Zion Primitive Baptist Church was constituted on the Saturday before the third Sunday in May, 1847. On that date, seven charter members adopted Articles of Faith for the church that stated in writing what the core beliefs of Zion Church were.

Interestingly, these Articles of Faith are almost identical to the articles of faith of nearly all Baptist churches – Primitive, Missionary, or otherwise – that were constituted during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. Unfortunately, most of the non-Primitive Baptist churches have either amended these articles, or moved so far away from them that they would be completely foreign to their modern congregations!

However, Zion Primitive Baptist Church has neither amended nor moved away from these original Articles of Faith! Last year, we celebrated our 175th year since the church constitution, and we still believe and teach these same Articles of Faith today.

Is this because those seven charter members were so smart, or so educated? Was it because they got together and devised these Articles so that they would last? The answer is a resounding “No!” The reason these Articles of Faith have endured for nearly two centuries is that they were founded upon the clear teachings of the Word of God. No man could have devised such writings, only God!

These Articles of Faith are listed below. In the last article, due to the illegibility of the handwriting, you will see that I have supplied the word “eternity”, which is apparently what the writers intended to use. In any event, it fits within the context and does no harm to the original intent. I have encased the word within brackets to make it clear that it has been supplied.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to deal with each of these Articles, and establish from Scripture that these statements of faith are indeed the truth of the Word of God. Please join us as we look at these time-honored, biblical statements.

May the Lord bless you is my prayer.

Elder Chris McCool, Pastor

ARTICLES OF FAITH OF ZION PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

(adopted May 15, 1847)

ARTICLE ONE: WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, AND THAT THERE ARE THREE PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, AND THESE THREE ARE ONE.

ARTICLE TWO:  WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ARE THE WORD OF GOD AND ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE.

ARTICLE THREE:  WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION, PREDESTINATION, AND THE FINAL PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS THROUGH GRACE AND THAT GOD CHOSE HIS PEOPLE IN CHRIST BEFORE WORLD BEGAN.

ARTICLE FOUR:  WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN AND IMPOTENCY OF MAN[’S] RECOVERY IN AND OF HIMSELF FROM THE FALLEN STATE IN WHICH HE IS IN BY NATURE

ARTICLE FIVE:  WE BELIEVE THAT SINNERS ARE JUSTIFIED ONLY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD BY THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST

ARTICLE SIX:  WE BELIEVE THAT GOD’S ELECT SHALL BE CALLED AND REGENERATED AND SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST

ARTICLE SEVEN:  WE BELIEVE THAT BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER ARE ORDINANCES INSTITUTED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TRUE BELIEVERS IN HIM ARE THE ONLY SUBJECTS CHRIST INSTITUTED THESE ORDINANCES FOR, AND THAT BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IS THE ONLY PROPER MODE.

ARTICLE EIGHT:  WE BELIEVE IN A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND A GENERAL JUDGMENT AND THAT THE FELICITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED SHALL BE IN [ETERNITY].