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1 A Strict And Particular Baptist Church Organized In The Philippines
Jared and Elna Smith arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday, 16 October 2019. With the blessing of their church in London, England, they have followed the leading of the Lord to pioneer a Strict and Particular Baptist witness in the Philippines. Jared is serving as an Evangelist, in the biblical sense of the office— preaching the gospel, organizing churches and training pastors. This work officially began on Sunday, 20 October, when Jared and Elna organized themselves into a church. On Sunday, 27 October, this church will begin meeting in San Pedro, Laguna, at a property donated by co-laborers in the gospel. However, having not yet visited this head quarters, Jared and Elna met first as a church in Lipa, Batangas. It is here that members…
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2 My Articles of Faith
Among the historical confessions of faith, I am most closely aligned with the 1644 First London Baptist Confession of Faith and the 1729 Goat Yard Declaration of Faith. However, I believe fresh statements of faith should be drawn up by every generation, and for that matter, by every individual believer in Christ. To that end, I have condensed the basis of my faith into seventy points. 1. I believe God has plenarily and verbally inspired the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 2. I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are without error. 3. I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are preserved in the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus. 4. I believe the most…
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3 Preface
A Statement of Faith designed for the Covenant Baptist churches in the Philippines. I have served for almost 20 years as the pastor of a Strict and Particular Baptist church in London, England. In 2017, my wife and I grew increasingly burdened to pioneer a Strict and Particular Baptist movement in the Philippines. Although we plan on beginning this work in the summer of 2019, the Lord has already paved the way for the first church to be organised within the next three weeks (12 August 2018). Subsequently, I have been prompted to draw up a Statement of Faith around which the new church may be organized. There are actually two parts to the Statement: First, there is A Declaration of Faith arranged under 70…
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4 A Declaration of Faith
We are historically linked with a circle of churches in England known as “Strict and Particular Baptists”. The term Strict refers to the Lord’s Table designed for and restricted to the members of the church; the term Particular refers to the Lord’s Atonement designed for and restricted to elect sinners. However, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, we are choosing to identify ourselves as “Covenant Baptists”. The term ‘covenant’ refers to both of the preceding doctrines. The privilege of observing the Lord’s Table is based on the covenant church members have made with each other; and, the blessing of redeeming grace is based on the covenant the TriUne Jehovah has made with Himself. In order that we be easily identified with these doctrines, we…
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5 An Explanation of Faith
1. Of the Holy Scriptures. We believe the sum and substance of our faith is set forth in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. (2 Tim 3:14-17) These scriptures are plenarily and verbally given by the inspiration of God and therefore inerrant in all their parts. (2 Pet 1:19,20) God has preserved His Word through the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus. (Ps 119:89) The Authorised Version is the most reliable translation of the Bible in English which is the official translation used in this church. The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and practice. (Ps 19:7-11) 2. Of the One True and Only God. We believe the scriptures reveal the one…
