What We Believe
There are 17 statements that make up the core beliefs of our Doctrinal Statement.
WE BELIEVE that the Bible is the Word of God.
1. We believe that the words of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God and in the original writing contained no errors. These books are the final authority in determining what we believe and how we should live.
Scriptural Basis: II Timothy 3:16 -17; II Peter 1:19-21;Heb.6:18; Proverbs 30:5-6;Deuteronomy 17:19; Psalms 119:9.
WE BELIEVE in one God.
2. We believe that there is only one true God and that He exists eternally as three persons; Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. These three are equal yet distinct in personalityand role.
Scriptural Basis: Exodus 20:2-3; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6;John 15:26
WE BELIEVE God created the universe.
3. We believe that God made the entire universe as it is described within Genesis. He made it from nothing and created it in the form He intended it to be.
Scriptural Basis: Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3
WE BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, God the Son.
4. We believe that Jesus Christ, is God the Son, and that He became a man when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin. He is true God and true man.
Scriptural Basis: John 1:1,14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4
WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of Christ.
5. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present ministry there as High Priest, mediator and advocate.
Scriptural Basis: Matthew 28:1-7; Acts 1:8-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; I Corinthians 15:4-9
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives.
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and draws them to Christ; that He provides those who believe in Christ with a new and pure life, baptising them into the family of God, and confirming it with his on-going presence. It is He who empowers and fills believers that they might walk worthy of Christ. He helps believers to understand God’sword and gives gifts of service to them (this does not include the sign gifts, as we believe these were restricted to the Apostolic period).
Scriptural basis: John 16:7-8,3:5-6, Eph. 1:11-14, I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9,11, John 16:13-14, Ephesians 5:18, 4:11-12, Romans 12:6-8,Hebrews 2:3-4, Ephesians 2:20, I Corinthians 13:8-12, II Corinthians 12:12
WE BELIEVE in the person of Satan.
7. We believe that Satan is evil and the “unholy god” of this world. He commands the powers of evil and wages war against the kingdom of God. We believe he is destined to be judged by God and banished into the lake of fire for eternity.
Scriptural basis: Mark 1:13, John 12:31, II Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 20:10
WE BELIEVE that all people are sinners and will be judged by God.
8. We believe that people were created in the image of God. However, this image was marred when people first sinned. A result of this was physical death and separation from God, which is spiritual death. Since this time all people have been born with a sinful nature and show it by what they think, say and do. In addition, God being a morally righteous God, will one-day call all people to account for their sin and banish those found guilty to the lake of fire for eternity.
Scriptural basis: Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-24, James 1:5, Romans 5:12,19,3:10-23, Hebrews 9:27, Rev. 21:8
WE BELIEVE that Jesus died to save sinners.
9. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed His perfect life for all people. Acting as a substitute, He took on their sins and accepted God’s sentence of punishment on their behalf. While His death is sufficient to save all people, it is effective only to those who become children of God.
Scriptural basis: Isaiah 53:4-11,II Cor.5:14-21, I Peter 3:18, I John 3:5, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:28
WE BELIEVE in Salvation by Grace through Faith.
10. We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. This new birth is a gift given by God and cannot be earned.
Scriptural Basis: John 1:12-13; 3:3-17; Acts 16:31; Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9
WE BELIEVE in the Eternal Security of believers.
11. We believe in the eternal security of the believer. It is impossible for one born into the family of God to be lost because he is forever kept by the power of God.
Scriptural Basis: John 6:39-40; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Jude 1; I Peter 1:5; Ephesians 4:30
WE BELIEVE in the return of Jesus Christ.
12. We believe in the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. He will return in the air and the church will be caught up to heaven with Him. After the Tribulation He will come back to set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years. Then He will judge Satan and the world and eternity will begin. We believe in the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Scriptures.
Scriptural Basis: Titus 2:13; John 14:1-3;I Corinthians 15:51-58;IThess. 4:13-18; II Thess. 2:1-13
WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection of everyone.
13. We believe in the bodily resurrection of everyone, the eternal salvation of believers in a literal heaven with God, and the eternal punishment of unbelievers in a literal hell.
Scriptural Basis: Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 21:1-8;I Thess. 4:13-18;Mark 9:44; II Cor. 5:11; Rev. 21:22; John 14:1-6 &48; Matt. 28:33
WE BELIEVE that the Church is the body of Christ.
14. We believe that the Church, which is the body of Christ, consists of all born againbelievers.
Scriptural Basis: Ephesians 1:22-23; I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 9:31
WE BELIEVE that God works through the Local Church
15. We believe that the local church is a group of believers organised according to the New Testament pattern, and is the agency through which God has chosen to accomplish His work. The purpose of the local church is for believers to be obedient to God collectively in worship, teaching, fellowship, prayer, encouragement, giving, evangelism, and the observance of the ordinances. carrying out those matters. The local church is self-governing and autonomous with a leadership consisting of Pastors/Elders and Deacons who are accountable to Christ and to members. Any ministry associations made by the church, are to be supportive of the church’s doctrinal statement.
Scriptural Basis: Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:18-20; I Timothy 3; I Peter 5:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; II Corinthians 6:14-17; I Timothy 6:3-5; Acts 9:31
WE BELIEVE Christians should live holy lives
16. We believe that believers should live holy lives and be separated from sinful practices by walking in obedience to the Spirit of God.
Scriptural Basis: Romans 12:1-2; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17;II Corinthians 6:14; Colossians 3:1-17; Galatians 5:16-25
WE BELIEVE in two ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
17. We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show symbolically our death to sin and rising to new life in Christ. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the and should be preceded by solemn self-examination. Both should be practiced in obedience to Christ.
Scriptural Basis: Acts 8:36 – 39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; I Cor. 11:23-28