A summary of our Biblical beliefs.
A summary of our Biblical beliefs.
The Bible
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action (2 Tim. 3:16) amp.
The Trinity
We believe that the Godhead exists co-equally and co-eternally in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and that these three are one God, sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. Each Person is fully God and self-existent, infinitely perfect and unchangeable in holiness, wisdom and love. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. For His glory and by His own proclamation, He created and sustains heaven and earth, time, and all things, visible and invisible, living and non-living (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor.13:14; Col. 1:15-20) esv.
Jesus
We believe in the true and authentic deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His real and complete humanity, in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His heavenly intercession and His second advent to receive His Church (Col. 1:19; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16) esv.
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the son and the necessity of his work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an enduement of power through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this enduement, the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service ( Acts 5:3-4 esv: this reference to the Holy Spirit clearly assigns deity to him, any further references to the Holy Spirit must be seen in this light: that he is a person, with a free will etc. John 14:26; 15:7-15,26, esv, are good examples of this).
Salvation
We believe in the necessity for salvation of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which the sinner is pardoned and accepted as righteous in God’s sight. This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone and is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit and a holy life (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-10,13-17; Gal 5:22-25) esv.
The Church
We believe in the spiritual unity and the priesthood of all believers in Christ and that these comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ. That every individual Christian has direct access to God without any mediation except that of Jesus who mediates for us before God. Each individual Christian shares the responsibilty of ministering to other members of Christ's Church on earth (Rom. 15:14; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; 8:6; 10:24,25) esv.
The Ministry
We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament (Eph.4:11-16) esv.
The Commission
We believe that the Gospel embraces the needs of the whole man and that the Church is therefore commissioned to preach the Gospel to the world and to fulfil a ministry of healing and deliverance to the spiritual and physical needs of mankind (Matt.28:18-20) esv.
The Coming King
We believe in the personal, physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in power and glory (1 Cor. 15: 25; 1Thess. 4:16-17) esv.