CHURCH COVENANT
{ The New Testament in My Blood...that...they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
}
{ Genesis 1:1-28; 2:8-25; 3:1-24; 4:1-26; 5:29; 6:1-22; 7:16; 8:20-22; 9:1-27; 12:1-9; 13:1-18; 14:18-20; 15:1-18; 17:5-24; 18:18-33; 19:15-38; 21:12-31; 22:1-24; 24:60; 25:31-32; 26:4-30; 28:4-22; 31:45-54; 32:28; 46:1; 48:16; 49:17-24; 50:19-20; Exodus 2:23-25; 14:19-24; 16:7-9; 19:1-7; 23:32; 24:4-11; 34:12; Leviticus 2:13; 26:14-39; Numbers 18:13-19; 30:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 7:2; 11:18-20; 17:2-7; 18:1-8; 23:21; 25:4; 29:1-28; 31:12-18; 32:14-33; Joshua 7:10-15; 9:15; 23:16; 24:14-26; Judges 2:2-23; 1Samuel 18:3-4; 2Samuel 13:28; 1Kings 18:26-44; 2Kings 6:16-17; 11:17; 23:3; 2Chronicles 13:5; 15:8-15; Ezra 10:2-5; Nehemiah 9:38; 10:29-39; Esther 4:13-16; 5:1-3; Job 12:2; Psalm 1:1-3; 15:1-3; 25:14; 29:2; 34:7-22; 36:8-10; 48:13; 50:3-6; 55:16-19; 65:4; 78:5-7; 89:34-37; 105:7-10; 111:9-10; 116:14-18; 122:1-9; 126:5-6; 139:7-12; Proverbs 1:7-10; 10:9-10; 11:13-30; 15:1-28; 17:17; 18:8-19; 19:1-11; 20:1-19; 21:17; 22:1-15; 23:19-35; 25:11-23; 26:17-22; 27:17; 28:6; 31:4; Ecclesiastes 2:14; 5:1-7; 7:20; 9:18; 11:9; 12:1-14; Song 4:12-16; Isaiah 2:2-3; 4:5-6; 5:11-22; 9:6-7; 28:1-8; 42:6; Jeremiah 2:3; 23:23-24; 31:31-34; 50:2-5; Ezekiel 3:18; 5:13; 17:18; Daniel 2:34-45; 5:1-31; 6:10; 12:1-4; Hosea 4:11; Jonah 3:1-10; Habakkuk 2:15-16; 3:4; Zechariah 3:8-10; 4:6-14; 6:12-15; 7:8-14; Malachi 3:6-12; Matthew 3:1-17; 4:19; 5:13-46; 6:3-33; 7:23; 10:10-40; 11:4-30; 12:35-36; 13:25-39; 15:9; 16:13-19; 18:3-20; 19:22; 20:25-28; 21:22-43; 22:11-14; 23:8-23; 24:35-46; 25:21-40; 26:26-75; 27:52-54; 28:18-20; Mark 1:1-4; 3:13-14; 5:19; 10:13-16; 11:24; 14:22-25; 16:15; Luke 3:7-8; 5:32; 6:12-46; 9:23-62; 10:7; 11:5-48; 12:31-32; 16:2-16; 18:1-43; 19:1-10; 22:19-20; 24:30-48; John 1:11-51; 2:16-17; 3:1-21; 4:21-42; 5:39; 6:37-69; 7:17-39; 8:12-32; 12:13-32; 13:15-35; 14:1-31; 15:4-26; 16:7-14; 17:6-16; 20:21-22; Acts 1:8-14; 2:1-47; 3:25-26; 4:1-35; 5:28-42; 6:1-7; 8:4-37; 9:18-31; 10:1-47; 11:18-29; 13:1-38; 14:25-28; 15:14-18; 16:6-34; 17:6-18; 18:24-28; 19:1-5; 20:28-35; 24:14-16; 28:27; Romans 1:1-32; 3:19-26; 4:25; 5:2-18; 6:1-23; 7:4; 8:1-33; 9:1-33; 10:1-21; 11:1-36; 12:1-21; 13:8-13; 14:4-23; 15:4-27; 16:1-25; 1Corinthians 1:10-21; 2:4-16; 3:1-6; 4:1-2; 5:1-13; 6:5-20; 8:1-13; 9:7-27; 10:6-12; 11:18-31; 12:12-21; 13:1-13; 14:40; 15:1-58; 16:1-2; 2Corinthians 1:3-22; 2:1-6; 3:1-6; 5:7-19; 6:14-18; 7:1-10; 8:1-24; 9:1-15; 10:3; 11:1-3; 12:19-21; Galatians 1:4; 3:10-27; 4:9-14; 5:16-25; 6:1-10; Ephesians 1:3-23; 2:1-21; 3:9-21; 4:1-32; 5:1-27; 6:1-19; Philippians 1:27; 2:5-30; 3:6-17; 4:8-20; Colossians 1:3-24; 2:12-23; 3:1-13; 1Thessalonians 1:1-10; 2:10-14; 4:1-18; 5:11-25; 2Thessalonians 1:3-12; 2:16-17; 3:3-15; 1Timothy 2:1-8; 3:15-16; 4:11-16; 5:13-21; 6:12; 2Timothy 1:6-18; 2:2-15; 3:1-17; 4:2-10; Titus 1:9; 2:1-15; 3:2-5; Philemon 1:2; Hebrews 1:13-14; 2:17; 4:12-14; 5:11; 7:25; 8:6-13; 9:15-26; 10:12-25; 12:22-29; 13:1-21; James 1:6-27; 2:14-18; 3:1-8; 4:3-11; 5:10-16; 1Peter 1:3-23; 2:1-25; 3:1-22; 4:19; 2Peter 1:1-21; 3:9-18; 1John 1:6-9; 2:1-27; 3:14-18; 4:7-21; 5:4-9; 2John 1:9-11; Jude 1:1-19; Revelation 1:6-20; 2:1-16; 3:15-19; 4:5; 11:3-4; 19:7-8; 21:5-8; 22:6-17. }
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, ( Mt5:16,44; Jn6:44,63,65; 12:32; 15:26; 16:7-8; Ro3:19-26; 5:5; 8:9,14-17,26-30; 10:14; 1Co2:14; 2Co7:10; Ep2:8-10,18; 5:9-10; 6:17; Ti2:11,14; He4:12; 1Pe1:22; 2:12 ) to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, ( Ec7:20; Mt10:40; Jn12:13; 14:6; Ga4:14; 5:22-23; Php2:13; 1Th2:10-14 ) and on the profession of our faith, ( Ac2:41; 8:36-37; Ro4:25; 10:6-13; 14:23; 1Co5:9-10; Ga3:27; 1Ti6:12; 2Ti4:2,7;He4:14; 7:25 ) having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, ( Mt28:18-20; Mk1:4; 3:13-14; Lk3:7-8; 5:32; 6:12-16; Jn14:15,21; 20:21-22; Ac2:37-42,46-47; 4:12; 9:18; 10:47; 11:18; 19:1-5; Ro6:3-6; Ep4:5; Co2:12; 1Ti4:14; 1Jn5:6-9 ) we do now in the presence of God, ( Ps34:15; 139:7-12; Je23:23-24; 1Pe2:1-3,20-21; 3:21; 4:19 ) angels, ( 2Ki6:16-17; Ps34:7; Mt18:3-6,10; 1Ti5:21; He1:13-14 ) and this assembly, ( 1Co2:4-7; 5:12-13; Co1:24 ) most solemnly ( Ac9:31; Ro12:4-5; 1Co12:20-21; Ep5:26-27 ) and joyfully ( Ep2:8; 3:21; Re19:7-8 ) enter into covenant with one another, ( Ps50:5; Ro1:17-21; 1Co1:10; 15:58; He8:10-12; 2Pe1:19-21; 3:17-18 ) as one body ( Ro12:4-5; Ep1:22-23; 4:1-5,11-16 ) in Christ. ( 1Co12:12-14; Co1:18; 2Ti2:15; 3:14-17 )
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, ( Mt3:16; Jn14:16-26; 15:4-5,26; 16:7-8,12-14; Ac1:8,13-14; 2:1-4,40-47; 4:31-33; 9:31; Ro8:1-2,9,13-16; Ep5:18; 6:17-19; 1Th1:3-8 ) to walk together in Christian love; ( Jn13:34-35; Ro5:5,7-12; 13:10; 1Co13:1-13; Ga5:16,22-25; Ep4:1-5; 5:1-8; 1Th4:9; 1Jn4:7-21; 1Pe1:14-16 ) to strive for the advancement of this church, ( Mt16:18; 28:19-20; He10:25; Ep2:21 ) in knowledge, ( Ro10:2; 1Ti2:4; 2Ti2:15; 2Pe1:1-9; 3:17-18 ) holiness, ( Je2:3; Ro6:19; 2Co7:1; 1Th4:7 ) and comfort; ( Ac9:31; Ro15:4; 2Co1:3-7; 1Th4:18; 5:11-14; 2Th2:16-17 ) to promote its prosperity ( Ac2:41-42,47; Ep1:18; 1Pe1:7; Re3:16-19; 19:8 ) and spirituality; ( 1Ki18:26-28; Mt26:75; Ro12:6-11; 1Co3:1; Ga5:22-23; Php1:27; 2Pe3:11 ) to sustain its worship, ( Ps29:2; Jn4:22-24; Ac24:14-16; Ep3:21; He10:25; Ju1:19 ) ordinances, ( Mt3:13-17; 26:26-29; Mk14:22-23; Ro6:4-6; 1Co11:18-27; 1Pe3:21 ) discipline, ( Mt16:18-19; 18:17; Ro6:17; 1Co5:1-13; 2Th3:6 ) and doctrines; ( Mt15:9; Lk16:16; Jn7:17; Ac2:42; 5:28; Ro6:17; Ep4:14; 1Ti4:12-16; 2Ti2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2; Ti1:9; 2:1,7; Ju1:1-3; 2Jn1:9-11 ) to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; (Mt6:33) to contribute ( 2Co8:5,9,13-15; 9:6-7 ) cheerfully and regularly ( 1Co16:1-2 ) to the support of the ministry, ( De18:1-8; 25:4; Mt10:10; Lk10:7; 1Co9:7-14; Ga6:6 ) the expenses of the church, ( Ac4:34-35 ) and the relief of the poor, ( Mt25:40; Ro12:13; 15:26-27 ) and the spread of the gospel ( Mk16:15; Ac1:8; 11:22; 13:1-4; 14:25-28; Ro1:16; 10:13-14; 1Co1:21; 15:1-4 ) through all nations. ( Mt11:4-5; 16:18; 23:23; 28:19; Lk10:7; 24:47; Ac8:4-8; 11:29; 13:14,38; 17:6,15-18; 2Co8:5-12; 1Th1:8; 5:25; 2Ti4:2; He12:28; 1Jn3:17 )
We also engage to maintain family ( Ge18:19; Nu18:13-14; De11:18-20; Ps126:5-6; Pr11:30; Lk22:19; 24:30; Ac10:2; 2Ti3:15 ) and secret ( Ps34:11; 55:17; Da6:10; Mt6:3-6; 2Ti2:15 ) devotions; ( Ac17:11; Ep6:18-19; 1Th5:17-18 ) to religiously educate our children; ( De6:4-7; Ps48:13; 78:5-7; Pr1:7-10; 22:6,15; Ec12:1-14; Mt28:20; Mk10:13-16; Ep4:11-14; 6:1-4; 2Ti3:15 ) to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; ( Ge13:17-18; De6:6-9; Ezek3:18; Mt4:19; Mk5:19; Lk24:47-48; Jn1:11-13,41; Ac1:8; Ro1:16; 9:1-3; 10:1; 1Co3:6 ) to walk circumspectly in the world; ( Ps1:1-3; Pr19:1; 28:6; Ec2:14; 11:9; Mt5:16; Jn17:11-16; Ro6:4; 8:1,4; 12:2; 13:13; 2Co10:3; Ga1:4; Ep2:10; 5:15-21; 1Th2:12; 2Th3:6-15; 2Ti4:10; 1Jn1:6-7; 2:6,15 ) to be just in our dealings, ( Pr17:17; 18:19; Ec9:18; Mt12:36; 13:25,38-39; Lk16:2; Ro12:17; 1Co6:5-8; Php4:8-9; 1Jn3:14 ) faithful in our engagements, ( Mt24:45-46; 25:21; Lk16:10; Ro12:9-18; 13:8; 1Co4:2; Ep4:25; Co1:7; 1Th5:24; 2Th3:3; 2Ti2:2; He2:17; Re21:5 ) and exemplary in our deportment; ( Mt5:16; Jn12:21; 13:15; 17:15; Ro6:4; 12:2; 1Co10:6; 2Co6:17; Ep2:10; 5:8; Php2:14-15; 1Ti4:12; Ja2:18; 5:10; 1Pe2:9-12,21; 1Jn2:15 ) to avoid all tattling, ( Pr11:13; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20-22; Ep4:31; 1Ti5:13 ) backbiting, ( Ps15:1-3; Pr25:23; Ro1:28-30,32; 2Co12:20 ) and excessive anger; ( Pr15:1,18; 19:11; 1Co9:27; Ep4:25-27; Co3:8; Ja3:1-6 ) to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, ( Ge9:20-25; 19:30-38; De32:14,33; 2Sa13:28; Pr20:1; 21:17; 23:19-21,29-32,35; 31:4; Is5:11,22; 28:1,7-8; Da5:1-31; Ho4:11; Ha2:15-16; Ro14:16; 1Co6:10; 8:1-13; Ep5:16-21 ) and to be zealous in our efforts ( Is9:7; Ezek5:13; Mt26:51-52; Jn2:16-17; 6:66-69; 14:19; Ac5:28-32; Ro10:1-3; 1Co6:19-20; 2Co9:2; Php3:6-8; 2Ti2:15; Ti2:14; Re3:19 ) to advance the kingdom of our Savior. ( Mt28:19-20; Ro1:1,16; 2Pe3:12; Re2:4-5; 3:15-16 )
We further engage to watch ( 1Th5:14 ) over one another in brotherly love; ( Ge4:9; Mt5:23-24; 23:8; Jn4:21; Ro12:10; 1Th4:9; 2Th3:14-15; 2Ti1:16-18; He13:1; 1Pe1:22; 1Jn3:14-17; 4:20 ) to remember each other in prayer; ( 1Ki18:42-44; Mt21:22; Mk11:24; Lk11:5-10,48; 18:1-8; Jn14:14; 15:7; Ga6:2; Ep6:18; 1Th5:25; 1Ti2:1; Ja1:6-7; 4:3; 5:16; 1Jn3:18 ) to aid each other in sickness and distress; ( Ac2:44-45; 4:34-35; 6:2-3; Ga6:2,10; Ja1:27; 2:14-17; 1Jn3:17 ) to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling ( Ro12:4-5,15; 2Co2:1-6 ) and courtesy in speech; ( Pr15:1,23; 25:11; Ep4:29; Ti3:2; Ja3:2; 1Pe3:8 ) to be slow to take offense, ( Ro12:19; 1Co13:4; Eph4:1-3; Co3:12-13 ) but always ready for reconciliation, ( Ro5:10; 12:21; 2Co5:18-19; Ep4:30-32; 1Jn2:9 ) and mindful of the rules of our Savior ( Mt28:20; 2Ti3:16-17 ) to secure it without delay. ( Mt5:23-25; 18:15-18; Ro12:18 )
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, ( Ac18:27; Ro16:1-2; 2Co3:1; Php2:29 ) we will as soon as possible unite with some other church of like faith and order, ( Ep1:22-23; 3:21 ) where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant ( Ec5:4-5 ) and the principles of God's Word. ( Mt28:20; Ro1:31 )
In COVENANT 41: 1853 COVENANT OF J. NEWTON BROWN'S THE BAPTIST CHURCH MANUAL, J. Newton Brown published his personal revision of the 1833 covenant of the New Hampshire Baptist Convention... And he took the last paragraph of the New Hampshire covenant and attached it to his revision as an appendage entitled 'Prayer.' [ Deweese, Charles W. — Baptist Church Covenants. Original Copyright © 1990 Broadman Press, Nashville, TN ].) This is a similar version with some variations of the text as given {without the Scripture references and
Prayer} to new members of the Hillcrest Missionary Baptist Church, Oregon City. Verse references excerpted from The Baptist Way-Book by Ben M. Bogard; The Baptist Church Covenant by M. L. Moser, Sr.; A HANDBOOK For Young Christians and New Church Members by L. H. Owen (1962); The Baptist Training Guide by Rev. R. Porter; Christian Engagements by Roy M. Reed; Adult BTC Quarterlies ( 3-1-85 & 01 ) by Terry Parrish & David Robinson; Church Covenant
We engage...by I. K. Cross; The Church That Jesus Built by Dr. Roy Mason, Th.D. 7th ed. reprint by the Central Ave. Baptist Church, Tampa, FL; The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan; and A Summary of New Testament Law lecture notes given by ABA Interstate Missionary-Pastor Fred C. Miller (1974); edited by: mosesdewitt@wvi.com }