Statement Of Faith
The Scriptures
We affirm that the Holy Scriptures, as originally given by God through the different authors are the infallible and inerrant Word of God. This comprises 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Recognising these as our only authority in all matters of faith and practice, we believe the doctrines taught in them.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
2Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2Peter 1:20-21; John 17:17, Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.
The Trinity
We believe in the only true and living God. Revealed in the Holy Scriptures as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Divine Persons in this Holy Trinity exist in perfect unity (e), are co-equal, and co-eternal, and are sovereign in creation, providence and redemption.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Deuteronomy 6:4; 1Corinthians 8:4,6; Jeremiah 10:10; 1Thessalonians 1:9; John 6:27; 1Peter 1:2; John 1:1,14; Titus 2:13; 1John 5:20; Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 2Corinthians 13:14; John 10:30, 17:22; Psalm 90:2; John 1:1; 1Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 9:14; Genesis 1:2-3; Job 24:13, 33:4; John 1:2,3; Psalm 33:10-11; Psalm 135:6; Daniel 4:34-35; Acts 17:25-28; Ephesians 1:3-14
God, the Father
We believe in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is holy righteous full of grace mercy, compassion, and love. In His infinite love He sent forth his Son that the world might be saved through Him.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Leviticus 11:44,45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Isaiah 6:3; 1Peter 1:16; Revelation 4:8; Deuteronomy 32:4; Ezra 9:15; Psalm 119:137; John 17:25; Genesis 33:11; Galatians 1:15; 1Peter 5:10; Daniel 9:9; Ephesians 2:4; Psalm 86:15; 1John 4:8; John 3:16,17; Romans 5:8; 1John 4:9-10
God, the Son
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, whose true humanity and full deity were joined in the unity of His divine Person. We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life and in His teaching, in His divine miracles, in His substitutionary atoning death on the cross. There He offered the one perfect and final sacrifice for sin, for all time, triumphing over Satan, sin and death. We believe in His bodily resurrection and His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits in glory at the Father’s right hand, the only mediator between God and man.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 1:3; John 1:1; John 20:28; Titus 2:13-14; Colossians 2:9; 1Timothy 3:16; Luke 1:34,35; Matthew 1:20-25; 1Peter 2:22; Hebrews 7:26; Acts 2:22; John 2:11; Romans 5:19, 3:25; 2Corinthians 5:21;
Hebrews 7:23-28; Hebrews 10:14-18; Colossians 2:13-15; 1Corinthians 15:56-57; John 2:19; 1Corinthians 15:4-8; Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1Timothy 2:5; John 14:5; Acts 4:1
God, the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, who regenerates the sinner, equips him with gifts for service, sanctifies him through the Word, in this present life and fits him to enjoy fellowship with God forever. For spiritual power and effectiveness His ministry is essential to the individual Christian and the church.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
2Corinthians 3:17-18; John 3:5-8; Romans 8:9; 2Thessalonians 2:13,14; Ephesians 4:11-13; John 17:17; Ephesians 4:22-32; Acts 20:32; Zechariah 4:6
Man and the Fall
We believe that as a result of the Fall all men are sinful by nature. Sin pollutes and infects every part of their being, renders them unable to please God by their own efforts, makes them guilty in the sight of a holy God, and subject to the penalty which, in His wrath and condemnation, He has decreed against it.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10-18; Titus 1:15; Romans 3:12; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 3:19; Ephesians 3:2; 2Thessalonians 1:6-10
Salvation
We believe that through faith alone in Christ alone the sinner is freely justified by God. The death of Christ was the final perfect sacrifice for our sins, and no sacrifice for sins remains to be offered today. On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice once offered, God forgives all our sins, and credits Christ’s righteousness to our account. Salvation is therefore a gift from God, and not a human achievement.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:22 & 28; Romans 4:4-5; Hebrews 10:14-18; Hebrews 7:23-28; Colossians 2:13-14; Romans 4:23-25; Romans 6:23
Good Works
We believe that good works are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith. By these believers express their thankfulness to God, make the gospel attractive; and demonstrate Christ’s love in the world. The believer’s ability to do good works comes not from himself but from the Holy Spirit who is at work in him.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
James 2:14-18; 2Peter 1:5-10; Psalm 116:12-14; Philippians 1:11; Titus 2:9-10; Matthew 5:16; John 15:5; Philippians 2:13; Ezekiel 36:26,27
The Return of Our Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly and gloriously to this earth to raise all the death, both the just and the unjust. As the righteous Judge he will divide all men into two, and only two, categories – the saved and the lost. Those whose faith is in Christ will be saved eternally and will enter immediately into the joy of their Lord sharing with Him his inheritance in heaven. The unbelieving will be condemned by Him to hell, where eternally they will be punished for their sins under the righteous judgment of God.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Acts 1:11; Matthew 25:31-33; Acts 25:15; John 5:28,29; John 5:24,25; Matthew 25:34; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18;
Matthew 25:41-42,46; 2Thessalonians 1:8,9; Revelation 20:10
The Church
We believe that the church consists of the elect of God, that is, all those who in every age are born again of the Spirit of God and thus united to Christ their Head. We believe that a true local church exists where the following marks are evident, and are practised according to the Word of God: The preaching of the Gospel of Christ. The administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The exercise of Church Discipline.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
1Peter 1:1,2; Ephesians 1:1-5,11-13; 1Corinthians 1:2; John 3:3,5; 1Corinthians 12:12-13,27; Mark 16:15; Galatians 1:8-9; Matthew 28:19; 1Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 18:15-18; 1Corinthians 5:12-6:3
Baptism
(1) Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be to the person baptised, a sign of his fellowship with Him, in His death and resurrection, of his been engrafted into Him, of remission of sins and of giving up to God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Matthew 28:19; 1Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:5; Titus 3:5; Mark 1:4; Romans 6:3,4; Matthew 28:19-20
(2) The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Matthew 3:1; John 1:33; Matthew 18:19-20
(3) Only those who with evidence of a professed faith in and obedience to Christ are to be baptized and none other. Immersion of the whole person under water is normal for the administration of this ordinance.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Acts 2:38; Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12-37; Acts 10:47-48; Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38-39
NOTE: We will heartily welcome into full membership those who hold, with earnest conviction, a Paedo-Baptist position. We do so on the understanding that they do not believe that such baptism brings about the New Birth. We also do so expecting that they will respect the teaching position of the church and that they will not seek to undermine its position on this matter.
The Lord’s Supper
Our Lord Jesus, in the night when he was betrayed, instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, to be observed in his church to the end of the world. This ordinance is for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of the Lord on Calvary. In this ordinance Christ is proclaimed, and through faith in Him our union and communion with Christ and with each other as members of His body is confirmed.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
1Corinthians 11:23-26; 1Corinthians 10:16-17,21; 1Corinthians 12:13
* In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor is any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the living or dead; but only a memorial of that one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all. No change takes place in the substance of the bread and wine during this ordinance.
Bible References: (click to open verse in a new window)
Hebrews 9:22,25-28; 1Corinthians 11:24-26; Matthew 26:26-27