What we believe
Our statement of faith is a summary of what we believe, the beliefs we consider to be essential for biblical Christianity.
1. God
There is one God, who has existed forever in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God does not change and is always holy, just, wise and loving. He is all powerful Creator; Saviour and ultimate Judge who sustains and is in charge of everything according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
2. The Bible
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always all we need with regard to what we believe and how we should act.
3. The Human Race
All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. Because Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty because of sin, and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconnected to God in order to know and please him.
4. The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless, perfect life in obedience to God the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are absolutely true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He represents and speaks for his people in the presence of the Father.
5. Salvation
Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace- you do not deserve it and you cannot earn it by doing good things or by being a good person. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God, in his love, forgives sinners whom he calls, giving them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
6. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts people of their sin, imparts spiritual life and helps us understand the Bible. He lives in all Christians and continually reminds us that we are saved, and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and telling others.
7. The Church
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made up of local churches, which are gatherings of Christians who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; caring for each other practically and by correcting each other in the way they behave, and for telling others. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel, and do not seek to add or take away from it.
8. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the church by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper or Communion is where the church take bread and wine as a symbolic reminder of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all. The bread and wine do not change. All its blessings are received by faith.
9. The Future
The Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The unrighteous, those who have not trusted in Christ, will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous, those who have trusted in Christ, will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.