1963 Baptist Faith and Message
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention
May 9, 1963
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE
The 1962 session of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in San Francisco, California,
adopted the following motion.
“Since the report of the Committee on Statement of Baptist Faith and Message was adopted
in 1925, there have been various statements from time to time which have been made, but
no overall statement which might be helpful at this time as suggested in Section 2 of that
report, or introductory statement which might be used as an interpretation of the 1925
Statement.
“We recommend, therefore, that the president of this Convention be requested to call a
meeting of the men now serving as presidents of the various state Conventions that would
qualify as a member of the Southern Baptist Convention committee under Bylaw 18 to
present to the Convention in Kansas City some similar statement which shall serve as
information to the churches, and which may serve as guidelines to the various agencies of
the Southern Baptist Convention. It is understood that any group or individuals may
approach this committee to be of service. The expenses of this committee shall be borne by
the Convention Operating Budget.”
Your committee thus constituted begs leave to present its report as follows:
Throughout its work your committee has been conscious of the contribution made by the
statement of “The Baptist Faith And Message” adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention
in 1925. It quotes with approval its affirmation that “Christianity is supernatural in its origin
and history. We repudiate every theory of religion which denies the supernatural elements
in our faith.”
Furthermore, it concurs in the introductory “statement of the historic Baptist conception of
the nature and function of confessions of faith in our religious and denominational life.” It is,
therefore, quoted in full as part of this report to the Convention.
(1) That they constitute a consensus of opinion of some Baptist body, large or small, for the
general instruction and guidance of our own people and others concerning those articles of
the Christian faith which are most surely held among us. They are not intended to add
anything to the simple conditions of salvation revealed in the New Testament, viz.,
repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(2) That we do not regard them as complete statements of our faith, having any quality of
finality or infallibility. As in the past so in the future Baptists should hold themselves free to
revise their statements of faith as may seem to them wise and expedient at any time.
(3) That any group of Baptists, large or small have the inherent right to draw up for
themselves and publish to the world a confession of their faith whenever they may think it
advisable to do so.
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(4) That the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is the Scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments. Confessions are only guides in interpretation, having no authority
over the conscience.
(5) That they are statements of religious convictions, drawn from the Scriptures, and are
not to be used to hamper freedom of thought or investigation in other realms of life.”
The 1925 Statement recommended “the New Hampshire Confession of Faith, revised at
certain points, and with some additional articles growing out of certain needs …” Your
present committee has adopted the same pattern. It has sought to build upon the structure
of the 1925 Statement, keeping in mind the “certain needs” of our generation. At times it
has reproduced sections of the Statement without change. In other instances it has
substituted words for clarity or added sentences for emphasis. At certain points it has
combined articles, with minor changes in wording, to endeavor to relate certain doctrines to
each other. In still others e.g., “God” and “Salvation” it has sought to bring together certain
truths contained throughout the 1925 Statement in order to relate them more clearly and
concisely. In no case has it sought to delete from or to add to the basic contents of the
1925 Statement.
Baptists are a people who profess a living faith. This faith is rooted and grounded in Jesus
Christ who is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.” Therefore, the sole authority
for faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ whose will is revealed in the Holy
Scriptures.
A living faith must experience a growing understanding of truth and must be continually
interpreted and related to the needs of each new generation. Throughout their history
Baptist bodies, both large and small, have issued statements of faith which comprise a
consensus of their beliefs. Such statements have never been regarded as complete,
infallible statements of faith, nor as official creeds carrying mandatory authority. Thus this
generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose as it
endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith
which are most surely held among us.
Baptists emphasize the soul’s competency before God, freedom in religion, and the
priesthood of the believer. However, this emphasis should not be interpreted to mean that
there is an absence of certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with
which they have been and are now closely identified.
It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings which
we believe.
Herschel H. Hobbs, Chairman Howard M. Reaves Ed. J. Packwood C.Z. Holland W.B.
Timberlake C.V. Koons Malcolm B. Knight Dick H. Hail, Jr. Charles R. Walker Walter R. Davis
Garth Pybas V.C. Kruschwitz Luther B. Hall Robert Woodward Douglas Hudgins Paul Weber,
Jr. R.A. Long Nane Starnes C. Hoge Hockensmith Hugh R. Bumpas David G. Anderson E.
Warren Rust James H. Landes R.P. Downey
I. THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of
Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author,
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salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. 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. The criterion by which the Bible is to be
interpreted is Jesus Christ.
Ex 24:4; De 4:1-2; 17:19; Jos 8:34
Psa 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140
Isa 34:16; 40:8; Jer 15:16; 36:1-32
Mat 5:17-18; 22:29; Lu 21:33; 24:44-46
Joh 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Ac 2:16; 17:11
Rom 15:4; 16:25-26; 2Ti 3:15-17
Heb 1:1-2; 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 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. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and
obedience.
The eternal 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
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.
Gen 1:1; 2:7; Ex 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11; 20:1
Lev 22:2; De 6:4; 32:6; 1Ch 29:10; Psa 19:1-3
Isa 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jer 10:10; 17:13
Mat 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11
John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7
Rom 8:14-15; 1Co 8:6; Gal 4:6; Eph 4:6
Col 1:15; 1Ti 1:17; Heb 11:6; 12:9; 1Pe 1:17; 1Jo 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 the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself
completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal
obedience, and in His 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, partaking of the nature of
God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man.
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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.
Gen 18:1; Psalm 2:7; 110:1; Isa 7:14; 53:1-12
Mat 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27
Mat 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
John 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
Rom 1; 3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4
1Co 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2Co 5:19-21
Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Php 2:5-11
Col 1:13-22; 2:9; 1Th 4:14-18; 1Ti 2:5-6; 3:16
Tit 2:13-14; Heb 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28
Heb 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1Pe 2:21-25; 3:22
1Jo 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14- 15; 5:9; 2Jo 7-9
Rev 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. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures.
Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of
sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects
regeneration. 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 assurance of God to bring the
believer into the fulness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer
and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen 1:2; Jud 14:6; Job 26:13; Psa 51:11; 139:7
Isa 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32
Mat 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mk 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 Acts 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6
Rom 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1Co 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11
Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1Th 5:19
1Ti 3:16; 4:1; 2Ti 1:14; 3:16; Heb 9:8, 14
2Pe 1:21; 1Jo 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev 1:10; 22:17
III. MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of
His 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, and as soon as they are capable of moral action 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
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is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man;
therefore every man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Gen 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6
Psa 1:1-6; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa 6:5; Jer 17:5
Matt 16:26; Acts 17:26-31
Rom 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6
Rom 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1Co 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22
Eph 2:1-22; Col 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, sanctification, and
glorification.
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.
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 into a relationship
of peace and favor with God.
B. 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 perfection
through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should
continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.
C. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of
the redeemed.
Gen 3:15; Ex 3:14-17; 6:2-8
Mat 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
John 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31
Acts 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3
Rom 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10, 13
Rom 13:11-14; 1Cor 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10
2Co 5:17-20; Gal 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15
Eph 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:9-22; 3:1
1Th 5:23-24; 2Tim 1:12; Titus 2:11-14
Heb 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14
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James 2:14-26; 1Pe 1:2-23; 1Jo 1:6-2:11
Rev 3:20; 21:1-22:5
V. GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, 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 a 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, 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.
Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-8; 1Sa 8:4-7, 19-22
Isa 5:1-7; Jer 31:31
Mat 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
John 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32
Rom 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36
1Co 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11
Col 1:12-14; 2Th 2:13-14; 2Ti 1:12; 2:10, 19
Heb 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10
1Jo 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2
VI. THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who
are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two
ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.
This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its
Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which includes all of the
redeemed of all the ages.
Mat 16:15-19; 18:15-20
Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27
Acts 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom 1:7
1Co 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12
Eph 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32
Php 1:1; Col 1:18; 1Ti 3:1-15; 4:14
VII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
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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 Lords 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.
Mat 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mk 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
Rom 6:3-5; 1Co 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col 2:12
VIII. THE LORD’S DAY
The first day of the week is the Lords Day. It is a Christian institution for regular
observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be
employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by
refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of
necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Ex 20:8-11; Mat 12:1-12; 28:1; Mk 2:27-28; 16:1-7
Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28
Acts 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2; Col 2:16; 3:16; Rev 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.
Gen 1:1; Isa 9:6-7; Jer 23:5-6
Mat 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29
Mk 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32
Luke 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36
Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom 5:17; 8:19
1Co 15:24-28; Col 1:13; Heb 11:10, 16; 12:28
1Pe 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev 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
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their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in
Heaven with the Lord.
Isa 2:4; 11:9; Mat 16:27; 18:8-9
Mat 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
Luke 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3
Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom 14:10; 1Co 4:5
1Co 15:24-28, 35-58; 2Co 5:10; Php 3:20-21
Col 1:5; 3:4; 1Th 4:14-18; 5:1; 2Th 1:7; 2:1-17
1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1, 8; Tit 2:13; Heb 9:27-28
James 5:8; 2Pe 3:7; 1Jo 2:28; 3:2
Jude 14; Rev 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. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly
to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the
gospel of Christ.
Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-6; Isa 6:1-8
Mat 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19
Mat 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
Rom 10:13-15; Eph 3:1-11; 1Th 1:8; 2Ti 4:5
Heb 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 2:4-10; Rev 22:17
XII. EDUCATION
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 schools is necessary to a complete spiritual
program for Christs 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.
De 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh 8:1-8; Job 28:28
Psa 19:7; 119:11; Pro 3:13; 4:1-10; 8:1-7, 11; 15:14
Ecc 7:19; Mat 5:2; 7:24; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40
1Co 1:18-31; Eph 4:11-16; Php 4:8; Col 2:3, 8-9
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1Ti 1:3-7; 2Ti 2:15; 3:14-17; Heb 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 Redeemers cause
on earth.
Gen 14:20; Lev 27:30-32; De 8:18; Mal 3:8-12
Mat 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29
Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47
Acts 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Ro 6:6-22; 12:1-2
1Co 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2Co 8-9; 12:15
Php 4:10-19; 1Pe 1:18-19
XIV. COOPERATION
Christs 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 Christs Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual
harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christs 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.
Ex 17:12; 18:17; Jud 7:21; Ezr 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15
Ne 4; 8:1-5; Mat 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20
Mk 2:3; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1; 4:31-37; 13:2-3
Acts 15:1-35; 1Co 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2Co 8:1-9:15
Gal 1:6-10; Eph 4:1-16; Php 1:15-18
XV. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life
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 Christ
Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness,
and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless,
and the sick. 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
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good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their
loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Ex 20:3-17; Lev 6:2-5; De 10:12; 27:17
Psalm 101:5; Mic 6:8; Zech 8:16
Mat 5:13-16, 43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35
Mk 1:29-34, 2:3; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25
John 15:12; 17:15; Rom 12-14; 1Co 5:9-10; 6:1-7
1Co 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Gal 3:26-28; Eph 6:5-9
Col 3:12-17; 1Th 3:12; Phm 1:1-25; Jas 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.
Isa 2:4; Mat 5:9, 38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38
Rom 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Heb 12:14; Jas 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.
Gen 1:27; 2:7; Mat 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21
John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom 6:1-2; 13:1-7
Gal 5:1, 13; Php 3:20; 1Ti 2:1-2; Jas 4:12
1Pe 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19
