The New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1853)
Modernized and edited for use at Gospel Life Church
I. The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect
treasure of heavenly instruction. It has God for its author, salvation through Christ for
its purpose, and truth without any mixture of error for its content. It reveals the
principles by which God will judge us. Therefore, it is and shall remain to the end of the
world the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human
conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
II. The Triune God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an infinite,
intelligent Spirit, whose name is the LORD, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven
and earth. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection, yet carry out
distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
III. The Fall
Humanity was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker. By voluntary
transgression, however, humanity fell from that holy and happy state. As a result, all
mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice. Being by nature utterly void
of that holiness required by the law of God, they are now positively inclined to evil.
Therefore, mankind stands under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or
excuse.
IV. The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is entirely of grace, through the mediatorial
offices of the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. By the appointment of the Father, he
freely took upon himself our nature, yet without sin. He honored the divine law by his
personal obedience, and by his substitutionary death made a full atonement for our sins.
He rose from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven. Jesus unites in his wonderful
person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections and, as such, is qualified in
every way to be a suitable, a compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
V. Justification
We believe that a great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in him
is Justification. Justification includes both the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal
life. It is not given in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done,
but only through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. By virtue of this faith his perfect
righteousness is freely imputed to us by God. Justification brings us, immediately at the
time of salvation, into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures
every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
VI. The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the
immediate duty of all to accept these blessings by a heartfelt, repentant, and obedient
faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own
inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which only magnifies his
condemnation.
VII. Grace in Regeneration
We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or “born again.”
Regeneration consists in the giving of a new and holy disposition to an otherwise
rebellious sinner. It is accomplished in a way that is above our comprehension by the
power of the Holy Spirit and in connection with divine truth, thus securing our
voluntary obedience to the gospel. The proper evidence of regeneration consists in the
holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
VI. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces that
are wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. He convinces us of our
guilt, danger, helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, causing us to turn to
God with true sorrow, confession, and pleas for mercy, while at the same time receiving
the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and relying on him alone as the
only and all sufficient Savior.
IX. Election
We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously
regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. Being perfectly consistent with the free agency
of man, election includes all the means in connection with the end of salvation. It is a
most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and
unchangeable. It entirely obliterates boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust, and an active imitation of God’s free mercy. It encourages the greatest
possible exercise of human responsibility. It may be discovered by its effects in all who
truly believe the gospel. Election is the foundation of Christian assurance, and
confirming our election deserves the utmost diligence.
X. Sanctification
We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we
are made partakers of his holiness. It is a progressive work. It begins in regeneration
and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit—the Sealer and Comforter—by the continual use of God’s appointed means,
especially including the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, prayer,
and the oversight and fellowship of a local church.
XI. The Perseverance of Saints
We believe that all true believers endure to the end. Their persevering attachment to
Christ and to his people is the grand mark distinguishing them from false professors. A
special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation.
XII. The Church
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, joined
together by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. A visible church
observes the ordinances of Christ, is governed by his laws, and exercises the gifts,
rights, and privileges invested in them by his word. The only scriptural officers of the
church are Elders (also called Pastors), and Deacons, whose qualifications and duties
are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
XIII. The Ordinances
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name
of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. This demonstrates, in a solemn and beautiful
emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death
to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is pre-requisite to the privileges of church
membership and the Lord’s Supper. We likewise believe that the Lord’s Supper is a
symbolic act of obedience whereby the members of the church, following earnest
self-examination, use bread and the cup to commemorate together the dying love of
Christ. These two ordinances belong to the gathered church, serving to mark off
believers from unbelievers and to make the church visible on earth.
XIV. The Righteous and The Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the
wicked. Only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and
sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem. In contrast, all
those who continue in rebellion and unbelief are wicked in his sight, and under his
curse. This distinction holds both in and after death.
XV. The World to Come
We believe that the end of the world is approaching. At the last day Christ will descend
from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution. Then a solemn
separation will take place, as the wicked will be sentenced to endless punishment, and
the righteous to endless joy. This just judgment will fix forever the final state of men in
heaven or hell.
In Addendum
Addendum I. Creation
The Triune God in infinite wisdom, power, and sovereignty created, from nothing, everything, whether invisible, visible, all that resides on earth and heaven in six days*. This creation was deemed by God as being very good and was without sin. Every creature in creation reflects an aspect of God’s character and reveals, at least in part, the image of God.
*We confess that the Hebrew word for “days” is subject to differing hermeneutical interpretation. The main conviction remaining that God is the sole creator of all things.
Addendum II. Humanity
We believe God created humankind immutably as male and female to reflect and bear His image. As such, human beings of every ethnicity, age, ability, as well as the pre-born deserve dignity, protection, honor, respect, and Christian love. In accordance with God’s sovereign plan, Adam and Eve freely chose to sin, therefore, God’s image in all humankind has become distorted and their relationship with God has become disrupted.
Addendum III. Marriage
We believe that Christian marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God for the well-being of mankind and the propagation of the human race. It is the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman according to Scripture. It is a covenant representing the spiritual and physical union into which one biological male and one biological female may enter into for the glory of God. This symbolizes the relationship of Christ to his church. As the sign of this covenant, sexual activity is reserved exclusively for the marriage relationship. According to the scriptural ideal, marriage requires sacrificial love and faithfulness to each other for life.
Scripture References
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Timothy 3:15; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; I John 4:1
John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 6:3; I Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 5:17; John 14:23; John 17:5,10; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5
Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12,15-19; Psalm 51:5; Romans 8:7; Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians2:1-3; Romans 1:18,32; Romans 2:1-16; Galatians3:10; Matthew 20:15; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:20; Romans 3:19; Galatians 3:22
Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 18:11; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 3:5-7; Acts 15:11; John 3:16; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 12:24; Philippians 2:9,14; II Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 42:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 3:21; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 20:28; Romans 4:25; Romans 3:21-26; I John 2:3; I Corinthians 15:1-3; Hebrews 9:13-15; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 7:26; Psalm 89:19; Psalm 34
John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11-12; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:9; Zechariah 13;1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Romans 5:17; Titus 3:5-7; I Peter 3:7; I John 2:25; Romans 5:21; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 6:23; Philippians 3:7-9; Romans 5:19; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:23-25; I John 2:12; Romans 5:3; Romans 5:11; I Corinthians 1:30-31; Matthew 6:33; I Timothy 4:8
Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 16:25-26; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matthew 23:37; Romans 9:32; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 13:46; John 3:19; Matthew 11:20; Luke 10:27; II Thessalonians 1:8
John 3:3; John 3:6-7; I Corinthians 3:14; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 21:27; II Corinthians 5;17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 5:5; I John 4:7; John 3:8; John 1:13; James 1:16-18; I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13; I Peter 1:22-25; I John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-11; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; Matthew 7:20; I John 5:4, 18
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; I John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; II Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psalm 51; Romans 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 4:14; Psalm 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 7:25; II Timothy 1:12
II Timothy 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-14; I Peter 1:1-2; Romans 11:5-6; John 15:16; I John 4:19; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matthew 20:16; Acts 15:14; Exodus 33:18-19; Matthew 20:15; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 9:23-24; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans11:28-29; James 1:17-18; II Timothy 1:9; Romans 11:32-36; I Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans 3:27; Romans 4:16; Colossians 3:12; I Corinthians 3:5-7; I Corinthians 15:10; I Peter 5:10; Acts 1:24; I Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; I Thessalonians 2:12; II Timothy 2:10; I Corinthians 9:22; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; I Thessalonians 1:4-10; Isaiah 42:16; Romans 11:29; II Peter 1:10-11; Philippians 3:12; Hebrews 6:11
I Thessalonians 4:3; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; II Corinthians 13:10; Philippians 3:12-16; I John 2:29; Romans 8:5; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 4:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; John 3:6; Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 13:5; Luke 11:35; Luke 9:23; Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18; Ephesians 4:30
John 8:31; I John 2:27-28; I John 3:9; I John 5:18; I John 2:19; John 13:18; Matthew 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah 32:40; Psalm 121:3; Psalm 91:11-12; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; Jude 24:25; Hebrews 1:14; II Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; I John 4:4
I Corinthians 1:1-3; Matthew 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; I Corinthians 4:17; I Corinthians 14:23; III John 9; I Timothy 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; II Corinthians 8:5; Acts 2:47; I Corinthians 5:12-13; I Corinthians 11:2; II Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:17-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24; Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 5:6; II Corinthians 2:17; I Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; I John 14:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; II John 6; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:7; I Corinthians 14:12; Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; I Timothy 3; Titus 1
Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6, 15; John 3:22-23; John 4:12; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:32-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:47-48; Galatians 3:26-28; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:28; I Corinthians 5:1-8; I Corinthians 10:1-4, 14-18; I Corinthians 11:17-32; John 6:26
Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16; Romans 1:17; Romans 7:6; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; Romans 6:18,22; I Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 4:17-18; I John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; Luke 9:23-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matthew 7:13-14
I Peter 4:7; I Corinthians 7:29-31; Hebrews 1:10-12; Matthew 24:35; I John 2:17; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 13:39-40; II Peter 3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; Acts 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:12-58; Luke 14:14; Daniel 12:2 John 5:28-29; John 6:40; John 11:25-26; II Timothy 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 13:37-43; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 22:11; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; II Peter 2:9; Jude7; Philippians 3:19; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:10-11; John 4:36; II Corinthians 4:18; Romans 3:5-6; II Thessalonians 1:6-12; Hebrews 6:1-2; I Corinthians 4:5; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:2-16; Revelation 20:11-12; I John 2:28; I John 4:17; II Peter 3:11-12
Addendum I.
Gen 1:1-2; Col 1:16; Gen 1:31; Gen 2:25; I John 3:9; Rev 1:20
Addendum II.
Gen 1:26-27; Ps 139:12-23; Deut 32:6; Job 10:11-12; Gen 3:1-24
Addendum III.
Gen 1:27, 2:18, 22-25; Matt 19:4-5; Eph 5:22-33; Prov 5:18-19; Mal 2:14; Mark 10:8-9