What we Believe

Our Basis of Faith

• The Bible is God’s written word. As originally given it is God-breathed. Its human writers spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is therefore true in all that it teaches. It is our supreme and sufficient authority for all we believe and do.
  2 Timothy 3:16-17. 2 Peter 1:20-21
   
• There is one God in three persons: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
  Deuteronomy 6:4 Matthew 28:19 2 Corinthians 13:14
   
• God is sovereign; in creating and upholding the universe, in revealing himself and his truth, in saving sinners, and in final judgement.
  Revelation 4:11 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 Ephesians 2:4-6 James 4:12
   
• Man is sinful. Every aspect of human nature has been affected by sin as a result of the fall. By nature and by practice we are guilty and sinners, spiritually dead to God, and under his condemnation.
  Romans 3:9-20 Romans 5:12 Ephesians 2:1-3
   
• Jesus is the God-man. He is and always has been truly and fully God. By virgin birth he became and always will be truly and fully man.
  John 1:1-3 John 1:14 1 Timothy 2:5   1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Acts 17:31 Luke 1:26-38
   
• Jesus’ life, teaching and ministry brought the Kingdom of God to men. He lived in perfect obedience to the will of his Father. He preached and taught about the Kingdom of God. And his miracles demonstrated that the age to come had broken into this present evil age. He invaded Satan’s territory, rescued and released those who were under the power of the devil, and established God’s dynamic rule in human lives.
  Isaiah 9:6-7 Luke 3:21-22 Luke 4:43 Luke 11:20 Acts 10:37-38
   
• Jesus died for our sins as our substitute and sacrifice. He was punished in our place to take away our guilt. By his death he thus disarmed the demonic powers and triumphed over them.
  Romans 5:6-8 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 3:18 Colossians 2:13-15
   
• We are declared righteous in God’s sight solely by faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
  Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 3:28 Romans 4:5
   
• Jesus rose bodily from death. His resurrection proves that he is the Son of God, shows that his death was an acceptable and sufficient sacrifice for our sins, and gives believers a living hope.
  Acts 1:3 1 Corinthians 15:14-23 Romans 1:4 Romans 4:25
   
• Jesus ascended into heaven. There he reigns over all things, prays for his people, and pours out the promised Holy Spirit.
  Acts 1:9 Ephesians 1:20-23 Hebrews 7:25 1 John 2:1 Acts 2:33
   
• We need the Holy Spirit: for a true and spiritual understanding of the Bible; to give us spiritual life; to fill us in order that we may live in a way that honours and pleases God; to enable us to minister and worship as priests to God; to equip us with gifts to build up the church; and to empower us to be courageous, effective witnesses – as we seek to continue to express Jesus’ life, teaching and ministry.
  1 Corinthians 2:14 John 3:5 Romans 8:13-16 Galatians 5:16-26 Ephesians 5:18-21 1 Corinthians 12 Acts 1:8 John 14:12
   
• The church of Christ is spoken of in two ways in the Bible: the “universal “ church, comprising all believers from all times and places; and the “local” church, comprising believers who have committed themselves to one another as members of the body of Christ in a given locality. Jesus alone is the head and the Lord of the church. He equips and appoints particular men as elders who have leadership responsibility within the local church. However, every member has  a vital role in the effective functioning, growth and development of the body of Christ. Therefore every member has the privilege and responsibility, through God-given gifts and graces, to help bless and build the body of Christ.
  Ephesians 1:22-23 Ephesians 4:4 Ephesians 4:15-16 Ephesians 5:22-23 1 Corinthians 12 Acts 20:28 1 Timothy 5:17
   
• We observe the practices of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.
  Matthew 28:19 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
   
• We observe the solemnisation of marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman, as ordained by God.
  Genesis 2:24, John 2:1-11, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9, Ephesians 5:31
   
• The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory, the dead will be raised, and God will judge the world by the Lord Jesus. All those who have refused to believe and have rejected Christ will experience the curse of eternal punishment. All those who have trusted Jesus as their Saviour and received him as Lord will experience the blessing of eternal life.
  Acts 1:1 Mark 13:26 Daniel 12:2 John 5:28-30 Acts 17:31 Matthew 25:46 John 3:36 2 Peter 3:13

 
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