DECLARATION OF THE FAITH & PRACTICE OF GRACE CHURCH AT FRANKLIN
Read and assented
to, at the Admission of MEMBERS.
Having been enabled, through divine Grace to give up ourselves to
the Lord, and likewise to one another by the will of God, we
account it as incumbent upon us, to make a declaration of our
faith and practice, to the honor of Christ, and the glory of his
Name; knowing, that with the heart man believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation, we do joyfully declare the following:
I. We believe, that the Scriptures of the old and new Testament,
are the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice.
II. We believe, that there is but one only living and true God;
that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, who are equal in nature, power, and glory; and
that the Son and the Holy Ghost are as truly and properly God as
the Father. These three distinct divine persons, we profess to
reverence, serve and worship as the one true God.
III. We believe, that before the world began, God did elect a
number which no man can number of persons unto everlasting
salvation; whom, of His own free grace, and according to the good
pleasure of His will, He did predestinate to be His adopted
children by Jesus Christ; and that in pursuance of this gracious
design, He did, by means of a Covenant of grace and peace with his
Son Jesus Christ, on behalf of those persons, appoint Him as
Savior. Through Christ all spiritual blessings are provided for
them. In addition, their persons, with all their grace and glory,
were put into the hands of Christ, and made his care and charge.
IV. We believe, that God created the first man Adam, after his
image, and in his likeness, an upright, holy, and innocent
creature, capable of serving and glorifying him, but he sinned and
all his posterity sinned in him, and came short of the glory of
God. As a result, a corrupt nature is derived by all his offspring
both by ordinary and natural generation, so that they are by their
first birth carnal and unclean, averse to all that is spiritually
good, and prone to sin. As such they are also by nature children
of wrath and under a sentence of condemnation, subject not only to
corporal death, i.e., the death of the body, but also to an
eternal death, all from which there is no deliverance, but by
Christ the last Adam.
V. We believe, that the Lord Jesus Christ, being set up from
everlasting as the mediator of the everlasting Covenant and the
surety of his people, did in the fullness of time assume human
nature, in which nature he suffered and died as the substitute of
his people, in their room and stead. As the Substitute of His
people He made all that satisfaction for their sins which the law
and justice of God could require, as well as purchase all those
blessings which are needful for them both for time and eternity.
VI. We believe, that the eternal Redemption which Christ has
obtained by the shedding of his blood was intentionally designed
for the people of God, called also the Elect and the Sheep of
Christ, and that they by faith shall share the special and
peculiar blessings of it.
VII. We believe, that the Justification of God's people is only by
the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, that is to say,
charged to their account, without the consideration of any works
of righteousness done by them; and that the full and free pardon
of all their sins and transgressions, past, present and to come,
is only through the blood of Christ according to the riches of his
grace.
VIII. We believe, that the Gospel ought to be preached to every
creature, and that it is the means by which God the Holy Spirit
convicts, calls and regenerates. As the Scripture says, "But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12)."
Therefore, the work of regeneration, conversion, sanctification
and faith is not an act of man's will and power, but of the
mighty, efficacious grace of God; as again the Scripture says,
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13)."
IX. We believe, that all who are truly saved shall certainly and
finally persevere, so that not one of them shall ever perish,
because they have everlasting life.
X. We believe, that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and the unjust; and that Christ will come a
second time to judge both quick and dead; when he will take
vengeance on the wicked, and introduce his own people into his
kingdom and glory, where they shall be for ever with him. (It is
not necessary that one subscribe to a specific school of
eschatology, i.e., doctrine of last things, or prophecy, to be a
member in good standing of Grace Church)
XI. We believe, that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances
of Christ, to be continued until his second coming: that those
only are to be admitted into the church, and to participate of all
ordinances in it, who upon profession of their faith, have been
baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
XII. We also believe, that singing of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual
Songs vocally is an ordinance of the gospel to be performed by
believers.
XIII. We further believe, that just as a member of a natural
family should not leave that family without the express knowledge
of those given responsibility for that family, even so, any member
of this church family whose intention it is to separate themselves
from this body, should convey that reason to the gathered officers
of this congregation met together as a body.
XIV. This declaration is a most excellent epitome of the things
most surely believed among us. It is not issued as an
authoritative rule of faith, whereby we are to be fettered and
bound, but as an assistance to us in controversy, a confirmation
of faith, and a means of edification in righteousness.
Now all and each of these doctrines and ordinances we look upon
ourselves under the greatest obligation to embrace, maintain and
defend; believing it to be our duty to stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel. And
whereas we are very sensible that our conduct, both in the world
and the church, ought to be such as becomes the gospel of Christ,
we judge it our incumbent duty, to walk in wisdom toward them that
are without the church, and to exercise a conscience void of
offence toward God and men, by living soberly, righteously and
godly in this present world. Regarding our common fellowship with
each other, we esteem it our duty to walk with each other in all
humility and brotherly love; to watch over each other's conduct;
to stir up one another to love and good works; not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as we have opportunity, to
worship God according to his revealed will; and when the case
requires, to warn, rebuke and admonish one another, according to
the rules of the Gospel.
Moreover, we believe that we are obliged to sympathize with each
other in all conditions, both inward and outward, which God, in
his providence, may bring us into; as also to bear with one
another's weaknesses, failings and infirmities; and particularly
to pray for one another, and that the Gospel, and all it's
ordinances, might be blessed to the edification and comfort of
each other's souls, and for the gathering in of others to Christ,
besides those who are already gathered.
In all these duties we desire to be sound in the performance of,
through the gracious assistance of the Holy Spirit; while we both
admire and adore the grace which has given us a place and a name
in God's house, better than that of sons and daughters (Isaiah
56:5.)
