The Baptist Faith and Message (Adopted June 14, 2000)

The following Articles of Faith were adopted by North Texas Chinese Church, Flower Mound, Texas from the June 14, 2000 Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention, and are included here for reference. Supplements were adopted by the Church in July 2014 as noted.
I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

II. God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

A. God the Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

B. God the Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

C. God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.

III. Man

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.

IV. Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.

B. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

V. God’s Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

VI. The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

VIII. The Lord’s Day

The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.

IX. The Kingdom

The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.

X. Last Things

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.

XI. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.

XII. Education

Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people.
In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists.

Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

XIV. Cooperation

Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.

Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.

XV. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.

XVI. Peace and War

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:1-2.

XVII. Religious Liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.

Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.

XVIII. The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

浸信會的認信與信息 (6月14日，2000年)

一，聖經

聖經是由神感動卻由人寫成。神藉聖經向人啟示祂自己，它是神教導完全的寶庫。 神是聖經的作者，救恩是聖經的終極、真理，聖經內容全無混淆錯誤。因此，所有 經文是完全真實可靠的。它啟示神審判人的原則，因此它將存到世界的末了。聖經 是基督徒合一真正的中心，所有人的行為，信條，經歷過的宗教觀，崇高的標準 。所有經文是見證基督，祂是自有永有，神啟示的焦點。

出埃及記24：4；申命記4：1-2；17：19；約書亞記8：34；詩篇19：7- 10；119：11，89，105，140；以賽亞書34：16；40：8；耶利米書15：16；36：1- 32；馬太福音5：17-18；22：29；路加福音21：33；24：44- 46；約瀚福音5：39；16：13- 15；17：17；使徒行傳2：16ff；17：11；羅馬書15：4；16：25- 26；提摩太後書3：15-17；希伯來書1：1- 2；4：12；彼得前書1：25；彼得後書1：19-21。

二， 神

只有一位永活的真神，祂是一位智慧，屬靈，和永存的個體，造物主，救贖主，維 護者，和宇宙的統治者。神是無限聖潔，和無限的完全。祂是全能，全知；祂的全 知超越一切的事物，過去，現在，和將來，包括受造的人將來的決定，我們欠祂 崇高的愛，尊敬，與順服。永恆的神以父，子，聖靈啟示祂自己，以個別位格顯現 ，卻在本性，本質，和自存上是不分的。

(一) ，父神

神是父，管轄祂的宇宙，受造的人與一切生物。人類歷史源遠流長，祂按著恩典的 目的照顧他們。祂是全能，全知，全愛，和全智的。祂是父忠於那些因信耶穌基督 而成為神兒女的人，祂對一切受造的人顯出祂的父性。

創世記1：1；2：7；出埃及記3：14；6：2- 3；15：11ff；20：1ff；利未記22：2；申命記6：4；32：6；歷代志上29：10；詩 篇19：1-3；以賽亞書43：3，15；64：8；耶利米書10：10；17：13；馬太福音6：9ff；7： 11；23：9；28：19；馬可福音1：9-11；約瀚福音4：24；5：26；14：6- 13；17：1-8；使徒行傳1：7；羅馬書8：14- 15；哥林多前書8：6；加拉太書4：6；以弗所書4：6；歌羅西書1：15；提摩太前 書1：17；希伯來書11：6；12：9；彼得前書1：17；約瀚壹書5：7。

(二) 神子

基督是永恆的神子。耶穌基督道成肉身，祂藉著聖靈懷孕，從童女馬利亞誕生出來 。耶穌完全啟示並遵行神的旨意，祂取了人的樣式，完全認同人的要求和需要，但 祂沒有犯罪。祂尊重神，順從祂的話，替代人釘死在十字架上，為人類預備救恩， 叫人脫離罪。祂以榮耀的身體從死裏復活，向祂的門徒顯現，正如祂未釘十字架前 與他們同在一樣。祂升上高天，現在被高舉坐在神的右邊。祂是唯一的中保，完全 的神，完全的人，藉著祂的位格，人得與神和好。祂將會以能力和榮耀再來，審判 世人，完成祂救贖的使命。祂現在入住一切信徒心中，祂是永活和永在的主。

創世記18：1ff；詩篇2：7ff；110：1ff；以賽亞書7：14；53；馬太福音1：18- 23；3：17；8：29；11：27；14：33；16：16，27；17：5；27；28：1- 6，19；馬可福音1：1；3：11；路加福音1：35；4：41；22：70；24：46；約瀚福 音1：1-18，29；10：30，38；11：25-27；12：44-50；14：7-11；16：15- 16，28；17：1-5，21-22；20：1-20，28；使徒行傳1：9；2：22-24；7：55- 56；9：4-5，20；羅馬書1：3-4；3：23-26；5：6-21；8：1- 3，34；10：4；哥林多前書1：30；2：2；8：6；15：1-8，24- 28；哥林多後書5：19-21；8：9；加拉太書4：4-5；以弗所書1：20；3：11；4：7- 10；腓立比書2：5-11；歌羅西書1：13-22；2：9；帖撒羅尼迦前書4：14- 18；提摩太前書2：5-6；3：16；提多書2：13-14；希伯來書1：1-3；4：14- 15；7：14-28；9：12-15，24-28；12：2；13：8；彼得前書2：21- 25；3：22；約瀚壹書1：7-9；3：2；4：14-15；5：9；約瀚書7- 9；啟示錄1：13-16；5：9-14；12：10-11；13：8；19：16。

(三) 聖靈

聖靈是神的靈，完全的神。祂感動舊約聖人寫成舊約聖經，祂藉著光照使人明白真 理。祂高舉基督，使人為罪，為義，為審判自責。祂呼召人歸向救主，使人重生。 在重生的時候，祂為每位信徒施浸歸入基督。祂孕育基督徒的品格，安慰他們，將 屬靈恩賜賞給他們，使他們藉著教會服事神。祂給每位信徒印記直至後救贖的日 子。祂活在信徒心中，保證信徒更肖乎基督的形像。祂在崇拜，傳道，與服事中光 照並加力給信徒和教會。

創世記1：2；士師記14：6；約伯記26：13；詩篇51：11；139：7ff；以賽亞書61 ：1-3；約珥書2：28-32；馬太福音1：18；3：16；4：1；12：28- 32；28：19；馬可福音1：10，12；路加福音1：35；4：1，18- 19；11：13；12：12；24：49；約瀚福音4：24；14：16-17，26；15：26；16：7- 14；使徒行傳1：8；2：1- 4，38；4：31；5：3；6：3；7：55；8：17，39；10：44；13：2；15：28；16：6 ；19：1-6；羅馬書8：9-11，14-16，26-27；哥林多前書2：10-14；3：16；12：3- 11，13；加拉太書4：6；以弗所書1：13- 14；4：30；5：18；帖撒羅尼迦前書5：19；提摩太前書3：16；4：1；提摩太後書 1：14；3：16；希伯來書9：8，14；彼得後書1：21；約瀚壹書4：13；5：6- 7；啟示錄1：10；22：17。

三， 人

人是按照神的形像特別的創造。神造男造女，人是神創造萬物中的傑作。性是神創 造良善中一份禮物。人起初是無罪的，造物主賜給他們自由意志，人藉著自由抉擇 犯罪得罪神，罪因此進入人類中。由於撒但的試探，人違背神的命令，他們從初 承受的良善中墮落了，掉入一個傾向犯罪的環境中。因此，當他們有道德行為的時 候，他們就犯罪，落在審判之中。只有神的恩惠恢復他們與神聖潔的關係，促使人 履行神創造的目的。人的品格之所以聖潔，顯明神按照祂的形像造人，因此基督為 人而死；每一個種族每一個人都享有完全的尊嚴，值得別人尊敬，並充滿基督徒的 愛。
創世記1：26-30；2：5，7，18-22；3；9：6；詩篇1；8：3-6；32：1- 5；51：5；以賽亞書6：5；耶利米書17：5；馬太福音16：26；使徒行傳17：26- 31；羅馬書1：19-32；3：10-18，23；5：6，12，19；6：6；7：14-25；8：14- 18，29；哥林多前書1：21-31；15：19，21-22；以弗所書2：1- 22；歌羅西書1：21-22；3：9-11。

四， 救恩

救恩包括全人的救贖，凡接受耶穌為救主為主的人，都可以得救。基督藉著祂的寶 血使信的人蒙受永恆的救贖。從廣義言，救恩包括了重生，稱義，成聖，和得榮。 人不相信耶穌基督為主，無從獲得救恩。

(一) ，重生，或新生，是神恩惠的工作，藉此信徒在耶穌基督裏成為新造的 人。這是人認罪，聖靈在人心作改變的工作，意即罪人向神悔改，並信 靠主耶穌基督。悔改與相信是個人經歷救恩不可分的經驗。悔改是人真正轉離罪歸向神，相信是接受耶穌基督為救主為主，全人委身給祂。

(二) ，稱義是神的恩典，充滿了赦罪的原則，就是祂的義赦免一切悔改並相 信基督的罪人。稱義使信徒進入與神和好的關係，蒙神的恩寵。

(三) ，成聖是人重生的經歷，藉此信徒為了神的目的分別為聖，並且藉著聖 靈入住的大能和同在，使信徒的品德和靈性進入更成熟的地步，重生的 人會在神的恩典中繼續不斷地成長。

(四) ，得榮是救贖的頂峰，後的祝福，蒙恩人的居所。

創3：15；出埃及記3：14-17；6：2-8；馬太福音1：21；4：17；16：21- 26；27：22-28：6；路加福音1：68-69；2：28-32；約瀚福音1：11-14，29；3：3- 21，36；5：24；10：9，28-29；15：1- 16；17：17；使徒行傳2：21；4：12；15：11；16：30-31；17：30- 31；20：32；羅馬書1：16-18；2：4；3：23-25；4：3ff；5：8-10；6：1-
23；8：1-18，29-39；10：9-10，13；13：11-14；哥林多前書1：18，30；6：19- 20；15：10；哥林多後書5：17-20；加拉太書2：20；3：13；5：22- 25；6：15；以弗所書1：7；2：8-22；4：11-16；腓立比書2：12- 13；歌羅西書1：19-22；3：1ff；帖撒羅尼迦前書5：23- 24；提摩太後書1：12；提多書2：11-14；希伯來書2：1-3；5：8-9；9：24- 28；11：1-12：8，14；雅各書2：14-26；彼得前書1：2-23；約瀚壹書1：6- 2：11；啟3：20；21：1-22：5。

五， 神恩惠的目的

揀選是神恩惠的目的，神藉此使罪人重生，稱義，成聖，和得榮。它是前後一致的 ，藉著人自由的抉擇，明白神一切的方法與終極有關。它是神主權榮耀的彰顯，是 神無限智慧，聖潔，和不能改變的。它除去人的驕傲，卻要求人謙卑。
所有真正的信徒必忍耐到底，神在基督裏接納並藉祂的靈成聖的人，永不會從恩典 中墜落的，但要存留到永遠。信徒可能因為疏忽、受試探而犯罪，使聖靈擔憂，損 害了他們的恩惠與平安，使他們因此受責罰，神會管教，他們仍然得著神能力的保 守，藉著信心而得的救恩。

創12：1-3；出埃及記19：5-8；撒母耳記上8：4-7，19-22；以賽亞書5：1- 7；耶利米書31：31ff；馬太福音16：18-19；21：28- 45；24：22，31；25：34；路加福音1：68-79；2：29-32；19：41-44；24：44- 48；約瀚福音1：12-14；3：16；5：24；6：44-45，65；10：27- 29；15：16；17：6，12，17-18；使徒行傳20：32；羅馬書5：9-10；8：28- 29；10：12-15；11：5-7，26-36；哥林多前書1：1-2；15：24-28；以弗所書1：4- 23；2：1-10；3：1-11；歌羅西書1：12-14；帖撒羅尼迦後書2：13- 14；提摩太後書1：12；2：10，19；希伯來書11：39- 12：2；雅各書1：12；彼得前書1：2-5，13；2：4-10；約瀚壹書1：7- 9；2：19；3：2。

六， 教會

主耶穌基督的新約教會是一個由受浸信徒組成本地自主的會眾，因福音而有的信約 和交誼彼此聯繫，遵守基督的兩個禮儀，接受神律法的管制，藉著祂的話，行使聖 靈賦與的恩賜與特權，尋求擴展福音直到地極。每個會友在基督的主權和民主的進 程下行事，如此的會眾每位會友負起責任，並尊基督為主。教會聖職人員是牧師和 執事，當具恩賜的男女事奉教會的時候，按聖經的教訓，牧師的職份是男性。
新約教會同樣是基督的身體，包括一切在各時代得贖的信徒，意即每個種族，言語 的信徒，子民，和國家。

馬太福音16：15-19；18：15-20；使徒行傳2：41-42，47；5：11-14；6：3- 6；13：1-3；14：23，27；15：1- 30；16：5；20：28；羅馬書1：7；哥林多前書1：2；3：16；5：4- 5；7：17；9：13-14；12；以弗所書1：22-23；2：19-22；3：8-11，21；5：22- 32；腓立比書1：1；歌羅西書1：18；提摩太前書2：9-14；3：1- 15；4：14；希伯來書11：39-40；彼得前書5：1-4；啟示錄2-3；21：2-3。

七， 浸禮與主餐

基督徒的浸禮是奉聖父，聖子，聖靈的名為信徒全身浸入水中，這是順服的行動， 象徵信徒的信仰，與主同釘死，同埋葬，和同復活，浸入水中指信徒向罪而死，將 舊人埋葬，復活是在基督裏的新生命與主同行。它是見證末期死人復活的信仰，作 為教會的禮儀，它是教會會友的資格和守主餐的先決條件。
主餐是象徵順服的行動，會友藉此一同領受主的餅和主的杯，紀念救贖主受死和期 待祂的再來。

馬太福音3：13-17；26：26-30；28：19-20；馬可福音1：9-11；14：22- 26；路加福音3：21-22；22：19-20；約瀚福音3：23；使徒行傳2：41-42；8：35- 39；16：30-33；20：7；羅馬書6：3-5；哥林多前書10：16，21；11：23-
29；歌羅西書2：12。

八， 主日

每週的第一日是主日，它是基督徒經常遵守的日子，這日是紀念主耶穌從死裏復活 。公眾和私人聚會包括崇拜和靈修。主日的活動在耶穌基督的領導下，基督徒的良 心是相稱的。

出埃及記20：8-11；馬太福音12：1-12；28：1ff；馬可福音2：27-28；16：1- 7；路加福音24：1-3，33-36；約瀚福音4：21-24；20：1，19- 28；使徒行傳20：7；羅馬書14：5-10；哥林多前書16：1- 2；歌羅西書2：16；3：16；啟示錄1：10。

九， 神國

神國包括的兩方面：神對宇宙的主權，和祂特別在那些甘願承認祂為王的人心中掌 王權。神國是救恩的領域，那些因信和活像小孩子委身給耶穌基督的人才可以進入 的。基督徒必須祈禱、努力事主，使神的國早日降臨，祂的旨意早日得以成全在地 上。神國完滿結束直等到主耶穌基督再來，和這時代的末期。

創1：1；以賽亞書9：6-7；耶利米書23：5-6；馬太福音3：2；4：8- 10，23；12：25-28；13：1-52；25：31-46；26：29；馬可福音1：14- 15；9：1；路加福音4：43；8：1；9：2；12：31-32；17：20- 21；23：42；約瀚福音3：3；18：36；使徒行傳1：6-7；17：22- 31；羅馬書5：17；8：19；哥林多前書15：24- 28；歌羅西書1：13；希伯來書11：10，16；12：28；彼得前書2：4- 10；4：13；啟示錄1：6，9；5：10；11：15；21-22。

十， 末期的事

神有自己的時間，並用祂自己的方法，使這世界有完滿的結束。按照祂的應許，耶
穌基督會親自再來，在榮耀中顯現，地上的人都可以看見祂；死人要復活；基督要 按公義審判一切的人。不義的人將會被交付在地獄裏，就是那永遠受刑的地方。義 人要復活，接受榮耀的身體，蒙神賞賜，永遠在天堂與主同在。

以賽亞書2：4；11：9；馬太福音16：27；18：8- 9；19：28；24：27，30，36，44；25：31-46；26：64；馬可福音8：38；9：43- 48；路加福音12：40，48；16：19-26；17：22-37；21：27-28；約瀚福音14：1- 3；使徒行傳1：11；17：31；羅馬書14：10；哥林多前書4：5；15：24-28，35- 58；哥林多後書5：10；腓立比書3：20- 21；歌羅西書1：5；3：4；帖撒羅尼迦前書4：14- 18；5：1ff；帖撒羅尼迦後書1：7ff；2；提摩太前書6：14；提摩太後書4：1，8； 提多書2：13；希伯來書9：27- 28；雅各書5：8；彼得後書3：7ff；約瀚壹書2：28；3：2；猶大書14；啟示錄1： 18；3：11；20：1-22：13。

十一，傳道與差傳

這是每個基督跟從者和每個屬主耶穌基督教會的責任與特權，他們努力傳福音，使 萬民作主的門徒。新人的靈是聖靈的工作 使我們去愛別人。傳教士對世人的努力，是叫人的靈得著新生，不斷為基督的大使 命而努力。主耶穌基督囑咐我們將福音傳給萬民聽，這是每個屬神兒女的責任，不 斷尋求藉口傳和基督徒生活方式將福音傳給失喪的人，或藉其他與基督和諧的方法 傳道。

創世記12：1-3；出埃及記19：5-6；以賽亞書6：1-8；馬太福音9：37-38；10：5- 15；13：18-30，37-43；16：19；22：9-10；24：14；28：18-20；路加福音10：1- 18；24：46-53；約瀚福音14：11-12；15：7- 8，16；17：15；20：21；使徒行傳1：8；2；8：26-40；10：42-48；13：2- 3；羅馬書10：13-15；以弗所書3：1- 11；帖撒羅尼迦前書1：8；提摩太後書4：5；希伯來書2：1-3；11：39- 12：2；彼得前書2：4-10；啟示錄22：17。

十二，教育

基督教是啟蒙和理志的信仰，在基督裏儲藏了一切智慧和知識。因此，所有純正的 學習是我們基督教遺產的一部份。新人開了一切人類的天賦，制造對知識的渴求， 並且因而獲得教會慷慨的支持。一個適當的基督教教育系統必須為了成就基督子民 的屬靈計劃的。
基督教教育需要適度地平衡學術性的自由和學術性的責任。在人間生活有秩序的自 由常是受限制的和永不可能是絕對的，一個教師在基督教學校，大學，或神學院的 自由，是受耶穌基督先存的名，聖經的權威，或學校存在顯著的目的所限制。

申命記4：1，5，9，14；6：1-10；31：12-13；尼希米書8：1- 8；約伯記28：28；詩篇19：7ff；119：11；箴言3：13ff；4：1-10；8：1- 7，11；15：14；雅歌書7：19；馬太福音5：2；7：24ff；28：19- 20；路加福音2：40；哥林多前書1：18-31；以弗所書4：11- 16；腓立比書4：8；歌羅西書2：3，8-9；提摩太前書1：3- 7；提摩太後書2：15；3：14-17；希伯來書5：12-6：3；雅各書1：5；3：17。

十三，管家職份

神是一切暫時和屬靈賜福的泉源；我們和我們所擁有的一切都是屬祂的。基督徒對 全世界欠了屬靈的債，一種神聖福音托管的債，因此在他們擁有一切的管家職份上 ，有責任用他們的時間，才幹，和擁有的物質事奉神；並且認識這受托的一切為了 榮耀祂和幫助其他的人。按照聖經的話，為了促進救主在地上的國度，基督徒應該 快樂地，經常地，系統地貢獻他們的一切。

創世記14：20；利未記27：30-32；申命記8：18；瑪拉基書3：8- 12；馬太福音6：1-4，19-21；23：23；25：14-29；路加福音12：16- 21，42；16：1-13；使徒行傳2：44-47；5：1-11；17：24- 25；20：35；羅馬書6：6-22；12：1-2；哥林多前書4：1-2；6：19-20；12；16：1-4；哥林多後書8-9；12：15；腓立比書4：10-19；彼得前書1：18- 19。

十四，合作

基督的子民按需求組織聯會，為了神國度偉大的目標取得合作，如此的聯會並無權 彼此轄制，或轄制教會。他們是自願的和輔導的群體，其設計為了引發，組合，和 集中我們子民的力量作更有效的服務。為了擴展基督的國度，新約教會應該彼此合 作，促進傳教，教育和慈善的工作。基督徒合一在新約聖經的函義是不同組別的基 督子民在靈裏和諧，和為了共同的目的自願合作。不同基督教宗派的合作是可行的 ，當他們能夠達到其本身公義的目的，或合作不違反良心，或危及對基督及祂顯在 新約聖經話語忠誠的時候。

出埃及記17：12；18：17ff；士師記7：21；以斯拉記1：3-4；2：68-69；5：14- 15；尼希米記4；8：1-5；馬太福音10：5-15；20：1-16；22：1-10；28：19- 20；馬可福音2：3；路加福音10：1ff；使徒行傳1：13-14；2：1ff；4：31- 37；13：2-3；15：1-35；哥林多前書1：10-17；3：5-15；12；哥林多後書8- 9；加拉太書1：6-10；以弗所書4：1-16；腓立比書1：15-18。

十五，基督徒與社會秩序

基督徒有責任尋求基督的旨意超越我們的生活和人類的社會。使用策略和方法改良 社會和建立人間公義，當這些藉著神在基督裏的救恩根直在重生者個人心中，才是 真正永久的幫助。基督徒反對種族主義，和各種形式的貪婪，自私，惡毒，和各種 性不道德的行為，包括姦淫，同性戀，和一夫多妻制。我們努力工作，提供孤兒， 需要者，受虐待，年老，無助，和有病的幫助。我們為未能誕生，不可想像安樂死 的事說話，因為人的生命是神聖的。每個基督徒在公義，真理，和弟兄相愛的原則 支配下，必須尋求勸勉，政府和合一的社會，為了促進這些目標，基督徒必須準備 與任何有心的人在任何良好的理由下一同工作，時常小心翼翼以愛的精神，和對忠 於基督和祂的真理不妥協的情況下行動。

出埃及記20：3-17；利未記6：2- 5；申命記10：12；27：17；詩篇101：5；彌迦書6：8；撒迦利亞書8：16；馬太福 音5：13-16，43-48；22：36-40；25：35；馬可福音1：29- 34；2：3ff；10：21；路加福音4：18-21；10：27- 37；20：25；約瀚福音15：12；17：15；羅馬書12-14；哥林多前書5：9-10；6：1- 7；7：20-24；10：23-11：1；加拉太書3：26-28；以弗所書6：5- 9；歌羅西書3：12-17；帖撒羅尼迦前書3：12；腓利門書；雅各書1：27-28。

十六，和平與戰爭

這是基督徒的責任，在公義的原則下與眾人尋求和平。按照基督的精神和教訓，他 們必須盡一切的努力停止戰爭。 真正挽救戰爭的精神是主的福音。世人在他們的事情和國家的事情上大的需要是 接受祂的教訓，實踐愛的律。全世界的基督徒當為和平之子的統治祈禱。

以賽亞書2：4；馬太福音5：9，38- 48；6：33；26：52；路加福音22：36，38；羅馬書12：18-19；13：1- 7；14：19；希伯來書12：14；雅各書4：1-2。

十七，宗教自由

神是唯一良心的主，祂容讓人在其教義和誡命有自由，甚至這些與祂的話語相違， 或不恆守在其中。教會與國家應該分開，國家對每個教會的保獲和追求屬靈目標的 自由負責任。為了提供如此的自由，沒有一個教會團體或宗派得到國家的恩惠超過 其他的。人民政府是神所按立的，基督徒在凡事上給與忠誠的順服，卻不違背神啟 示的旨意。教會不應求助政府的力量行使它的工作。基督的福音期待屬靈的方法去 達到它的目的，政府為了任何宗教意見無權加以懲罰，也無權增加稅收支持任何形 式的宗教。一個自由的教會在一個自由的國家是基督徒的理想，這暗示自由的權利 並不妨礙人進到神的面前，並有權在宗教領域內組成和宣傳宗教信仰而不受政府力
量的干預。

創世記1：27；2：7；馬太福音6：6- 7，24；16：26；22：21；約瀚福音8：36；使徒行傳4：19-20；羅馬書6：1- 2；13：1-7；加拉太書5：1，13；腓立比書3：20；提摩太前書2：1- 2；雅各書4：12；彼得前書2：12-17；3：11-17；4：12-19。

十八，家庭

神設立家庭，使之成為人類社會基礎的組織。家庭成員藉婚姻血源和領養互為關係 。
婚姻是一男一女結合，終身委身在盟約上。家庭是神獨一的禮物，啟示基督與教會 的聯合，提供男女在婚姻上親密伴侶的架構。按照聖經的標準，和繁衍人類種族的 方法，性是表達的渠道。
丈夫與妻子在神面前是平等，因為他們是按照神的形像造成。婚姻的關係是神與其 子民關係的模式，丈夫要愛他的妻子，正如基督愛教會。他具有神所賜的責任，供 給，保獲和領導他的家人。妻子如僕人一樣順服自己在丈夫的領導下，正如教會甘 願順服基督的領導。她具有神的形像如丈夫一樣，因此與丈夫同等，具有神所賜的 責任尊敬她的丈夫，像他的助手服事、管理自己的家，並培育下一代。
兒女從孕育的觀念看，是主的祝福和產業。父母對兒女在婚姻上表現出神的樣式。 父母要教導兒女屬靈和道德觀，藉著不斷生活模式的榜樣，愛的管教，基於聖經真 理作決，引導他們的兒女，兒女要尊敬和順服他們的父母。

創世記1：26-28；2：15-25；3：1-20；出埃及記20：12；申命記6：4- 9；約書亞記24：15；撒母耳記上1：26-28；詩篇51：5；78：1- 8；127；128；139：13-16；箴言1：8；5：15-20；6：20- 22；12：4；13：24；14：1；17：6；18：22；22：6，15；23：13-14；24：3；29：15，17；31：10-31；雅歌書4：9-12；9：9；瑪拉基書2：14- 16；馬太福音5：31-32；18：2-5；19：3-9；馬可福音10：6-12；羅馬書1：18- 32；哥林多前書7：1-16；以弗所書5：21-33；6：1-4；歌羅西書3：18- 21；提摩太前書5：8，14；提摩太後書1：3-5；提多書2：3- 5；希伯來書13：4；彼得前書3：1-7。