ARTICLE 1 – NAME
The name of this Church shall be Northfield Baptist Church, Northfield, New Jersey. It was incorporated in 1994 in the State of New Jersey.
ARTICLE 2 – DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
(Statement of Faith)
1. THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Bible, consisting of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, was divinely inspired (God-breathed); that is has God for its Author, salvation for its end and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the world, the only rule of Christian faith and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. We use the King James Version of the Bible because it is the closest to the original Hebrew & Greek texts and the divinely preserved Word of God in the English language.
Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21; Hebrews 1:1,2; II Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16, 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31;Proverbs 30:5,6; John 17:17; Revelation 22:18,19; Romans 3:4, 2:12; John 12:47,48.
2. THE TRUE GOD
We believe the scriptures teach that there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all worship, honor and praise; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in all divine attributes and executing distinct but harmonious offices.
Genesis 1:1; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; I Peter 1:15,16; Revelation 4:6-8, 11; Mark 12:30; Ephesians 2:18.
3. JESUS CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who receive Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. We believe that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary in a miraculous manner, as no man was ever born or can ever be born , and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, His bodily ascension into heaven and His bodily presence there for us as High Priest and Advocate.
I Corinthians 15:1-4; 20-25; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24; 1:18,19; Romans 5:9; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:25.
4. THE STATE OF MAN
We believe the scriptures teach that man was created in the image of God in innocence under the law of his Creator, but by voluntary transgression he fell from that holy and happy state and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12-19; Genesis 3:6-24; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:1-21; Psalm 58:3; I Corinthians 2:14; Genesis 2:16,17; 3:6-24; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 3:10, 22; Ezekiel 18:19,20.
5. THE WAY OF SALVATION
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the will of the Father, assumed our nature, yet without sin; that by His death He became the propitiation (satisfied the wrath of the Father against us) for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and is a victorious, compassionate and all-sufficient Savior; and that all who receive Him are justified on the grounds of faith alone, receiving forgiveness by His shed blood; that they are thereby children of God and are eternally saved, being kept by the power of God.
I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 2:5; Matthew 18:11; I John 4:10; Acts 15:11; John 3:16-18; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; 12:24; 7:25; Philippians 2:6,7; Hebrews 2:14; II Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:4,5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:18; John 10:27-30.
6. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe the Scriptures teach that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are saved from eternal judgment for their sin and thus will live in heaven with God forever. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. We believe in a literal heaven and literal hell; that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31, II Peter 2:9), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave. They shall be judged according to their works and cast into the place of final and everlasting punishment.
John 3:3; Galatians 3:24-26; I John 5:13; Malachi 3:18; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34,35; Romans 6:16; 1:17; I John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:18-22; I Corinthians 11:32; I John 5:19; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6,7; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Luke 12:4,5; 11:23-26; 12:25,26; Matt. 7:14,15.
7. REGENERATION
We believe the Scriptures teach that when a person is saved they are born again, and that this new birth makes them a new creation in Christ; that It is instantaneous and not a process; that it results miraculously from repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that in the new birth one partakes of God’s very nature; that the new creation is brought about in a manner beyond our human comprehension or capabilities; that evidence of the new birth is obvious and includes obedience to God, spiritual fruit and newness of life.
John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6,7; Acts 16:30-33; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; II Cor. 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8.
8. REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance and faith in Christ are the pre-requisites for our salvation. Being convicted of our guilt of sin, our danger of eternal condemnation and our helplessness to escape this judgment by any human means, we turn from our sin to Christ to rely on Him and Him alone for eternal salvation.
Mark 1:15; Isaiah 55:7; Acts 11:18; 20:21; 2:37; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8,9; Acts 3:19; 5:31.
9. JUSTIFICATION
We believe the Scriptures teach that justification is an act which includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ; by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by God; and that it brings us into a state of peace and favor with Him.
John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:9; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Romans 4:25; 5:1,9,11; 8:1
10. ADOPTION
We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act by which the Father , through the work of Christ, accepts believers as His children, whereby they are entitled to all the rights and privilege and promises of children; and if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs of with Christ, to the heritage of the saints on earth, and an inheritance reserved in heaven for them.
Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:26; 4:6; Ephesians 1:5; I John 3:1; Hebrews 12:7
11. SANCTIFICATION
We believe the scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we become increasingly and progressively like the Lord Jesus Christ. It is begun in regeneration and carried on in the lives of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is accomplished by the believer submitting to the Holy Spirit living within them and continuing to learn and obey God’s Word by careful self-examination, self-discipline, watchfulness and prayer.
I Corinthians 1:3; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 4:18; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; 5:13,14; Romans 8:5; Philippians 2:12,13; I Peter 2:2; II Cor. 13:5
12. SATAN OR THE DEVIL
We believe the scriptures teach that Satan is literal and personal, the agent of the fall, the prince and power of the air, the god of this world, and that he shall be condemned to eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire.
I Peter 5:8; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 2:1-4; II Corinthians 4:3; Revelation 20:1-10
13. THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the “Blessed Hope” – the personal, bodily, pre-tribulational, pre-millenial and imminent (at-any-moment) return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thess. 2:1-17; John 14:1-3; Matthew 24:44
14. THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that the Scriptures teach that a New Testament church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a common statement of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the epistles of Timothy and Titus. We believe the true mission of the church is the spreading of the gospel into all the world and the building up (edifying) of the saints. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that its one and only head is Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 8:1; I Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 28:19; John 14:15; 15:10; Acts 14:23; 15:22;
II Thess. 3:7; Romans 16:17-20; I Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 18:15-20; I Timothy 3:1-16; Titus 1:1-32
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
We believe the Bible teaches that the following officers of the church should be men only; Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Deacons and Moderator. I Timothy 2:12; Acts 6:3; 15:1-35
15. BAPTISM
We believe that immersion of the believer in water, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is the only form of baptism revealed and commanded in the Scriptures, picturing death, burial and resurrection; but is only for those who are already saved; and the new birth, which comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the scriptural prerequisite to baptism; therefore only those who have exercised saving faith in Jesus Christ are the ones permitted to be baptized.
Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:38-42; 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6, 16; John 3:23; Colossians 2:12
16. THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial only of the broken body and shed blood of Christ, by the use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine; it is not a sacrament and has no power to take away sin and that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him ought to partake of it only as a church, until He comes again; that it is to be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We do not believe in closed communion. I Corinthians 11:23-32
17. SOUL WINNING
We believe that the Bible teaches that the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable; and that this commission is the responsibility of all believers.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15
18. SCRIPTURAL GIVING
We believe that the Bible teaches that the scriptural giving is one of the fundamental practices of the Christian Faith. We believe that proportionate giving is a distinct and positive command in the Scriptures and promise a systematic contribution for the support of the church of such a portion of our income as we believe God requires of us according to the principles laid down in His Word. I Corinthians 16:1-16; Malachi 3:8-11
19. CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe the Bible teaches 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 and Word of God, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and coming King of the kings of the earth. Civil rulers have no rights of control over, or of interference with religious matters.
Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Timothy 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:38; Daniel 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:16; Psalm 72:11; 2:1-12
20. SEPARATION
1) FROM APOSTASY AND FALSE GOSPELS
We believe the Bible teaches that modernism, liberalism, the “social gospel” and any other gospel other than the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are not of God, but are of antichrist; and that we as believers should have no fellowship with such unfruitful works of darkness, and that we are called upon to separate from all alliances, churches, groups, organizations and individuals that sanction such doctrines. While recognizing the unity of all believers, it is also evident that unbelief and error in many organized fellowships has developed to the point where recognized and indisputable apostasy exists among professing Christians. We therefore disavow the position of the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, the National Association of Evangelicals and any other association or fellowship that would be in sympathy with them. We stand in opposition to the Ecumenical Movement, Neo-Orthodoxy, New Evangelicalism and cooperative evangelical programs between churches and people not of like faith and practice.
II Corinthians 6:14-18; II Peter 2:1,2: I John 2:22; Jude 4; II Thessalonians 3:6; II John 1:7-11; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 6:3-6; Revelation 18:4,5; Acts 19:8-10; Romans 16:17,18; Galatians 1:8-10; Philippians 3:17-19; Matthew 7:15-20
2) UNTO MORAL PURITY
We believe that the ten commandments are God’s perfect standard for a perfect man. We are commanded to have perfect holiness in our lives (II Corinthians 7:1) in the fear of God. A believer in Christ is never to suffer as an evil doer (I Peter 4:15), but is commanded to be clean in body and mind (II Corinthians 10:5).
3) IN CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
Romans 14 explains that there are going to be areas where believers will disagree in matters which they call sin; that these areas are ones in which the Bible does not specify that they are right or wrong by direct reference or by principle. In matters of eating, holy days, etc., every man should be fully in his own mind.
4) FROM WORLDLINESS
We believe the Bible teaches that all believers should walk in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior and that separation from worldly pleasures and practices is commanded of God.
Romans 12:1,2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1; I John 2:15-17
5) SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
We hold to the separation of church and state as taught by Christ in Matthew 22:15-21.
21. THE HEALING AND TONGUES MOVEMENT
We believe that God is the Great Physician, and He calls on us to pray in faith for the sick that they may be healed. God does miracles today but through the prayers of the saints (James 5) and not through a man with healing ability here on earth as the apostles of the New Testament once did. We believe the Scriptures teach that the healing and tongues movement of today is unscriptural and contrary to sound doctrine and that those who believe and practice these are in error. As 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 mark out, when that which is perfect (complete -Greek Teleios) the Word of God, completed by the Apostle John about 40 years after Paul wrote this passage in 1 Corinthians, then God’s revelation of His Word would be complete and we would not need new revelation from God.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
All we need in life is found in the Word of God, so future prophecy, tongues and knowledge have vanished away with the completion of the Bible in the book of Revelation and thus the New Testament era. 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I Corinthians 14:33,40; 13:8-11