Constitution 

For the more certain preservation and security of the principles of our faith, and to the end that this body may be governed in an orderly manner consistent with the accepted tenets of the mission-minded Baptist churches, and for the purpose of preserving the liberties inherent in each individual member of this Church and the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith, we do declare and establish this constitution.

This body shall be known as the Sterling Park Baptist Church, Sterling, Virginia.

II. ARTICLES OF FAITH

1. GOD. There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.
2. THE TRINITY. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being.
3. THE SCRIPTURE. The Scripture of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, inerrant and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, obedience, and life.
4. PROVIDENCE. God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
5. ELECTION. Election is God s eternal choice of some persons into everlasting life not because of foreseen merit in them, but of his mere mercy in Christ in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.
6. THE FALL OF MAN. God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors, thereby incur, not only physical death but also Spiritual death which is separation from God.
7. THE MEDIATOR. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed Mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and arose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, High Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
8. REGENERATION. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their inner nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God s free and special grace alone.
9. REPENTANCE. Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person, being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it and self-abhorrence, turns contritely with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things.
10. FAITH. Saving faith is the belief, on God s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and is accompanied by all other savings graces and leads to a life of holiness.
11. JUSTIFICATION. Justification is God s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith alone.
12. SANCTIFICATION. Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of "Divine" strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ s commands.
13. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
14. THE CHURCH. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church which is composed of all His true disciples; and, in Him is vested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandments, Christians are to associate themselves into particular assemblies, or churches, and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed.
15. BAPTISM. Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, or remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is a pre-requisite to Church membership.
16. THE LORD S SUPPER. The Lord s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him and of their church fellowship.
17. THE LORD S DAY. The Lord s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements; works of necessity and mercy only excepted.
18. LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. God alone is Lord of the conscience; and, He has left us free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to His word. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.
19. THE RESURRECTION. The bodies of men after death return to dust but their spirits return immediately to God the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
20. THE JUDGMENT. God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ when everyone shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go away into everlasting conscious punishment; the righteous into everlasting life.

III. CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and on the profession of this our faith, having been baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and well being; to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the total church ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel.

We also engage to maintain family and private devotion; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to strive to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our conduct; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the production, distribution, use, or consumption of anything which hinders the propagation of our faith; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the testimony of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We, moreover, engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God s Word.