1. ARTICLES OF FAITH Article 17 – The Righteous and Wicked National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

2. Articles of Faith I. The Scriptures II. The True God III. The Fall of Man IV. The Way of Salvation V. Justification VI. The Freeness of Salvation VII. Regeneration VIII. Repentance and Faith IX. God’s Purpose of Grace Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20132

3. Articles of Faith X. Sanctification XI. Perseverance of Saints XII. The Law and Gospel XIII. A Gospel Church XIV. Baptism and The Lord’s Supper XV. The Christian Sabbath XVI. Civil Government XVII. Righteous and Wicked XVIII. The World to Come Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20133

4. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20134

5. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20135

6. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked Malachi 3:18 “Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.“ Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.“ Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“ Genesis 18:23 “And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?“ Jeremiah 15:19 “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, But you must not return to them.’” Acts 10:34-35 “ 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” 2013Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked6

7. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20137

8. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 7:6 “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” 1 John 2:29 “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” 1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” Romans 6:18 “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” 1 Corinthians 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” Proverbs 11:31 “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.” 1 Peter 4:17-18 “17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 2013Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked8

9. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked20139

10. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked 1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Isaiah 57:21 “’There is no peace,’ Says my God, ‘for the wicked.’" Psalm 10:4 “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-7 “ 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” 2013Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked10

11. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked201311

12. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked Proverbs 14:32 “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.” Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.’” John 8:23-24 “ 23 And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’" Proverbs 10:24 “The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.” Luke 12:4-5 “ 4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” Luke 9:25-26 “ 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.” John 12:25 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Ecclesiastes 3:17 “I said in my heart, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.’" Matthew 7:13-14 “ 13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” 2013Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked12

13. Article XVII The Righteous and Wicked We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death. Article 17 - The Righteous and Wicked201313