BASF
The Foundation.-- That the book currently known as the Bible,
consisting of the Scriptures of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, is the
only source of knowledge concerning God and His purposes at present extant or
available in the earth, and that the same were wholly given by inspiration of
God in the writers, and are consequently without error in all parts of them,
except such as may be due to errors of transcription or translation (2Ti 3:16;
1Co 2:13; Heb 1:1; 2Pe 1:21; 1Co 14:37; Neh 9:30; Joh 10:35).
Truth to be Received
I.-- That the only true God is He who was revealed to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, by angelic visitation and vision, and to Moses at the flaming
bush (unconsumed) and at Sinai, and who manifested Himself in the Lord Jesus
Christ, as the supreme self-existent Deity, the ONE FATHER, dwelling in
unapproachable light, yet everywhere present by His Spirit, which is a unity
with His person in heaven. He hath, out of His own underived energy, created
heaven and earth, and all that in them is (Isa 40:13-25; 43:10-12; 44:6-8; 45:5;
46:9,10; Job 38,39, and 40; Deu 6:1-4; Mar 12:29-32; 1Co 8:4-6; Eph 4:6; 1Ti
2:5; Neh 9:6; Job 26:13; Psa 124:8; 146:6; 148:5; Isa 40:25-27; Jer 10:12,13;
27:5; 32:17-25; 51:15; Act 14:15; 17:24; 1Ch 29:11-14; Psa 62:11; 145:3; Isa
26:4; 40:26; Job 9:4; 36:5; Psa 92:5; 104:24; 147:4,5; Isa 28:29; Rom 16:27; 1Ti
1:17; 2Ch 16:9; Job 28:24; 34:21; Psa 33:13,14; 44:21; 94:9; 139:7-12; Pro 15:3;
Jer 23:24; 32:19; Amo 9:2,3; Act 17:27,28; Psa 123:1; 1Ki 8:30-39,43,49; Mat
6:9; 1Ti 6:15,16; 1:17).
II.-- That Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, begotten of
the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, without the intervention of man, and
afterwards anointed with the same spirit, without measure, at his baptism (Mat
1:23; 1Ti 3:16; Act 2:22-24,36; Mat 1:18-25; Luk 1:26-35; Gal 4:4; Isa 7:14; Mat
3:16,17; Isa 11:2; 42:1; 61:1; Joh 3:34; 7:16; 8:26-28; 14:10-24).
III.-- That the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth on the earth
was necessitated by the position and state into which the human race had been
brought by the circumstances connected with the first man (1Co 15:21,22; Rom
5:12-19; Gen 3:19; 2Co 5:19-21).
IV.-- That the first man was Adam, whom God created out of the
dust of the ground as a living soul, or natural body of life, "very good" in
kind and condition, and placed him under a law through which the continuance of
life was contingent on obedience (Gen 2:7; 18:27; Job 4:19; 33:6; 1Co 15:46-49;
Gen 2:17).
V.-- That Adam broke this law, and was adjudged unworthy of
immortality, and sentenced to return to the ground from whence he was taken -- a
sentence which defiled and became a physical law of his being, and was
transmitted to all his posterity (Gen 3:15-19,22,23; 2Co 1:9; Rom 7:24; 2Co
5:2-4; Rom 7:18-23; Gal 5:16,17; Rom 6:12; 7:21; Joh 3:6; Rom 5:12; 1Co 15:22;
Psa 51:5; Job 14:4).
VI.-- That God, in His kindness, conceived a plan of
restoration which, without setting aside His just and necessary law of sin and
death, should ultimately rescue the race from destruction, and people the earth
with sinless immortals (Rev 21:4; Joh 3:16; 2Ti 1:10; 1 Joh 2:25; 2Ti 1:1; Titus
1:2; Rom 3:26; Joh 1:29).
VII.-- That He inaugurated this plan by making promises to
Adam, Abraham, and David, and afterwards elaborated it in greater detail through
the prophets (Gen 3:15; 21:18; Psa 89:34-37; 33:5; Hosea 13:14; Isa 25:7-9;
51:1-8; Jer 23:5).
VIII.-- That these promises had reference to Jesus Christ, who
was to be raised up in the condemned line of Abraham and David, and who, though
wearing their condemned nature, was to obtain a title to resurrection by perfect
obedience, and, by dying, abrogate the law of condemnation for himself and all
who should believe and obey him (1Co 15:45; Heb 2:14-16; Rom 1:3; Heb 5:8,9;
1:9; Rom 5:19-21; Gal 4:4,5; Rom 8:3,4; Heb 2:15; 9:26; Gal 1:4; Heb 7:27;
5:3-7; 2:17; Rom 6:10; 6:9; Act 13:34-37; Rev 1:18; Joh 5:21,22,26,27; 14:3; Rev
2:7; 3:21; Mat 25:21; Heb 5:9; Mar 16:16; Act 13:38,39; Rom 3:22; Psa 2:6-9; Dan
7:13,14; Rev 11:15; Jer 23:5; Zec 14:9; Eph 1:9,10).
IX.-- That it was this mission that necessitated the
miraculous begettal of Christ of a human mother, enabling him to bear our
condemnation, and, at the same time, to be a sinless bearer thereof, and,
therefore, one who could rise after suffering the death required by the
righteousness of God (Mat 1:18-25; Luk 1:26-35; Gal 4:4; Isa 7:14; Rom 1:3,4;
8:3; 2Co 5:21; Heb 2:14-17; 4:15).
X.-- That being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used by
God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us,
God manifest in the flesh -- yet was, during his natural life, of like nature
with mortal man, being made of a woman, of the house and lineage of David, and
therefore a sufferer, in the days of his flesh, from all the effects that came
by Adam's transgression, including the death that passed upon all men, which he
shared by partaking of their physical nature (Mat 1:23; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:14; Gal
4:4; Heb 2:17).
XI.-- That the message he delivered from God to his kinsmen
the Jews, was a call to repentance from every evil work, the assertion of his
divine sonship and Jewish kingship; and the proclamation of the glad tidings
that God would restore their kingdom through him, and accomplish all things
written in the prophets (Mar 1:15; Mat 4:17; 4:20-48; Joh 10:36; 9:35; 11:27;
19:21; 1:49; Mat 27:11-42; Joh 10:24,25; Mat 19:28; 21:42,43; 23:38,39; 25:14 to
the end; Luk 4:43; 13:27-30; 19:11-27; 22:28-30; Mat 5:17; Luk 24:44).
XII.-- That for delivering this message, he was put to death
by the Jews and Romans, who were, however, but instruments in the hands of God,
for the doing of that which He had determined before to be done--viz, the
condemnation of sin in the flesh, through the offering of the body of Jesus once
for all, as a propitiation to declare the righteousness of God, as a basis for
the remission of sins. All who approach God through this crucified, but risen,
representative of Adam's disobedient race, are forgiven. Therefore, by a figure,
his blood cleanseth from sin (Luk 19:47; 20:1-16; Joh 11:45-53; Act 10:38,39;
13:26-29; 4:27,28; Rom 8:3; Heb 10:10; Rom 3:25; Act 13:38; 1 Joh 1:7; Joh 14:6;
Act 4:12; 1 Peter 3:18; 2:24; Heb 9:14; 7:27; 9:26-28; Gal 1:4; Rom 3:25; 15:8;
Gal 3:21,22; 2:21; 4:4,5; Heb 9:15; Luk 22:20; 24:26,46,47; Mat
26:28).
XIII.-- That on the third day, God raised him from the dead,
and exalted him to the heavens as priestly mediator between God and man, in the
process of gathering from among them a people who should be saved by the belief
and obedience of the truth (1Co 15:4; Act 10:40; 13:30-37; 2:24-27).
XIV.-- That he is a priest over his own house only, and does
not intercede for the world, or for professors who are abandoned to
disobedience. That he makes intercession for his erring brethren, if they
confess and forsake their sins (Luk 24:51; Eph 1:20; Act 5:31; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:1;
Act 15:14; 13:39; Heb 4:14,15; Joh 17:9; Heb 10:26; 1 Joh 2:1; Pro
28:13).
XV.-- That he sent forth apostles to proclaim salvation
through him, as the only name given under heaven whereby men may be saved (Act
1:8; Mat 28:19,20; Luk 24:46-48; Act 26:16-18; 4:12).
XVI.-- That the way to obtain this salvation is to believe the
gospel they preached, and to take on the name and service of Christ, by being
thereupon immersed in water, and continuing patiently in the observance of all
things he has commanded, none being recognized as his friends except those who
do what he has commanded (Act 13:48; 16:31; Mar 16:16; Rom 1:16; Act 2:38,41;
10:47; 8:12; Gal 3:27-29; Rom 6:3-5; 2:7; Mat 28:20; Joh 15:14).
XVII.-- That the gospel consists of "the thing concerning the
Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (Act 8:12; 19:8,10,20;
28:30,31).
XVIII.-- That the things of the Kingdom of God are the facts
testified concerning the Kingdom of God in the writings of the prophets and
apostles, and definable as in the next twelve paragraphs.
XIX.-- That God will set up a kingdom in the earth, which will
overthrow all others, and change them into "the kingdoms of our Lord and his
Christ" (Dan 2:44; 7:13,14; Rev 11:15; Isa 32:1,6; 2:3,4; 11:9,10).
XX.-- That for this purpose God will send Jesus Christ
personally to the earth at the close of the times of the Gentiles (Act 3:20,21;
Psa 102:16,21; 2Ti 4:1; Act 1:9,11; Dan 7:13).
XXI.-- That the kingdom which he will establish will be the
kingdom of Israel restored, in the territory it formerly occupied, viz., the
land bequeathed for an everlasting possession to Abraham and his seed (the
Christ) by covenant (Micah 4:6-8; Amo 9:11,15; Eze 37:21,22; Jer 23:3,8; Gen
13:14,17; Heb 11:8,9; Gal 3:16; Lev 26:42; Micah 7:20).
XXII.-- That this restoration of the kingdom again to Israel
will involve the ingathering of God's chosen but scattered nation, the Jews;
their reinstatement in the land of their fathers, when it shall have been
reclaimed from "the desolation of many generations"; the building again of
Jerusalem to become "the throne of the Lord" and the metropolis of the whole
earth (Isa 11:12; Jer 31:10; Zec 8:8; Eze 36:34,36; Isa 51:3; 60:15; 62:4; Jer
3:17; Micah 4:7,8; Joel 3:17; Isa 24:23).
XXIII.-- That the governing body of the kingdom so established
will be the brethren of Christ, of all generations, developed by resurrection
and change, and constituting, with Christ as their head, the collective "seed of
Abraham", in whom all nations will be blessed, and comprising "Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, and all the prophets", and all in their age of like faithfulness (Dan
12:2; Luk 13:28; Rev 11:18; 1Th 4:15-17; Joh 5:28,29; 6:39,40; Luk 14:14; Mat
24:34,46).
XXIV.-- That at the appearing of Christ prior to the
establishment of the Kingdom, the responsible (namely, those who know the
revealed will of God, and have been called upon to submit to it), dead and
living -- obedient and disobedient -- will be summoned before his judgment seat
"to be judged according to their works"; and "receive in body according to what
they have done, whether it be good or bad" (2Co 5:10; 2Ti 4:1; Rom 2:5,6,16;
14:10-12; 1Co 4:5; Rev 11:18).
XXV.-- That the unfaithful will be consigned to shame and "the
second death", and the faithful, invested with immortality, and exalted to reign
with Jesus as joint heirs of the kingdom, co-possessors of the earth, and joint
administrators of God's authority among men in everything (Mat 7:26; 8:12;
25:20; Dan 12:2; Gal 6:8; 5:21; 2Th 1:8; Heb 10:26-28; 2Pe 2:12; Rev 21:8; Mal
4:1; Psa 37:30-38; Pro 10:25-29; 1Co 15:51-55; 2Co 5:1-4; Jam 1:12; Rom 2:7; Joh
10:28; Mat 5:5; Psa 37:9,22,29; Rev 5:9; Dan 7:27; 1Th 2:12; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 3:21;
2Ti 2:12; Rev 5:10; Psa 49:7-9; Luk 22:29,30).
XXVI.-- That the Kingdom of God, thus constituted, will
continue a thousand years, during which sin and death will continue among the
earth's subject inhabitants, though in a much milder degree than now (Rev
20:4-8; 12:15; Isa 65:20; Eze 44:22,25; 1Co 15:24,28).
XXVII.-- That a law will be established which shall go forth
to the nations for their "instruction in righteousness", resulting in the
abolition of war to the ends of the earth; and the "filling of the earth with
the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea" (Micah 4:2;
Isa 42:4; 11:1-5; 2:4; Hab 2:14).
XXVIII.-- That the mission of the Kingdom will be to subdue
all enemies, and finally death itself, by opening up the way of life to the
nations, which they will enter by faith, during the thousand years, and (in
reality) at their close (1Co 15:25,26; Rev 21:4; 20:12-15; Isa
25:6-8).
XXIX.-- That at the close of the thousand years, there will be
a general resurrection and judgment, resulting in the final extinction of the
wicked, and the immortalization of those who shall have established their title
(under the grace of God) to eternal life during the thousand years (Rev
20:11-15; 1Co 15:24).
XXX.-- That the government will then be delivered up by Jesus
to the Father, who will manifest Himself as the "all-in-all"; sin and death
having been taken out of the way, and the race completely restored to the
friendship of the Deity (1Co 15:28).
Doctrines to be Rejected
1. That the Bible is only partly the work of inspiration --
or if wholly so contains errors which inspiration has allowed.
2. That God is three persons.
3. That the Son of God was co-eternal with the
Father.
4. That Christ was born with a "free life".
5. That Christ's nature was immaculate.
6. That the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from the
Father.
7. That man has an immortal soul.
8. That man consciously exists in death.
9. That the wicked will suffer eternal torture in
hell.
10. That the righteous will ascend to the kingdoms beyond the
skies when they die.
11. That the devil is a supernatural personal being.
12. That the Kingdom of God is "the church".
13. That the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of
Christ merely.
14. That Christ will not come till the close of the thousand
years.
15. That the tribunal of Christ, when he comes, is not for the
judgment of saints, but merely to divide among them different degrees of
reward.
16. That the resurrection is confined to the
faithful.
17. That the dead rise in an immortal state.
18. That the subject-nations of the thousand years are
immortal.
19. That the law of Moses is binding on believers of the
Gospel.
20. That the observance of Sunday is a matter of
duty.
21. That baby-sprinkling is a doctrine of Scripture.
22. That "heathens", idiots, pagans, and very young children
will be saved.
23. That man can be saved by morality or sincerity, without
the Gospel.
24. That the Gospel alone will save, without the obedience of
Christ's commandments.
25. That a man cannot believe without possessing the Spirit of
God.
26. That men are predestined to salvation
unconditionally.
27. That there is no sin in the flesh.
28. That Joseph was the actual father of Jesus.
29. That the earth will be destroyed.
30. That baptism is not necessary to salvation.
31. That a knowledge of the truth is not necessary to make
baptism valid.
32. That some meats are to be refused on the score of
uncleanness.
33. That the English are the ten tribes of Israel, whose
prosperity is a fulfillment of the promises made concerning Ephraim.
34. That marriage with an unbeliever is lawful.
35. That we are at liberty to serve in the army, or as police
constables, take part in politics, or recover debts by legal
coercion.
