Rev. Nathaniel Manderson

 

 

 

 

The following is a declaration of the faith and practice of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Bristol, RI adopted at its constitution, and can be found in its entirety in the Manual of the First Baptist Church, Bristol, RI.

Articles of general doctrines (in part):
   We believe that there is but one only living and true God, who is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his Being, Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Goodness and Truth. 

   That there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who are but one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.  

   That God, who is infinite in knowledge, and perfectly views all things from the beginning to the end, hath foreordained that whatever comes to pass, either by his order or permission, shall work for the eternal glory of his great name. 

   We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a number of his saints and people, by mutual acquaintance and communion voluntarily and understandingly covenanting and embodying together for upholding and promoting the worship and service of God, to show forth his declarative glory, and for their own edification.

   That Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Christ, to be continued until his second coming; and that the former is requisite to the latter; that is to say, that those are to be admitted into the communion of the Church, and to partake of all its ordinances and privileges, who upon confession of their faith have been baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The Church Covenant of the First Baptist Church of Bristol, Rhode Island

Having been led by the Holy Spirit to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and having acknowledged in baptism our obligations to live a new and a holy life, we do now, relying on God our Father, our Savior, and our Leader, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another.

We engage, therefore, God helping us, to work together in Christian love; to encourage each other in the work God has given us to do, to promote a spirit of understanding and forbearance; to abstain from all bitterness and anger and evil speaking and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.

 
We will, so far as we are able, exercise a Christian care over each other and will faithfully help one another as the need may be.  We will rejoice in each other’s good, and with sympathy and tenderness bear each other’s burdens.  We also engage to support the work of our church; to protect the integrity of any office entrusted to our care.

 

To study the Scriptures, and apply them to our lives, and defend them before men.  We will oppose anything that would weaken the Christian influence among us, and study to show ourselves approved unto God; so that through life, amidst evil report and good report, we shall glorify Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.