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the declaratory statement (i-iv) |
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| 114. (i) That in regard to the doctrine of redemption as taught
in the subordinate standard, and in consistency therewith,
the love of God to all mankind, His gift of His Son to be
the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and the
free offer of salvation to men without distinction on the
grounds of Christ's all sufficient sacrifice, are regarded
by this Church as vital to the Christian faith. And inasmuch
as the Christian faith rests upon, and the Christian consciousness
takes hold of, certain objective supernatural historic facts,
especially the incarnation, the atoning life and death, and
the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, and His bestowment
of His Holy Spirit, this Church regards those whom it admits
to the office of the Holy Ministry as pledged to give a chief
place in their teaching to these cardinal facts, and to the
message of redemption and reconciliation implied and manifested
in them. |
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| 115. (ii) That the doctrine of God's eternal decree,
including the doctrine of election to eternal life, is held
as defined in the Confession of Faith, Chapter III, Section
1., where it is expressly stated that according to this doctrine,
"neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established"; and further, that the said doctrine is held in connection and harmony with the truth - that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, that He has provided a salvation sufficient for all, and adapted to all, and offered to all in the Gospel, and that every hearer of the Gospel is responsible for his dealing with the free and unrestricted offer of eternal life. |
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| 116. (iii) That while none are saved except through
the mediation of Christ and by the grace of the Holy Spirit,
Who worketh when and where and how it pleaseth Him; while
the duty of sending the Gospel to the heathen who are sunk
in ignorance, sin and misery is imperative; and while the
outward and ordinary means of salvation for those capable
of being called by the Word are the ordinances of the Gospel,
in accepting the subordinate standard it is not required to
be held that any who die in infancy are lost, or that God
may not extend His Grace to any who are without the pale of
ordinary means, as it may seem good in His sight. |
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| 117. (iv) That in holding and teaching, according
to the Confession of Faith, the corruption of man's nature
as fallen, this Church also maintains that there remains tokens
of man's greatness as created in the image of God, that he
possesses a knowledge of God and of duty - that he is responsible
for compliance with the moral law and the call of the Gospel,
and that, although unable without the aid of the Holy Spirit
to return to God unto salvation, he is yet capable of affections
and actions which of themselves are virtuous and praiseworthy. |
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| 118. (v) That liberty of opinion is allowed on
matters in the subordinate standard not essential to the doctrine
therein taught, the Church guarding against the abuse of this
liberty to the injury of its unity and peace. |
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| 119. (vi) That with regard to the doctrine of the
civil magistrate and his authority and duty in the sphere
of religion, as taught in the subordinate standard the church
holds that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only King and Head
of the Church, "and Head over all things of the Church, which is His body." It disclaims, accordingly, intolerant or persecuting principles and does not consider its office-bearers, in subscribing the Confession, as committed to any principles inconsistent with the liberty of conscience and the right of private judgement, declaring in the words of the Confession that "God alone is Lord of the conscience". |
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The Scheme of Union |
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