Our Beliefs
The Bible
The sixty-six books of the Bible are our sole basis of belief. Originated from God, the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity, and the final authority over every area of knowledge to which it speaks. We believe these Scriptures, as originally given, stand free from error, and that their truth has been preserved to the present day. We believe these unique books are complete in their revelation of God’s will for salvation, and are sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21.
God
God loves all people dearly, and demonstrated it by sending His Son to die in our place. We believe He is one, yet His oneness comprises three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same perfections and power and shall therefore be honoured and obeyed as the one true God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 38; 14:10-11; 17:21; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
God the Father
God is the all-powerful, all-pure Creator of all people, and the Father of those who believe in Jesus. Over those He adopted as children, He pours fatherly love and holds fatherly authority. 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3-5; Hebrews 12:5-7; 1 John 3:1.
Jesus Christ The Son
Jesus is the focus of our devotion, the saviour of our souls. He is the eternal Son of God, the creator of life, and the only way by which people may know God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a virgin. He lived a life of example to all, died on a cross as a substitution for all, and was raised to life securing the salvation of all who place their faith in Him. He ascended to heaven, where He now intercedes on our behalf before the Father. He shall return to earth, first to take those who placed their faith in Him, then to rule as Judge and King, as foretold in Scriptures. Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2; 5:22, 27; 8:58; 14:3-6; 17:5; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Colossians 1:13-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-15; 7:3; 9:24; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 20:1-6.
The Holy Spirit
In the Spirit’s ministry on earth, He will always glorify Christ. We believe that the salvation secured by Jesus Christ is applied to his people by the Holy Spirit. He is our source of comfort in times of trouble, and guidance in times of uncertainty. He comes from the Father, and was sent by the Son to dwell in believers since the Day of Pentecost. He continues Jesus’s work amongst believers today, of comforting and convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and by his work regenerates spiritually dead sinners, awakening them to repentance and faith, and in him they are baptized into union with the Lord Jesus, such that they are justified before God by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.
We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all believers at the point of conversion. The purpose of these gifts is always to honour God and serve the church, not to serve as measures of spirituality. The exercise of spiritual gifts must always be consistent with Scripture. 1 Corinthians 12:14, Ephesians 4:11- 16, 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Creation
We believe that the Genesis account is a trustworthy, historical record of how the universe came to be. We believe that God created the world, and that He created males and females in His own image to care for creation, and to enjoy equal access to Him by faith in Christ. We believe the creation account not only tells of our beginnings but also establishes God’s desire for a relationship with humanity. It demonstrates that Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a union that establishes the pattern for relations between men and women. We view these Scriptures as our guide for what is normative rather than being pressured by current societal opinion. Genesis 1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2-3.
Humanity
Humans were originally created perfect and sinless, the object of God’s love, but rebelled against Him when tempted, resulting in separation from the perfect God, and in physical death. All people since that time have been born sinners by nature, in need of salvation to bring them back to Him. Genesis 2-3; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19.
Salvation
God loved us so infinitely that He willingly bore the penalty our sins demanded. The Judge suffered the sentence that the accused deserved, dying in our place on the cross, then rising again to defeat death. God showed us this love because of who He is, not because of who we are, and offers it as a free gift received by faith in Jesus, not by any effort of our own.
We believe that we have assurance of salvation because of God’s promises, and that our salvation is secure for all time because it depends upon His great love, not our weak nature. John 3:14-18; Acts 20:21; Romans 6:23; 8:35; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:4, 23; 1 John 3:1; 5:13.
Eternity
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. All will be resurrected and judged. God’s judgment will reveal both His justice and His grace. Unbelievers will, by their own rejection of Christ, be eternally separated from Him into condemnation. Believers will, by God’s grace, be welcomed into an eternal relationship with their Maker. Matthew 25:31- 46; John 3:16, 5:28-29, 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15.
The Church
The church is not an institution or a building, it is people. All people who have accepted Christ’s gift of salvation make up the church, which began at Pentecost and will be completed when Christ returns. All believers comprise one spiritual “body,” of which Christ is the head. The members of this body are to gather in local churches (for worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship), and to communicate the Gospel to the world.
We believe that baptism (by immersion), and the Lord’s Supper (the commemoration of Jesus’ final meal), are the two decrees Jesus instructed the church to follow as visible reminders of His life and ministry.
The church will not compel people’s belief or behaviour in matters on which Scripture is silent. Rather, it will show grace by allowing them to be led by the Lord to whom they are ultimately responsible. Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Luke 22:17-20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; 12:12-27; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:25.
Satan
We believe that Satan is the Enemy of God, the ruler of this world, and the deceiver of humanity. Although his powers are supernatural, they are limited by God’s control. He opposes God by blinding unbelievers to the Gospel, and by diverting believers’ time and energy into ungodly channels. He intends us harm and tempts us to sin using our own desires. Believers should oppose him by resisting temptation, but need not confront him, for He has already been judged at the cross. His end is therefore certain. Job 1:6-12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2; 6:12-18; James 1:14; 4:7; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:10.
Future Events
We believe that Jesus will come to gather His Church, and that God will judge the unbelieving world during a seven year period of tribulation. We believe that Christ will return to rule all nations, then the wicked will be judged, Satan forever defeated, and all believers will enjoy God’s presence forever. Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 7:14; 20:1-6, 11-15.