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Articles of Faith
The following are the Articles of Faith of the James Chapel Community Holiness Church and Buckler Ministries.
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I. THE TRIUNE GOD
1. There is but one externally existent God, Sovereign of the universe, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; Triune
in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
II. THE FATHER
2. The Father is the supreme person of the Godhead, to whom the Son and the Holy Ghost, though of equal essence
are willingly subordinate in office. The Father sent the Son into the world. He also sent the Holy Ghost. To the father
the Son reconciles the penitent sinner and to the Father belongs the worship of every believer.
III. JESUS CHRIST
3. The Son, who is the Word of the Father, took on man's nature, became incarnate by the Holy Ghost and was born
of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood, are thus united
in one Person, very God and very man, the God-man.
Furthermore, Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile us to God; and that He arose from the dead and
took again His body and ascended to Heaven.
IV. THE HOLY GHOST
4. The Holy Ghost, the third person of the Triune Godhead, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is present and
alive with the Church of Jesus Christ, and is very and eternal God.He convinces the world of sin, regenerates those
who repent and believe, sanctifies believers, and guides the saints into all truth.
V. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
5. The Holy Scriptures are inspired, infallible, and inerrant, in their original tongues, and contain all things necessary to
make us wise unto salvation; so that whatsoever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.
In the name of the Holy Scriptures we speak of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old Testament, known as the
Holy Bible.We require our officers to use the King James Version.
VI. ORIGINAL SIN
6. Original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam,
whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and of his own nature is inclined to evil and that
continually.
Furthermore, original sin, which is known in Scripture as carnality, the carnal mind, the old man, and the flesh,
continues to exist after regeneration, though suppressed, until crucified and destroyed by the baptism of the Holy
Ghost.
VII. ATONEMENT
7. Jesus Christ, by His suffering, by the shedding of His own blood, and His vicarious death on the cross, made full
atonement for all sin; and this atonement is the only ground of salvation.
VIII. FREE WILL
8. In the creation, man was created with the ability to choose between right and wrong. Through the fall of Adam, he
became depraved so that he cannot now turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith
and calling upon God; but the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all, enabling all who turn
from sin to righteousness, and to believe in Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and to do good works.
IX. REPENTANCE
9. Repentance which precedes belief in Christ for remission of sins, is a godly sorrow for sin and a sincere and
thorough change of mind in regard to sin and is demanded of all who have sinned against God by act or purpose.
X. JUSTIFICATION
10. Justification is the gracious act of God by which the repentant and believing heart is granted full pardon for all sins
committed and accepted as righteous through the merits of God.
XI. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION
11. Entire Sanctification is a work of grace wrought in the heart by the baptism of the Holy Ghost, subsequent to
regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire
devotion to God and holy obedience of love made perfect. The abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost
empowers the believer for service and imparts the divine nature of God to man. Sanctification is wrought
instantaneously by faith, provided by the blood of Jesus, preceded by entire consecration, and the Holy Ghost
(Spirit) bears witness to this work and state of grace.
This experience is also known by various names representing its different phases such as: "Christian Perfection",
"Perfect Love", "the Baptism of the Holy Ghost", "the Fullness of the Blessing" and "Christian Holiness".
XII. SIN AFTER JUSTIFICATION
12. Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost and unpardonable. Wherefore
repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we receive the Holy Ghost we may
depart from grace given and fall into sin, and by the grace of God rise again and amend our lives. Therefore, they
are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to
such as truly repent.
XIII. SACRAMENTS
13. The Sacraments are not only tokens of the Christian profession but are certain signs of grace and God's good will
toward us, by which He does not only work invisibly within us, and not only quickens but also strengthens and
confirms our faith in Him.
There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
A. Baptism
Water baptism signifies the death, burial ,and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the
acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It should be administered to all believers by
immersion, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
B. The Lord's Supper
The Communion, or the Lord's Supper, was instituted by our Savior and is only for those to participate in
who have faith in Christ and love the saints, and by it they show the Lord's death till He comes. Communion
should also incorporate the washing of saints' feet.
XIV. HEALING
14. Healing for the body is a scriptural doctrine. It is the blessed privilege of the human family to be healed in answer
to the prayer of faith. Providential means and agencies,when deemed necessary for the restoration of health,
however, should not be refused.
XV. THE CHURCH
15. The Church is composed of persons who have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The record of the Church
invisible is kept in Heaven. The great mission of the Church, on Earth, is the proclamation of the gospel.
XVI. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
16. There are gifts of the Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will; but speaking in the unknown tongue is not
proof or witness to the receiving and indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost.
XVII. RETURN OF JESUS
17. Our Lord Jesus Christ will come again; that those who abide in Him will be caught up with the risen saints to meet
the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
XVIII. RESURRECTION AND JUDGEMENT
18. The Scriptures teach the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. "They that have done good unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
Furthermore, God is the judge of all mankind and the acts of His judgement are based on His omniscience and
eternal justice. All mankind shall stand before Him. Records will be examined and final rewards and punishments
will be administered.
XIX. DESTINY
19. Those who have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord, in departing this life, are assured of everlasting life;
and the impenitent, on departing this life, shall suffer eternally in Hell.
XX. MARRIAGE
20. Marriage was instituted by God in the Garden of Eden. God has ordained marriage as a holy estate between one
man and one woman. Any deviation from God's plan is neither scriptural nor recognized by the Church. We will
not extend membership to any persons involved in same sex marriages or unions.
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