What we believe

 

A. The Word of God We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21, I Thess. 2:13)

B. The Trinity We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of Creation, Providence and Redemption. (Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 28:19, John 1:1-4, 10:30, 14:16-18,23,26, 16:7-11)

C. God the Father We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 4:24, Isaiah 44:6, I John 4:8,10)

D. Jesus Christ the Son We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal visible return to earth. (John 1:1-2, 12, Romans 5:8, Luke 24:39, Acts 1:11, Hebrews 7:25, I John 2:1)

E. The Holy Spirit We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 14:10-18, 26, 16:7-15, Romans 8:9,14)

F. Angels We believe that angels are a distinct order of created spiritual beings; that they can appear in human form; that good angels minister to human beings and serve God as special messengers; that Satan, a fallen angel, and his evil angels whom he led, exercise great but limited power in the world, and will suffer defeat at the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Job 1:6, Matt. 24:31, 25:41, Luke 15:10, Heb. 1:14, 13:1, I Peter 5:8, Rev. 7:11, 12:7-10)

G. Humanity We believe that God created humankind as male and female to bear his image and reflect his character to the rest of creation. Through disobedience to God humankind fell into sin, is totally depraved and, apart from God’s intervening grace, remains spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Though humankind retains the image of God, bestowing tremendous dignity, value and worth on individuals, humans are still spiritually bankrupt and completely dependent on the mercy of God for their salvation. (Genesis 1:26,27, Romans 3:9-19)

H. Regeneration We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3-7, Romans 3:10,23, 6:23, 10:9-13, I Peter 1:23)

I. The Church We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Acts 2:41, 47, Colossians 1:18, Matthew 28:19-20)

J. Christian Conduct We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of others, and be blameless before the world; that a Christian should be a faithful steward of possessions; and seek to realize personally and for others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (I Corinthians 6:19,20, II Corinthians 6:14-18, II Peter 3:14)

K. The Ordinances We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the Name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administrated until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19, I Corinthians 11:23-25)

L. Religious Liberty We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. (Romans 13:1, 14:12, I Timothy 2:1-3, I Peter 3, John 18:36)

M. Church Co-operation We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether regional or national, exists and functions by the will of the participating churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with inter-denominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis. (I Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 3:9-11)

N. Last Things We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the fulfillment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal happiness of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 24, John 14:2,3, I Thessalonians 4:14-18, Revelation 20-22)