STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Bible:

  • The Bible is the only authority for all matters of belief and Christian living as it contains all the essential revelation of God (John 20:30,31; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; Revelation 22:18,19).
  • The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, although written by approximately 40 people over a period of more than 1500 years, is "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16) and is therefore the Word of God (2 Peter 1:20,21).
  • The Bible is both accurate and reliable (Luke 1:1-4; John 21:24).
  • Jesus taught that all human teachings and religious traditions must be judged by the Bible (Mark 7:1-13).

God:

  • There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
  • God is holy and perfect (Isaiah 6:3).
  • God is love (1 John 4:16).
  • God created and sustains the universe (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 104).

Mankind:

  • Man was created sinless and in God's image (Genesis 1:26,27).
  • Man was created for God's glory and to be in relationship with him (Isaiah 43:6-7; Ephesians 1:11,12; Revelations 21:2-4).
  • The first man disobeyed God and so brought sin and death into the world (Genesis 2:17; 3:11-13; Romans 5:12).
  • Since then, all of mankind have sinned and are guilty before God (Romans 3:10-20, 23).
  • God's holiness and man's sinfulness demands that those outside of Christ will be separated from God forever (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).

The Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, coequal with the Father (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1).
  • He became fully human (Romans 1:1-4), being born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-35).
  • Unlike every other human being, Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22).
  • Jesus performed many miracles and signs through which he showed God's love and power (Matthew 14:14; Acts 2:22; 10:38).
  • Because of his love for us, Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross and took on himself the punishment for our sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). Jesus Christ's death was the once for all time sacrifice for our sins which completely saves those who come to God through him (Hebrew 10:10-18; 7:23-27).
  • The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ was witnessed by over 500 of his followers over a period of 40 days (Luke 24:1-8; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
  • Jesus ascended into heaven where he acts as our mediator and high priest (Luke 24:50, 51; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:19-22).
  • Although no-one knows exactly when, Jesus Christ will return in power and glory (Mark 13:26, 32; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
  • Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1).

Salvation:

  • The only way to be saved from God's wrath and made right before him is through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 2:2, 3).
  • To receive salvation, each person must come in repentance and faith and accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord of their lives (Acts10:42-43; 17:30; Romans 10:9).
  • Salvation cannot be earned or added to by anything anyone can do but can only be accepted through faith in Jesus Christ as a free gift of God given to us because of his grace (Romans 3:20-28; Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:8, 9).
  • When a person believes in Jesus Christ they are justified: they are declared not only to be not guilty (all their sins are completely forgiven) but righteous in God's sight (because they receive righteousness from God) (Romans 3:21-24; 4:4-8, 23-24).
  • Those who believe in Jesus Christ have eternal life, peace with God, a new relationship with God as their Father, and the certainty of being with God forever (John 1:12; 3:16; 14:1-4; Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21:1-4).

The Holy Spirit:

  • The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and is so involved in the work of salvation of those who come in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, that they are referred to as born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8; 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).
  • The Holy Spirit is given to, and lives within, every believer in Jesus Christ guaranteeing the completion of God's work in their lives (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14).
  • The Holy Spirit continues to work in the lives of believers, enabling them to increasingly display Christ-like character (The Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and obedience to God (Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23).
  • The Holy Spirit's help is essential for fully understanding the teaching of the Bible (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14).
  • Believers are instructed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and not to hinder his work in their lives (Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
  • The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each believer to empower them for loving service and for strengthening the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12-14).

The Church:

  • All true believers in Jesus Christ are members of the universal Church of which Jesus Christ is the head (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4-6, 15-16; Colossians 1:18).
  • Local communities of true believers are also referred to as churches (Matthew 18:17; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2).
  • All believers are priests with equal access right into the presence of God through Jesus Christ (to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, good works, and ourselves to God), and do not need any other human mediator (Romans 12:1; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:19-22; 13:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10).
  • Jesus Christ commanded that those who believe in him should be baptised as the sign of their faith in him (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-41; 18:8) and should remember him through the regular celebration of the Lord's supper (communion) involving eating bread and drinking of the cup (Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).