Rev Francisco Bilog- Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(Neh.9:6; Deut.6:4; Isa. 6:3; Jer.10:10; Ps. 90:2; Eph.4:6; John 4:24;
I John 4:16; Romans 16:27; I timothy 1:17; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19).
2. Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man.
The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person never to be divided, whereof one is Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, died and buried, to reconcile His Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sin’s of man. (I Tim. 2:5; I cor.8:6; John 1:1,14; 6:69; 16:28 Col.2:9; Acts 3:26).
3. Of the Resurrection of Christ.
Christ did truly rise from the dead and took again His body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and there sitteth until He returns to judge all men at the last day.
(Matt. 28:7; I Cor. 15:20; Acts 1:9, 11; 3;21; 17:31; Mark 16:19; Rom. 8:34;
Eph. 1:20; Heb.10:12; 2 Tim. 1:7;)
4. Of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.
(Matt. 28:19; John 16:13; Rom. 8:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:17)
5. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scripture for Salvation.
The Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation, so whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that
it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought as a requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old Testament and New Testament whose authority was never of any doubt in the church.
(Ps. 19:7; John 5:39; 2 Tim.3:15; James 1:21; Luke 24:7)
6. Of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testament, for in both Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore, the New Testament is a continuation fulfillment and clarification of the Old Testament prophecies. (Luke 24:27, 44; Matt. 5:17; Romans 2:14)
7. Of Original Sin or Birth Sin.
Original sin is not inherited in the following of Adam, but it is the power of sin that corrupt the very nature of every man, that naturally obtained when we are born into this world. Whereby, our own nature inclines to evil that no matter how pure we are at birth, we find ourselves to a powerful bent toward sinning.
(Romans5:12,19; Mark 10:14; Matt. 18:3)
8. Of Free Will.
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have good that will.
(John 15:5; Romans5:6; Eph. 2:3; Phil. 2:13).
9. Of the Justification of Man.
We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by faith, and not by our own works. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, in a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
(Eph.2:8-9; 3:28; Romans 5:1; Col. 2:14)
10. Of Good Works
Although good works, which are the fruit of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God’s judgment, yet are they
pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of true and lively faith, in so much that by them a lively may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruits (Romans 3:20, Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:26, Gal. 5:22)
11. Of Works of Supererogation
Voluntary works- besides, over and above God’s commandment- which they call works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. This is natural tendency but this should not be the case. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto god as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for His sake than of bounden duty id required, whereas Christ said plainly, “When you have done all that is commanded you say, We are unprofitable servants. (Job 22:3; Luke 17:10)
12. Of Sin after Justification
Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness in such as truly repent. (Jer. 3:22; I John 2:1; 1: 9; Rev. 2:5)
13. Of the Church
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in which the pure word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
( I Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:11-12; Acts 20:28)
14. Of Purgatory.
The Roman Catholic doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration; as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints is a fond thing invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God. (Mark 2:7; Exodus 20:4; Matthew 4:10)
15. Of Speaking in the Congregation In such a Tongue as the People Understand.
It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the customs of the primitive church, to have public prayer in the church or to administer the Sacraments, in a tongue not understood by the people. (I Cor. 14:2, 19.)
16. Of the Sacraments.
Sacraments ordained by Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, rather they are certain signs of grace, and God’s good will toward us, by which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him.
There are two sacraments enacted by Christ our Lord in the Gospel. They are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The five commonly called sacraments, namely, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction are not to be counted as Holy Sacraments of the gospel, such having partly being a state of life allowed in the scripture, because they do not have any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God. These sacraments were not ordained by Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthy received the same they have a wholesome effect or operation but they that receive them unworthy, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul said, I Corinthians11:29; Mtt.26:26; 1 Cor.11:23-24.
17. Baptism:
Baptism is not only a sign and a mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized but it also a sign of regeneration of new birth. The baptism of young children are to be retained in the church. Acts 22:16; John 3:5; Mk. 16:16.
18. The Lord’s Supper
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather it is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthy, ad with faith receive the same, the bread which is a partaking of the body of Christ and likewise the cup of blessings is a partaking of the blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation or change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord (Roman Catholic Doctrine), cannot be proved by the Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.
The body of Christ is given, taken,, and eaten in the supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the supper is faith.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s supper was not by Christ’s ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worship. (Luke 22:19-20.
19. Of Both Bread and Wine.
The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people, for both the parts of the Lord’s Supper, by Christ’s ordinance and commandment, ought to be administered to all Christians alike.
20. One Oblation of Christ, Finish Upon the Cross
The offering of Christ, once made is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and
satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Where, the sacrifice of masses, which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of sin and guilt is blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit. Heb. 9:28; Roman 6:9-10; Acts 4:12; Heb. 10:26;
21. Marriage of Ministers
The ministers of Christ are not commanded by god’s law either to vow of the state of single life or abstain from marriage; therefore, it is lawful for them, as for all other Christians, to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve best to Godliness. Matthew 8:14; Acts 29:9; I Timothy 3:2; I Cor 9:5..
22. Of the Rites and Ceremonies
It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have always been different, and maybe change according to the diversity of countries, times, and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God’s Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approve by the common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and wounded not the conscience of weak brethren.
Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things maybe done to edification. I Peter 2:16; Romans 14:5; I Cor.14:26
23. Civil Government
We believe civil government derives its just power from the sovereign God. As Christians we recognize the government under whose protection we reside and believe such government should be based on, and be responsible for, the recognition of human rights under God. We believe war and bloodshed are contrary to the gospel and spirit of Christ. We believe it is the duty of Christian. To give moral strength and purpose to their respective governments through sober, righteous and godly living. It is the duty of all Christians, and especially of all Christian ministers, to obey and observe all the laws and command of the government or supreme authority of the country of which they are citizens or subjects or in which they reside, and to use all laudable means to encourage and enjoin obedience to the powers that be. Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1, 3-4.
24. The Christian and Property.
We believe God is the owner of all things and that the individual holding of property is lawful and is a sacred trust under God. Private property is to be used for the manifestation of Christian love and liberality, and to support the church mission in the world. All form of property whether private, corporate or public, are to be held in solemn trust and used responsibly for human good under the sovereignty of God. Exodus 20:15; Matthew 5:24; I John 3:17
25. Of Christian Man’s Ought
As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden. Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James his apostles, so we judge that the Christian religion does not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requires, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet’s teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth. Jeremiah 4:3; Heb.6:16; Matthew 5:33-34; Romans 13:1.