Statement of Faith

1) There is one God (Deuteronomy 6.4), eternally existent, who has revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

2) The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only inspired and authoritative Word of God and will guide in matters of faith and salvation. (2 Timothy 3.16)

 

3) The eternal Word of God (God the Son) became a man, Jesus (John 1.1,14). He was truly God (Colossians 1.15-19) and truly man. He was born of a virgin (Matthew 1.18-23) and lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4.15). By His death on the cross He satisfies the just requirements of God for the punishment of sin for everone who turns in repentance and faith to Him and believes in Him as Saviour and Lord (Romans 3.21-26, 10.9). He rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the Father and sent His Spirit to guide the Church into all truth (Luke 24, Acts 1.9)

 

4) Mankind was made in the image of God (Genesis 1.27) and designed to find fulfilment through his relationship with God. Sin however has marred that image and separated us from God. We are therefore not able, by our own efforts, to resore that broken relationship or to reach God’s standard (Romans 3.23).

 

5) A person who truly believes in Jesus Christ is born of the Spirit of God (John 3.3-6), is made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17), receives the Spirit of God (Acts 2.38), is called to live under the Spirit’s control (Romans 8.4,9) and is commanded to be continually filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5.18). The distinguishing mark of the believer is love (John 13.35, 1 Corinthians 13).

 

6) Everyone is destined to die and after death to face judgement (Hebrews 9.27). Believers will be raised with an immortal, glorious body to enter the Kingdom of God forever (1 Corinthians 15.38-56). Their lives and works will be judged and rewarded accordingly (1 Corinthians 3.12-15, 2 Corinthians 5.10). Unbelivers will rise to face the eternal judgement of God for their rejection of Him (2 Thessalonians 1.7-9).

 

7) Those who receive salvation become members of the community of God’s people – the universal Church (Ephesians 2.19-22). Christ is the head of the Church which is his ‘body’ on earth (Ephesians 5.23). Believers are to gather together in local expressions of the body of Christ for worship (including the celebration of the sacrements of Communion and Baptism), fellowship and encouragement, ministry to each other, prayer, teaching and training in ministry, (Acts 2.42-47Hebrews 10.23-25, Ephesians 4.11-13) using the gifts that God has given to each for the building up of the church (1 Corinthians 12.7, 14.26).

 

8) Belivers are called to be Christ’s witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.8), commissioned to carry on the mission of Jesus (John 20.21; Matthew 28.18-20) and to be agents of reconciliation between God and man (2 Corinthians 5.18).

 

9) Satan and his evil forces are a reality and are continually seeking to destroy God’s work. Christ was revealed to destroy the works of the evil one (1 John 3.8) and followers of Christ are continually involved in spiritual conflict with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6.10-18). However, Christ has defeated Satan (Colossians 2.15) and will return personally (Acts 1.11) and in victory (Philippians 2.2-11) to take His people to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4.16).