance that cannot be lost. (John 3:1-7; 2 Cor. 4:6; 5:17; Eph. 2:8, 9; John 6:63; 1 Cor. 4:15; Rom 6:17,18.)

X.   RESURRECTION OF THE SAVED
We believe that when a saint departs this life, his spirit goes back to God who gave it and the body goes back to the dust from whence it came to await the resurrection which will take place when Christ returns to this earth with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, the dead in Christ will rise first and those which are alive will be caught up together with them in the cloud to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. At this time our vile bodies will be changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body and we shall be like Him for we shall see Him like He is. This is the first resurrection. (Eccl. 12:7; 1 Cor. 15:35-44, 51-58; 1 Thess. 4:16-18.)

XI.   RESURRECTION OF THE UNSAVED
We believe the unsaved will be raised from the dead one thousand years after the saints. The unsaved will stand before the great white throne judgment to be judged out of those things written in the books and those whose names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, this is the second resurrection. (Rev. 20:12,13.)

XII.   JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is by faith based upon the finished work of Christ on the cross. Justification is a judicial act on God's part; He declares us justified on the ground of the finished work of Christ. ( Rom. 3:24, 25.) The believer stands before God as though he had never sinned. (Rom. 8:32-34.) Faith is the gift of God and the channel through which justification comes. (Rom. 5:1.)

XIII.   SALVATION
We believe that salvation is three-fold: Salvation of the spirit from hell; Salvation of the life or conduct from this present evil world; Salvation of the body from the state of depravity and corruption; that salvation in its entirety is achieved by the mercy and grace of God. (Acts 4:12; John 3:1-5.) Save ourselves (life) (Matt. 16:24-26.) Our body (Rom. 7:24, 25.) It is all by grace. (Eph. 2:8, 9; 1 Cor. 15:10.)

XIV.   SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
We believe the saints or children of God are secure and not one whom the Father gave to the Son will ever be lost. (John 6:37-39; 10:27-29; Rom. 8:34-39; Eph. 4:30.)

XV.   REPENTANCE
We believe that repentance is from spiritual death unto spiritual life; that it is wrought in the alien sinner by the power of the Holy Spirit; that repentance and regeneration is what Jesus meant when he told Nicodemus he must be born again; that its fruits are faith, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and temperance. (Gal. 5:22, 23.) That it is granted of God. (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25.)

XVI.   CHOICE OF THE ALIEN SINNER
We believe that the alien sinner has a choice but it is depraved and he cannot choose outside of his depraved state, that he is neither free or moral and therefore does not have the power to choose Christ, because he is in prison. (Isa. 61:1, 2) His heart is deceitful. (Jer. 17:9; 10:23.) His choice is always wrong. (Prov. 14:12.)

XVII.   EQUALITY OF MAN
We do not believe that all men were created equal, only Adam and Eve were created and all the rest of Adam's race were begotten by their foreparents and they were not all born equal. However, we believe that all men should have equal rights in civil affairs under the Constitution of the United States of America. Pharoah was born to be evil and wicked. (Ex. 9:15, 16; Rom. 9:17.) Jeremiah was born to do good and be righteous. (Jer. 1:5.) Esau was born to do wickedly. (Rom. 9:10-13.) In the parable of the talents, the talents were unequal, so were the servants. (Matt. 25:14-30.)

XVIII.   SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification of the believer in Jesus Christ began with the New Birth; that the new man is sanctified, set apart, separated from sin forever; that sanctification of the body, life or conduct is ever progressive and will climax in the resurrection, effected by the grace of God. (Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:25,26; 1 Thes. 4:3; 2 Thes. 2:13,14; John 17:17.)

XIX.   THE DEATH OF CHRIST
We believe that Christ died of His own will, the most cruel ignominious death ever experienced; that He tasted death for every man, but not that every man might be born again, but that every man may live and move and have his being; that He is the Saviour of all men means, He is the preserver of all men, but a special preserver to those who believe. (John 10:15,17; Psa. 22; Heb. 2:9; Acts 17:28; 1 Tim. 4:10; Isa. 53.)

XX.   FAITH
We believe that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; that all men do not have faith; that it is a gift of God and only those who have been given faith can believe in Jesus Christ. (Heb. 11:1; 2 Thes. 3:1,2; Eph. 2:8,9.) Christ the substitute for the elect. (2 Tim. 2:10.) Typified by Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22.) God's purpose in grace was given to the elect before the world. (2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 3:11.)

XXI.   CHRIST THE SUBSTITUTE
We believe that Jesus Christ was the substitute for only the elect, those included in the everlasting covenant, which was purposed in Christ before the world. (Heb. 13:20; 2 Tim. 2:10) Typified by Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22.) God's purpose was given to the elect before the world began. (2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 3:11.)

XXII.   ELECTION
We believe that God chose a definite number of Adam's race in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, whom he will save from corruption, condemnation, and hell, not for any disposition, faith, or holiness, that He forsaw in them, but of His mere mercy in Jesus Christ, His Son, passing by all the rest, according to the irreprehensible reason of His free will and justice based upon His sovereignty; that He ordained the preaching of the gospel as the means used by the Holy Spirit to bring the elect to Christ, and since we do not know who the elect are, it is this church's duty to preach the gospel to all nations. (Eph. 1:4; Rom. 11:7; 2 Thes. 2:13,14; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 2 Thes. 2:14; John 17:2; John 6:37-39.)

XXIII.   PREDESTINATION
We believe that predestination is that doctrine by which God has from all eternity decreed and ordered whatsoever comes to pass. And that all things whatsoever comes to pass is consistent with His divine will and purpose which He purchased in Christ before the world; (Eph. 3:11.) That it is by this great doctrine that God causes all things to work together for good to them that love God. It is by this doctrine that all prophesy comes to pass. It is by this doctrince, that all believers receive the adoption of sons. It is by this doctrine that all believers will be conformed to the image of His Son. (Rom. 8:28-31.) It is by this doctrine that Christ was crucified. (Acts 2:23; 4:27,28.) Predestination is perfectly consistent with the responsibility of man; the predestination of God and the responsibility of man are harmonized in the doctrine of the sovereignty of God.

XXIV.   SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
We belive God is completely sovereign, that He is supreme. He is under no law, not even to himself. Since He is sovereign, He is perfectly able and just to hold man responsible for the things man is unable to do. For example: "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good." (Rom. 7:12.) But could man keep the law? No! "The law of the Lord is perfect." (Psa. 19:17.) It was broken by the Israelites before Moses came down off the mountain. God knew that they could not keep the law before he gave it. However, when they broke the law, he held them responsible and they paid the penalty by death. (Num. 15:32-36.) God is above all. (1 Chr. 29:11; Psa. 115:3; 1 Tim. 6:15; Psa. 22:28; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:4-11.)

XXV.   CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. But that civil rulers have no rights or control over, or interference with religious matters. (Rom 13:1-4; 1 Tim. 2:1,2; Acts 5:17-29.)

XXVI   THE WILL OF MAN
All men have a will but that will is always influenced by some outside power or force. The eunuch's will to be baptized was influenced by Phillip's preaching. Jeoshaphat's will was influenced to go with Ahab. (2 Chr. 18:1-3.) The will of man is always subordinate. (Luke 12:16-20.) Pilate's will was influenced by the mob. (John 19:12.) Since the will is a faculty of man and man is totally depraved, it only follows that the will of man is also depraved and without divine influence the will of man always chooses the moral trend down. God quickens man, (Eph. 2:1,5.) by the power of the gospel, (Rom. 1:16.) thus man has eternal life and then God gives him faith, (Eph. 2:8,9.) and the Love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5.) and this love puts faith to work; (Gal. 5:6.) the man, once dead in trespasses and sin, is now able to believe. The men's will who were on the ship with Paul, (Acts 27.) tried to compel them to flee out of the ship, (v. 30) but the words of Paul influenced their wills and they remained in the ship (v. 31).

IN THE EVENT THAT ANY MEMBER OR GROUP OF MEMBERS SHOULD UNDERTAKE TO AMMEND, ADD TO, OR ABROGATE THESE STATEMENTS, THEIR ACTIONS SHALL DECLARE THEM TO BE OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE CHURCH AND OUT OF HARMONY WITH THESE STATEMENTS AND WILL BE EXCLUDED ON THE GROUNDS OF HAVING DEPARTED FROM THE FAITH OF THIS CHURCH. AS LONG AS TWO OR MORE MEMBERS HOLD TO THE ABOVE STATED PRINCIPLES THEY SHALL CONSTITUTE THE CHURCH, OWN AND HOLD ALL PROPERTIES IN THE NAME OF THE "ALISAL BAPTIST CHURCH, INDEPENDENT MISSIONARY," WORSHIPPING AT 452 WILLIAMS ROAD, SALINAS, CALIFORNIA. IF THE CHURCH SHOULD EVER DISBAND, THE PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD AND THE PROCEEDS GIVEN TO THE ALISAL BAPTIST CHURCH OR CHURCHES OF THE SAME FAITH.