CHRISTIAN LINEAGE AND HISTORICAL ARTICLES OF FAITH
Isaac’s Keep is a continuation in the Christian Theistic, Protestant Evangelical movement. The founding members of Isaac’s Keep are seeds from Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Canton, GA. Standing alongside of our Christian ancestors that founded Mt. Zion in 1834 this church affirms and seeks to remain faithful to these same historical articles of faith.

Mt.Zion’s 1834 Founding Articles of Faith
and the Founding Articles of Faith for Isaac’s Keep 2007

Article 1: We believe in only one true living God and that there is a Trinity of persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Yet there are not three gods, but one.

Article 2: We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice.

Article 3: In the Fall of Adam and the imputation of his sin to his posterity and in the corruption of human nature and in the impotence of man to recover himself by his own free will and ability

Article 4: In the everlasting love of God to His people, and the eternal election of a definite number of the human race chosen to grace and glory, and there was a covenant for our redemption made between the Father and the Son before the world began in which their salvation is secure, and that they in particular are redeemed.

Article 5: That sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.

Article 6: That all those who were chosen in Christ will effectually be called, regenerated, converted, sanctified and supported by the spirit and power of God, so that they shall be preserved in grace, and not one of them be lost.

Article 7: That good works are the fruits of faith and follow after justification and that they only justify us in the sight of man and angels, and are evidences of our gracious states.

Article 8: That there will be a resurrection of the dead and a general judgment and that the happiness of the righteous and the banishment of the wicked will be eternal.

THE AFFIMATION OF FAITH
The Affirmation is further clarification and definition to the historical articles of faith. Members of Isaac’s Keep affirm, submit, and do not teach contrary to the following doctrines. Isaac’s Keep affirms the following:

I. THE WORD OF GOD:
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2Timothy 3:16; 2Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32;Acts 20:32

II. THE TRINITY:
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6

III. GOD THE FATHER:
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He bears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Luke10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; 1Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6

IV. JESUS CHRIST:
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; 2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30,31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16

V. THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26

VI. REGENERATION:
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life. Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3; 5:2; 3; 3:19; Eccl. 2:11; Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; John 1:13; 3:14,16; 5:24; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 3:19; 5:19; 8:1; 9:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2; 2Thessalonians 1:9; James 1:14; 1John 1:9; Revelations 19:3,20; 20:10; 14, 15; 21:18

VII. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a community of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the urgency of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost world. Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25

VIII. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be clean before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. 1Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15,23-24; 1John 2:3-6; 2Corinthians 9:6-9; 1Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9-10

IX. THE ORDINANCES:
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the triune God. We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-26

X. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7-9,12

XI. CHURCH COOPERATION
We believe that local churches can and may promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denomination or likeminded organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. 1Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelations 1:4,10,11

XII. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1Thessalonians 4:15; 2Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1Corinthians 4:5; 15; 2Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15

We do not believe that every part of this affirmation must be believed in order to be saved. Our aim is not to discover how little can be believed, but rather to embrace and teach “the whole counsel of God.” Our aim is to encourage a hearty adherence to the Bible, the fullness of truth, and the glory of it Author. We believe Biblical doctrine stabilizes believers in the winds of confusion and strengthens the church in her mission to meet the great systems of false religion and secularism. We believe that the supreme virtue of love is nourished by the strong meat of God-centered doctrine.

We do not claim infallibility for this affirmation and are open to refinement and correction from Scripture. Yet we do hold firmly to these truths as we see them and call on others to search the Scriptures to see if these things are so.

We believe that the cause of unity in the church is best served, not by finding the lowest common denominator of doctrine, around which all can gather, but by elevating the value of truth, stating the doctrinal parameters of the church, and then demonstrating to the world how Christians can love each other across boundaries rather than removing boundaries. In this way, the importance of truth is served by the existence of doctrinal boundaries, and unity is served by the way we love others across those borders. As conversation and debate take place, it may be that we will learn from each other, and the boundaries will be adjusted, even possibly folding into closer fellowship formerly disagreeing groups.

We do not believe that all things in the affirmation of faith are of equal weight, some being more essential, some less.