Fair Haven Primitive Baptist Church
Tifton, Georgia
Articles of Faith
1. We believe in the existence, immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and eternal perfections of the One and only true and living God, Who exists in the three fold, yet undivided and indivisible substance of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; Who was and is the Sovereign Creator, Upholder, Governor and Judge of the universe. Mark 12:29; John 1:1; 4:24; 10:15,30; 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 2:22; Hebrews 1:3; 9:14; 1 John 5:7; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 115:3; Malachi 3:6
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2. We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the perfectly inspired Word of God, and the only infallible rule or standard of faith and practice; and that, as such, the Bible teaches all that we ought to know, believe or practice religiously. We also maintain that the KJV 1611 version of the scriptures is the best English version, and require it to be used from our pulpit. John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3; 2 Peter 1:21; Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 30:5,6
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3. We believe in the doctrine of total depravity–that is, the entire human family are justly condemned, all having sinned in Adam; and that our life received by virtue of the natural birth is poisoned with sin; and that in nature the man is sinful in all his parts, and all are dead in trespasses and in sins. Romans 5:12; 7:14; 8:7; John 6:44; Ephesians 2:1
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4. We believe in the eternal and personal and unconditional election of the saints unto glory; that they were chosen in Christ by the Father before the world was–before they had any actual existence; that God predestinated them unto the adoption of sons, and that they should be conformed to the image of His Son; and they will all be finally and ultimately saved in glory. But we do solemnly deny that God predestinated sin. He has determined to overrule and punish sin. Those whom God has not or did not predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son are left to act in their own sins to their just condemnation, to the praise of God’s glorious justice. Psalm 33:12; Romans 8:29; 9:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2
5. We believe that the atonement and the redemption of Jesus Christ are for the elect only, and that they are justified in the sight of God by the imputed righteousness of the Son alone. Matthew 1:21; John 10:15; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:11; 8:33; 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:21
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6. We believe in the direct, immediate, sovereign, irresistible, and in all cases, the effectual work of the Holy Spirit in calling, regenerating and sanctifying the elect of God, and that in His Own time and way. The work of regeneration is an instantaneous and internal work, and is accomplished by the work of the Spirit of God on the spirit of the sinner. John 6:37; 10:27-28; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5
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7. We believe in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead—that is, that the bodies of all who die will be raised at the final windup and consummation of all things. We mean by this that it is the body that dies, and it is the same body which dies that shall be raised from the dead. The bodies of the saints will, at the resurrection, be changed, made spiritual, immortal and reunited with their souls, and taken into the glorious presence of the Lord, and their happiness will be unending. The others will be cast into eternal torment and their punishment will be unending. Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:42-57; Acts 24:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
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8. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and that true, born again believers are the only proper subjects for baptism, and that Scriptural baptism is a burial in water; that the ordinances of the church are in the hands of the church for keeping; and that baptism is not valid unless administered by one authorized by a gospel church to administer the ordinances. Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37-38; 1 Peter 3:20-21
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9. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance; that no one has a right to the Lord’s Supper unless he has first been baptized by the proper authority, and that unleavened bread and wine are to be used in the Lord’s Supper. We believe we should engage in washing one other’s feet, following the example of the Master, as He said, “I have given you an example.” Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 1 Timothy 5:10
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10. We believe that the Lord’s children (those who have been born again) are under parental law to the blessed Lord, and that He has promised blessings in His Word to His children who obey Him, which He has not promised to others, and that these blessings thus promised cannot be attained to or enjoyed any other way only by obeying Him–doing the things commanded by Him. On the other hand, He has promised chastisement–suffering, sorrow, trouble and distress–upon their rebellion and disobedience. Matthew 6:33; 7:7; John 14:15; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 11:6; 12:6-11; James 2:18
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11. We believe that a gospel church is a body of baptized believers, who have banded themselves together to keep house for the Lord, and who maintain the true principles of doctrine and practice as laid down in the New Testament. Yet a true church may err from the right way; and when they do so, the Scriptural injunction is for them to repent. The church was set up by the Savior during His personal ministry on earth, and this church has an unbroken succession unto the present day, and it will remain on earth some place until our Lord’s second personal coming. The Lord established His Kingdom, or church, for a home for His little children. He gave all the laws and rules and regulations to govern in this kingdom. We have no right to make new laws, laws not found in His Book; nor do we have a right to disobey the laws which He gave. Matthew 16:18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1; Jude 1-3; Revelation 3:14-22; 22:18-19