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  Also known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, this authoritative statement of the orthodox faith was the consensus of the Christian councils in Nicea (A.D. 325) and Constantinople (A.D. 381). The wording and concepts in the Nicene Creed come entirely from the New Testament, and it is the most widely accepted and used brief statement of the Christian Faith.   We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.   We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.   We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic[1] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism[2] for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.   1. In the Creed, the word ‘catholic’ has its dictionary definition of ‘universal.’   2. ‘For’ has the meaning ‘because of’ as in ‘she cried for joy.’ Thus, the Creed does NOT teach baptismal regeneration, nor does the Bible.

In this audio message, Mike Davenport discusses how we can edify others by our words. James 3 has much to say about the power of the tongue. Throughout the course of this message, he brings out three lessons that we can learn from this chapter. We must exercise mastery of our words. James 3:1-3 (NKJV) - "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body."

  I. WE AFFIRM that God exists uniquely, being separate from the universe, as well as being independent of any external conditions or limitations which characterize the existence and life of everything in the universe.   WE DENY that all being is one, that there are no fundamental distinctions in reality, and that God is somehow identical with what is opposite of Him.   WE DENY that God is part of or correlative to the world, that God must exist under all the same conditions or restrictions as any other thing which exists, and that history or the world process exists within God as part of His own development.   WE DENY that there is anything which exists as an intermediate kind of entity between the Creator and the creation, being neither fully divine nor fully creature.   II. WE AFFIRM that God is a personal, sovereign, transcendent, and triune Spirit; He alone is infinite, self-sufficient, unchanging, and eternal.   WE DENY that God is a secondary, created, developing, or dependent being.   WE DENY that God is a being composed of physical matter, regardless of how refined matter is construed to be.   WE DENY that the act of creation changed the being of God, added anything to His perfections, or altered the internal relations among the persons of the Trinity.   WE DENY that God’s eternal plan, purpose, or decree of creation is inseparable from the execution of that plan or that any created thing was brought into actual existence from all eternity.   WE DENY that anything apart from God is equally ultimate with Him, and that any created thing has in itself the abilities or prerogatives of God.   WE DENY that the ideas, forms, essences, concepts, or ideals of things can exist of themselves or have existed eternally apart from God.   WE DENY that matter, the physical universe, angels, and souls can exist of themselves or have existed eternally.   WE DENY any view which maintains or implies that any reality distinct from God is not dependent upo

1. When any Schollar is able to Read Tully or such like classicall Latine Author ex tempore, and make and speake true Latin in verse and prose suo (ut aiunt) Marte, and decline perfectly the paradigmes of Nounes and verbes in the Greeke tongue, then may hee bee admitted into the College, nor shall any claime admission before such qualifications. 2. Every one shall consider the mayne End of his life and studyes, to know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternall life. John 17.3. 3. Seeing the Lord giveth wisdome, every one shall seriously by prayer in secret, seeke wisdome of him. Prov. 2.2,3 etc. 4. Every one shall so exercise himselfe in reading the Scriptures twice a day that they bee ready to give an account of their proficiency therein, both in theoreticall observations of Language and Logicke, and in practicall and spirituall truthes as their tutor shall require according to their severall abilities respectively, seeing the Entrance of the word giveth light etc. Psal. 119, 130. 5. In the publicke Church assembly they shall carefully shunne all gestures that shew any contempt or neglect of Gods ordinances and bee ready to give an account to their tutors of their profiting and to use the helpes of Storing themselves with knowledge, as their tutours shall direct them, and all Sophisters and Bachellors (until themselves make common place) shall publiquely repeate Sermons in the Hall whenver they are called forth. 6. they shall eschew all prophanation of Gods holy name, attributes, word, ordinances, and times of worship, and study with Reverence and love carefully to reteine God and his truth in their minds. 7. they shall honour as their parents, Magistrates, Elders, tutours and aged persons, by beeing silent in their presence (except they bee called on to answer) not gainesaying shewing all those laudable expressions of honour and Reverence in their presence, that are in uses as bowing before them standing uncovered or the like. 8. they shall be slow to speake, and eschew not onely oathes, Lies, and uncertaine Rumours, but likewise all idle, foolish, bitter scoffing, frothy wanton words and offensive gestures.   (Source: Cotton Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana,Volume II)   Statutes, laws and privileges, approved and sanctioned by the president and fellows of Harvard Colle

  1. THE light of nature shows that there is a God who has dominion and sovereignty over all. He is just and good, and He does good to all. He is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, invoked, trusted and served by men with all their heart and soul and strength. But the only acceptable way of worshipping the true God is appointed by Himself, in accordance with His own will. Consequently He may not be worshipped in ways of mere human contrivance, or proceeding from Satan's suggestions. Visible symbols of God, and all other forms of worship not prescribed in the Holy Scripture, are expressly forbidden.   Exod. 20:4-6; Deut. 12:32; Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33.   Exod 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.   Exod 20:5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.   Deut 12:32 What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.  Jer 10:7 Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee.   Mark 12:33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.   2. Religious worship is to be given

There is one living and true God who is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes. He is eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these three being coequal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. God created the world and all things out of nothing by His powerful Word, planned all things by His wisdom, and controls all things by His sovereign power — all for His own glory. Mankind, and all life on earth, did not evolve but was created by a direct act of God. Man was created in the image of God, male and female, to have fellowship with Him and to glorify and serve Him by multiplying godly offspring, taking dominion over the earth, and reflecting his holy character. By Adam’s willful sin all mankind came under God’s wrath and condemnation, were separated from God, and became spiritually dead and therefore unable to please God or merit salvation. Jesus Christ became the representative of His people, taking their sins upon Himself, having offered Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile them to God. All who were chosen in Christ from eternity past are born again by the Holy Spirit, respond from their new hearts with repentance and faith in Jesus, are justified on the basis of the shed blood of Christ, become children of God, and are indwelt, sanctified, and sealed by the Holy Spirit until they are glorified at Christ’s return. Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for the sins of His people. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Father, He is now interceding for His church and ruling all things on her behalf. All of history after man’s fall into sin is a progressive outworking of God’s covenant of grace. Beginning with the first promise to Adam after the fall and continuing throughout history to the end of the ages, God orders all things in view of his single purpose of redeeming a people to Himself through Christ.   Salvation by Grace, Through Faith, Unto Good Works Salvation is totally by God’s grace, an u