The Armenian Evangelical Statement of Faith
(Constantinople, Turkey – July 1, 1846)
1. I believe in the existence of only living true God. The Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the universe; omniscient, omnipresent; self-existent, independent, immutable; possessed of infinite benevolence, wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy, and truth, and Who is the only proper object of worship.
2. I believe that the one God exists in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God.
3. I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are a revelation of His will to man, and the sufficient and only rule of faith and practice.
4. I believe that mankind, in their natural state, are destitute of holiness, and entirely depraved, and justly exposed to Divine wrath.
5. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect man, is the only Savior of sinners, and the only mediator and intercessor between God and man; and by His perfect obedience, sufferings, and death, He made full atonement for sin, so that all who believe in Him will assuredly be saved, and there is no other sacrifice for sin.
6. I believe that in consequence of utter wickedness of man, it is necessary that all should be regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to be saved.
7. I believe that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ alone, through faith, and not by any fastings, alms, penance, or other deeds of our own; and that while good works are inseparable from a true and living faith, they can never be meritorious ground of salvation before God.
8. I believe that the holiness of life, and a conscientious discharge of various duties we owe to God, to our fellowmen, and to ourselves, are not only binding upon all believers, but essential to the Christian character.
9. I believe that, besides God, no other being is to be worshiped and adored, and that each person in the sacred Trinity is worthy of our worship, which, to be acceptable, must be offered through no other meditation than that of Jesus Christ alone; and that the use of relics, pictures, crosses, and images of any sort, in any act of worship, and of intercession of the saints, is directly contrary to the Scriptures, and highly displeasing to God; and that prayer for the dead is not authorized in the Word of God.
10. I believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, and a day of judgment; and that the happiness of the righteous, and the punishment of the wicked, commence at death, and continue without end.
11. I believe that any number of believers, duly organized, constitute a church of Christ, of which Christ is the only Head; and that the only Sacraments of Christ’s Church are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper; the former being the seal of covenant, and a sign of the purifying operation of the Holy Spirit, and the token of admission into the visible Church, and latter, in shewing forth by the visible symbols of the death of Christ, being a perpetual memento of His atoning love, and a pledge of union and communion with Him and with all true believers.
12. I believe that the Gospel is the chief instrument appointed by Christ for the conversion of men and for the edification of His people, and that it is duty of His Church to carry into effect the Savior’s command, “Go ye into the world, and preach the Gospels to every creature.”