Articles of Faith

    Shiloh Baptist Church of Ocean City, NJ > Articles of Faith

Articles of Faith


Articles

Article I – The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God; God-breathed, infallible, and inerrant in the original manuscripts; having been written by human authors carried along by the Holy Spirit,1 that it has God for its author and salvation for its end,2 and that it is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.3

References

  • 1 – 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:16; John 10:35; Acts 1:16; 3:21
  • 2 – 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 1:10-12; John 5:38-39; Romans 1:16
  • 3 – 1 John 4:1, 6; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; Psalm 119:59-60; Philippians 1:9-11

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Article II – The True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;4 inexpressibly glorious in holiness,5 and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love;6 that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;7 equal in every divine perfection,8 and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.9

References

  • 4 – Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10
  • 5 – Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8
  • 6 – Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13
  • 7 – Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
  • 8 – John 10:30; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians
  • 9 – Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Article III – Creation

We believe that God created all that now exists in six literal days and from nothing, and it was all very good;10 that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acted together in the work of creation;11 that out of all living things, only man was created in God’s image and God granted him dominion over all lesser forms of life and over the earth itself.12

References

  • 10 – Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; Psalm 33:6, 9; Jeremiah 10:12-13; Acts 17:24; Romans 4:17; Hebrews 11:3
  • 11 – Genesis 1:1-2, 26-28; Psalm 104:30; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2
  • 12 – Genesis 1:26-28; 9:6; Psalm 8:3-8; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9

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Article IV – Providence

We believe that God orders and directs His universe in every detail;13 that every event in nature and every human action and decision is according to His decree and purpose; that God is absolutely authoritative and comprehensively controls everything, everywhere, all the time;14 and in God’s infinite wisdom and power, all things work together for the good of His people,15 and for the glory of His name.16

References

  • 13 – 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Job 38:4-41; Proverbs 16:33; Isaiah 46:9-11; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29
  • 14 – Romans 9:17-21; Job 1:21, Proverbs 16:9; 21:1; Daniel 4:25; Isaiah 14:27; 45:6-7; Psalm 115:3; Acts 4:27-28
  • 15 – Romans 8:28; Hebrews 12:5-11; Deuteronomy 8:15-16
  • 16 – Exodus 9:16; Isaiah 60:21; Ezekiel 28:20-24; Romans 9:22-24; 11:33-36

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Article V – The Fall and Its Effect on Humanity

We believe that Adam, appointed representative of the human race,17 was created in holiness, under the law of his maker18 but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state19 and as a consequence every person is now a sinner,20 both by nature and by choice21 and is in a state of radical depravity, meaning every dimension of his being is distorted by sin.22 Apart from the grace of God, fallen man treats sin as his master, God as an enemy, the message of the cross as foolishness,23 possessing neither the desire nor the ability to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel, to repent of sin, or to trust in Christ24 and is therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.25

References

  • 17 – Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22
  • 18 – Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:16-17; Ecclesiastes 7:29
  • 19 – Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12
  • 20 – Romans 5:15-19; John 3:6; Psalm 51:5
  • 21 – Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18; James 1:13-15
  • 22 – Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:28-32; Titus 1:15
  • 23 – Romans 5:10; 8:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:13, 21; 2 Timothy 2:26; Titus 3:3; James 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21
  • 24 – Jeremiah 13:23; Mark 4:10-12; John 6:44, 65; 8:43-47; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 4:17-19
  • 25 – Romans 1:20; 3:19; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Galatians 3:22

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Article VI – Christ and the Way of Salvation

We believe that according to His eternal plan, God sent His Son into the world to save sinners;26 that he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,27 though tempted in all things was without sin and lived a life of perfect obedience;28 that he died on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for sins, absorbing God’s wrath, and paying our penalty29 forever finishing the substitutionary work of atonement for his people by the shedding of his blood;30 that he rose victoriously from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven,31 affirming both his deity and his authority;32 and that he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.33

References

  • 26 – John 3:16; Romans 5:8; John 17:2; Galatians 4:4-5
  • 27 – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35
  • 28 – Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 4:15, 7:26-28
  • 29 – Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:10-14; Isaiah 53:10
  • 30 – Matthew 20:28; John 10:15; 19:30; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:23-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 9:12
  • 31 – Matthew 28:5-7; 1 Corinthians 15:4-8; Hebrews 1:8, 13; 8:1; Colossians 3:1-4
  • 32 – Romans 1:4; John 5:21, 26; Acts 2:29-36; 17:31; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:8-11; Colossians 2:9
  • 33 – Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16; 7:25-26

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Article VII – The Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel;34 that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a glad, penitent, and obedient faith;35 that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel;36 which rejection involves him in aggravated condemnation.37

References

  • 34 – Romans 10:9,13; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17
  • 35 – Romans 1:15-17; 16:26; Mark 1:15
  • 36 – John 5:39-40; Matthew 23:37; Proverbs 1:24; Romans 1:18-32; 9:32
  • 37 – John 3:18; Matthew 11:20-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:8

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Article VIII – The Grace of Election

We believe that before the foundation of the world, God elected a great multitude of men and women to eternal life as an act of His sovereign grace alone,38 in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works, or merit.39 In the unsearchable realm of God’s sovereign will,40 all men remain responsible beings, subject to God’s commands to repent and believe, and accountable to God for their rebellion, impenitence, and rejection of Christ.41 We believe that election is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign grace, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable;42 that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, and trust in God.43

References

  • 38 – John 6:37-39; 10:14-16; 17:2; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  • 39 – Romans 9:10-18; 11:5-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9
  • 40 – Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:16
  • 41 – Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:36; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 1:18-21; 2:4-5; 9:19-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
  • 42 – Exodus 33:18-19; Matthew 20:15; Romans 9:23-26; 11:28-29
  • 43 – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 4:7; Romans 3:27; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; John 15:16

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Article IX – Regeneration

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind;44 that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth,45 so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel;46 and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.47

References

  • 44 – John 3:3, 6-7; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3
  • 45 – John 1:13; 3:8; James 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13
  • 46 – 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 John 5:1
  • 47 – Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; 7:15-20; 1 John 5:18

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Article X – Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God;48 whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ,49 we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy;50 at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, King, and Treasure, and relying on Him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.51

References

  • 48 – Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1
  • 49 – John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38
  • 50 – Luke 18:13; James 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11; Psalm 51
  • 51 – Romans 10:9-11; Hebrews 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:12; Matthew 13:44

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Article XI – Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification;52 that justification includes the pardon of sin,53 that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood;54 by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God;55 that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.56

References

  • 52 – Romans 4:23-25; 8:1
  • 53 – Romans 5:9; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43
  • 54 – Romans 4:4-5; 5:20-21; Philippians 3:7-9
  • 55 – Romans 3:24-26; 5:19; 1 John 2:12
  • 56 – Romans 5:1-11

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Article XII – Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness;57 that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration;58 and that it is accomplished only through the power of the cross and the application of the gospel to our daily living; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, prayer and fellowship59 – and in all of this Christ is supremely treasured and increasingly pursued.60

References

  • 57 – 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 1:4; Philippians 2:12-13
  • 58 – 2 Corinthians 3:18; Proverbs 4:18; Hebrews 6:1; 2 Peter 1:5-8; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-16; Ephesians 1:13-14
  • 59 – Ephesians 4:11-12; 6:18; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Luke 9:23
  • 60 – Psalm 16:11; 42:1-2; 73:25-26; John 15:11; Philippians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:8

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Article XIII – The Perseverance of Saints

We believe that only those who endure unto the end are true believers;61 that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark, which distinguishes them from superficial professors;62 that a special providence watches over their welfare;63 and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.64 Perseverance is not a human accomplishment but a work of God through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who creates, sustains, and nourishes a living, growing, transforming, and enduring faith in all true believers.65

References

  • 61 – John 8:31; 1 John 3:9; 5:18; Mark 13:13
  • 62 – 1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
  • 63 – Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah 32:40; Psalm 121:3
  • 64 – Philippians 1:6; Jude 24-25; Hebrews 1:14; 1 John 4:4
  • 65 – 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5

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Article XIV – The New Covenant

We believe that the New Covenant66 has been established through the redemptive work of Christ,67 the blessings of which are only received by grace through faith;68 that Christ has fulfilled the Old Covenant thereby making it obsolete;69 that God’s final words of revelation, given through Christ and His New Testament apostles and prophets, are the interpretive lens through which the Old Testament must be understood and applied.70

References

  • 66 – Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 3:6
  • 67 – Luke 22:20; Hebrews 7:22; 8:6; 9:11-26; 12:24; 13:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25
  • 68 – Romans 4:1-25; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7
  • 69 – Hebrews 8:7-13
  • 70 – Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Hebrews 1:1; Matthew 5:17-48; John 13:34-35; Colossians 2:16-17

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Article XV – A Gospel Church

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of those who have been brought to faith and repentance, have been baptized and whose lives give evidence of conversion, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel;71 observing the ordinances of Christ;72 governed by His laws;73 and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word;74 that its only scriptural officers are elders – men called to teach and govern as shepherds and overseers of the body; and deacons – men and women called to serve the church;75 whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the letters to Timothy and Titus. We believe that every aspect of faith and practice must be deliberately grounded in and energized by the redemptive work of Christ.76

References

  • 71 – Acts 2:41-42, 47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-8; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
  • 72 – 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23-26
  • 73 – Matthew 28:20; John 14:15, 21; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:2; Galatians 6:2
  • 74 – Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
  • 75 – Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9
  • 76 – 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18

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Article XVI – Evangelism

We believe that the church has the privileged mandate to liberally,77 indiscriminately,78 accurately,79 and systematically80 evangelize the lost at home and abroad, being heartened by the glorious reality that God has a people for His name from every tribe, tongue, kindred, and nation.81 It is the calling of every local church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded.82 It is a priority in evangelism to unite new believers with local churches.83

References

  • 77 – Psalm 96:1-3; Matthew 24:14
  • 78 – Acts 8:4; Mark 16:15
  • 79 – Luke 24:46-48; Acts 28:23-31; 2 Timothy 4:1-4
  • 80 – Acts 5:42; Matthew 28:18-20
  • 81 – John 10:16; Revelation 5:9-10
  • 82 – Matthew 28:18-20
  • 83 – Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35; Hebrews 10:19-25

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Article XVII – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,84 in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit;85 to show forth in a solemn and beautiful picture, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;86 and that baptism is the visible sign of membership in the Body of Christ.87 We believe that in the Lord’s Supper, believers in Jesus, after solemn self-examination,88 by the sacred use of bread and wine, commemorate together the dying love of Christ,89 and their participation in the New Covenant.90

References

  • 84 – Matthew 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38
  • 85 – Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48
  • 86 – Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-21
  • 87 – Acts 2:41-42
  • 88 – 1 Corinthians 11:28
  • 89 – Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26
  • 90 – Ezekiel 11:19; Jeremiah 31:31; Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 9:15

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Article XVIII – The Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ;91 that the day should be especially set aside for believers to gather together for worship by means of preaching and teaching God’s Word, prayer, giving, and fellowship.92

References

  • 91 – Matthew 28:1-6; Colossians 2:16-17; John 20:19
  • 92 – Acts 2:42-47; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Psalm 118:24; Luke 10:42

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Article XIX – Separation and Unity

We believe that because of the holiness of God in all His attributes and our responsibility to guard the purity of the gospel, believers are commanded to pursue holiness,93 and separate from false teachers and clearly disobedient brethren.94 However, they must also value the eager pursuit of unity with faithful brethren in the body of Christ.95

References

  • 93 – Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:2; Leviticus 20:7; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14-16
  • 94 – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; Matthew 18:15-18
  • 95 – John 17:20-21; Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:1-6

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Article XX – The Family

We believe that God established the institution of marriage in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and that pattern of the union of one man and one woman in marriage until death parts them is to be followed.96 God gave the gift and pleasure of marital intimacy for the mutual benefit of husband and wife, for the bearing of children, and for the prevention of immorality.97 Christians are to marry only other Christians or remain single as God enables them.98 Children resulting from the marriage union are to be seen as gifts from God and are to be raised for God’s glory and service.99 An authority structure exists within the family. The Lord is the Head of the home, the husband is the head of the wife, and children are to be obedient to their parents.100

References

  • 96 – Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:39
  • 97 – Genesis 1:28, 1 Corinthians 7:2-3; Hebrews 13:4
  • 98 – 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, 25-28; 2 Corinthians 6:14
  • 99 – Psalm 127:3-5; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21
  • 100 – Ephesians 5:22-28; 6:1-3; Colossians 3:18-21

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Article XXI – Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;101 and that civil leaders are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ,102 who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.103

References

  • 101 – Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 16:18; Exodus 18:23
  • 102 – Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; Daniel 3:15-18; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29
  • 103 – Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4, 9-13; Revelation 19:16; Psalm 72:11

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Article XXII – The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;104 that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, are truly righteous in His esteem;105 while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse;106 and this distinction holds among people both in and after death.107

References

  • 104 – Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16
  • 105 – Romans 1:17; 6:22; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 1 Peter 4:17-18
  • 106 – 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21
  • 107 – Proverbs 14:32; Luke 12:4-5; 16:25; John 8:21-24

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Article XXIII – Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ,108 the bodily resurrection of the dead,109 the establishment of His kingdom,110 the final separation of Satan with his hosts and all those outside of Christ from the benevolent presence of God which will eternally demonstrate His justice; and the everlasting joy of the righteous serving God and giving Him unending praise and glory which will eternally demonstrate His mercy.111

References

  • 108 – Mark 13:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18
  • 109 – Job 19:25-26; Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58
  • 110 – Revelation 20:4-6
  • 111 – Daniel 12:2-3; John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

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Article XXIV – The Glory of God

We believe that Christians must live for God’s glory alone112 through their awareness and enjoyment of His Person,113 submission to His authority114 and reliance upon His goodness.115 In truth, all things that have or will transpire, serve to glorify God as their highest purpose.116

References

  • 112 – Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Peter 4:11
  • 113 – Psalm 23:4; 46:1; 139:7-10; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6
  • 114 – 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Micah 6:8; John 15:14-17; Hebrews 12:28-29
  • 115 – Psalm 23; 18:1-3; Isaiah 41:10; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Matthew 6:25-32; Luke 11:11-13; Philippians 4:6-7
  • 116 – Psalm 46:10; 86:9; Malachi 1:11; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:3-14; 3:20-21

Source: Modified from the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1853)

 

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