WHAT WE BELIEVE: STATEMENT OF FAITH
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the inspired word of God. They are inerrant in their original writings and are infallible, as they are breathed out by God. (1)
(1) Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
Further information on the inerrancy of scripture can be at:
https://www.moodybible.org/beliefs/the-chicago-statement-on-biblical-inerrancy/
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons––Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co–eternal in being, co–eternal in nature, co–equal in power and glory, having the same attributes, beauty, truth and perfections. (1)
(1) Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His substitutionary death, in our place, on the cross and that our justification is made sure by His literal and physical resurrection from the dead.(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, where He fulfils the ministry as our Hight Priest.(3) Until He returns bodily to the Earth, and brings all things under the fullness of His reign and Kingdom and fully redeems, His people, the church and makes all things new, removing sin, sickness, death, pain and suffering forever.
(1) Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14;
2) Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5, 2:24;
3) Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24;1 John 2:1–2.
THE PERSON & WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment; and that He brings about regeneration and spiritually baptises all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them and subsequently sealing them in Christ until He calls them heaven or He Himself returns.(1)
(1) John 16:8–11; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 5:18
THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin all humanity fell, inheriting a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; therefore man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost relationship with God.(1)
(1) Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3:12
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by Grace and received by only personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins past , present and future.(1) We believe that this salvation God foreknew and predestined those who are His own, before the foundations of the World.(2)
(1) John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8–10; 1 Peter 1:18–19;
(2) Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1-2
ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
We believe that all the truly redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.(1) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which also forbids the use of the immeasurable grace of God as a reason to wilfully participate in sin.(2)
(1) John 6:37–40, 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5;
(2) Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11–15.
HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe in a literal heaven and hell and that all mankind will end up in one of them, and will live in an eternally conscience state. We believe that all man kind is deserving of Hell, due to our rebellious life and wilful sin and rejection of God, and that the only way to enter heaven is not by being a 'good person’ or doing ‘good works/deeds’, but by believing and trusting solely upon the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as the substitute for our sin. We therefore believe that anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as the only way to get to heaven, will find themselves in eternal conscience torment in Hell - under God’s righteous wrath for all eternity, rather than living in eternal conscience bliss with the God-head, fellow believers and the Angels.(1)
(1) Job 19:26-27; Luke 16:23-24; John 5:28-29; Acts 3:21, 24:15; Romans 3:9-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 2 Corinthians 5:1,6-8; Ephesians 4:10; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 3:19; Jude 1:6-7.
THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. Although we believe that the Holy Spirit indwells at the moment of a persons acceptance of Christ, we also believe that the Holy Spirit can and does empower believers for works of service. However, all of the gifts that the Holy Spirit empowers believers with are grace gift that God gives according to His good will, pleasure and purpose. Most importantly those who posses these gifts are no more spiritual, or of greater value than those who may not.(1) We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted.(2) We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gifting and grace of God that is given to them.(3)
(1)1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 13; Ephesians 4:7–8;
(2) John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15;
(3) Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10–11.
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a living cathedral made up of all believers.(1) We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures(2) We believe that the local church should be led spiritually by Elders, who are qualified men, and supported by the Deacons and the whole congregation, in order that they may lead faithfully.(3)
(1) 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25–27;
(2) Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:1–3; Titus 1:5–11;
(3) Acts 13:1–4, 15:19–31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5: 4–7, 13; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1–4.
THE SACRAMENTS
Baptism
Christ personally instituted the sacrament of baptism, when he send the out to continue the work of the Kingdom. We believe that Baptism is a sacrament that the church is to administer. We believe that the Church should only baptise those have made a personal and full confession of belief in the Gospel of God. We believe that those wo are candidates for baptism must be able to give an account of their conversion and beliefs, first to the Elders and once they have done this, that they should also do so to the church. We believe that baptism should be by full immersion in water on the confession of the baptisee. We do not believe that anyone is saved by baptism, but that baptism is a means of a public confession of their covenantal relationship with the Father though Christ’s death and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, it is therefore an outward symbol of the work that Christ has already done in the life of the person and will complete fully at the resurrection of the dead.(1)
(1) Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34; Acts 2:14-41; Romans 6:3-11.
Communion
Communion is a sacrament that was given to the church by Christ and one that He personally instituted at the last supper. We believe that Communion is a sacrament that the church is too administer. We believe that communion is a time where all those who are part of Christ’s body, by the means of saving faith and their confession of their repentance, gather to remember Christ’s death and resurrection. We believe that as we do this the saints each must examine their own hearts to see that they are walking in light of their good confession. In taking of the communion we are proclaiming Christ’s death and resurrection on our behalf for the remission of our sin, reaffirming our commitment to our covenant relationship with God and our belief in Christ’s future return. We believe that the bread and the grape wholly symbolic of Christ’s body and blood that was split on our behalf at Calvary.(1)
(1) Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32.