PURPOSES
The purpose of Canticum Novum is to enrich the spiritual and musical lives of the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist churches and other like-minded Baptist churches in the state of Iowa through:
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the opportunity of participation in fine sacred choral and instrumental music (musicians);
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the opportunity to listen to and enjoy fine, sacred choral and instrumental music (congregants);
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the provision of musical outreach to the greater community;
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the provision of educational opportunities in music to the above-mentioned churches; and
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the provision of concerts/recitals featuring Christian artists/ensembles of excellent reputation.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Canticum Novum Music Association is an organization of musicians whose purpose is to worship the true and living God through the performances of and instruction in quality vocal and instrumental music. Because worshiping God is our fundamental intention, this necessarily requires that we be in right relationship with the God we worship. We believe that this is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we as individuals are followers of Jesus Christ.
Because worshiping God is our fundamental intention, this necessarily requires that we exalt his truth by ensuring that our singing conforms to His truth. Therefore, we will only sing songs consistent with what we believe about God’s truth.
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We believe that The Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant, and is truth. We believe it is our final authority for our faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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We believe there is one and only one living and true God Who created everything that exists. He is worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love. While one in essence, within the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; John 1:3; Matthew 28:19)
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We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; that He is One Person possessing two natures and thus is true God and true man. That He gave Himself as a perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all men; that He arose bodily from the grave, ascended into heaven where He is seated on the right hand of God interceding for His people. That He is returning again to earth in a similar manner to how He left earth. (Col. 1:16; 1:20; John 1:14; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:20; Acts 1:11).
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We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit. He indwells, fills, guides, teaches, and sanctifies believers. We believe He bestows spiritual gifts on believers (1 Corinthians 2:10; Eph. 1:13)
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We believe man is a sinner in need of salvation. We believe that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ, Who paid the full redemptive price, completely satisfied God's righteous demands by suffering the death penalty for man's guilt and imputed to man His righteousness, reconciling him to God. We believe that salvation is made effective to man only upon his exercise of personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26; 5:6-10; 1 John 5:1).
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We believe that the local church is the visible manifestation of the body of Christ on earth. It is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-4)
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We believe there are two ordinances given to the Church: scriptural baptism by immersion, and the Lord’s supper (Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
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We believe in the everlasting happiness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (John 8:21; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 16:25-26).
In the event that any clarification, further explanation of this doctrinal statement, or further research is needed to determine the worthiness of any given song, we would defer to the statement of faith held by the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches.