Statement of Faith
1 We believe in THE HOLY BIBLE: The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have their authority from God alone, and are given to us by divine verbal inspiration. They are the only perfect, supreme, infallible and sufficient standard of faith and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1: 20-21; 2 Timothy 1: 13; Psalm 119: 105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
2 We believe in THE ONE TRUE GOD: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual, and personal Being; perfect, infinite, and eternal in His Being, holiness and love, wisdom and power; absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons but without division of nature or being, and each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people. Genesis1: 1, 26, 27; Genesis 3: 22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14
3 We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: who is the eternal Son of God, the Creator of all, the Second Person of the Trinity who was born of a virgin, taking on a human body with a sinless nature. His perfect life, sacrificial death, burial and resurrection fully satisfied God’s just demands to be the world’s Redeemer and Saviour of all who believe. He is at present enthroned at the right hand of the Father as the Advocate and the Intercessor for all of His people and He is the Judge of all. Philippians 2:5-8; John 19:30; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:1; John 5:21,22; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17
4 We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT: who is the Third Person of the Trinity; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgement; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, anoints, and bestows gifts on all who become children of God through the living Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16: 7-13; John 14: 16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; I Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
5 We believe ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST: that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness; that by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful both in nature and practice, thus alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgement and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation. Genesis1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:6
6 We believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH: that salvation is a free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish; that this salvation affects the whole man; apart from Christ, there is no possible salvation. Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:11-13; John 3:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1-11; Romans 8:1
7 We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS: not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore as Christians we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, walk as He walked, accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privilege of bearing the gospel to a lost world; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who, in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies of God, have presented themselves wholly to Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:7-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Romans 6; Ephesians 4:17-32
8 We believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels (wicked spirits), the deceiver and god of this present world; that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good; that he was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist him and overcome him only in the armour of God, by the blood of the Lamb, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Genesis 3:1-7,14-15; Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7; Isaiah 14:12-15; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; James 4:7; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10
9 We believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His return from Heaven will be personal, visible, and glorious; a blessed Hope, for which we should constantly watch and pray, the time being unrevealed but always imminent; that when He comes, He will first, by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living, remove from the earth His waiting church, then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world, afterwards, descend with His church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years. (Agreement on exact order of events leading up to His Second Coming is not necessary for church membership, but belief in the fact of the Second Coming is necessary.) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; Matthew 24:15-25,46; Revelation 19:11-14; Revelation 20:1-3
10 We believe in FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION, AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT: that the spirits of the saved, at death, go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the Judgment seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own; that the spirits of the unsaved, at death, descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into Hell, the place of final and everlasting punishment. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2: 7-9
11 We believe in THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: that Christ is our Great High Priest, and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God's presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6
12 We believe in THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST: That He alone is Head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit; that all members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16
13 We believe in THE LOCAL CHURCH: that a New Testament church is a local assembly of born-again, baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances, to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and a united testimony, and to actively engage in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should co-operate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God; that the ordinances given to the local church are two: Baptism and the Lord's Supper; that Baptism is by immersion of believers, thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; that the Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believer as a continuing memorial of Christ's body which He gave and His blood which He shed for us. Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:40-46
14 We believe in CIVIL GOVERNMENT: that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of society; that all in authority over us are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-7
15 We believe in THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-7
16 We believe in THE LORD'S DAY: that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and that, in a special sense, it is the divinely appointed day for worship and spiritual exercise. Mark 16:9; John 20:19; Acts 20:7
17 We believe in MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY as designed by God: That God created us male and female both equal and in His image; that human sexuality is a blessing to be experienced, but that only within the confines of marriage; that marriage is a solemn covenant of love between one man and one woman entered before God in a public ceremony and intended for life; that marriage is ordained of God as the foundation and bond of family life to provide for the safe nurture of children, the mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, and for the welfare of society; that gender roles within Scripture supersede cultural norms being a part of God’s original creative design; that men and women are equal but different; that in marriage, the husband is responsible to give loving leadership in the home and to honour, cherish and serve his wife and children in that role; that the wife is to respect the leadership role of the husband; and that together they bear the right and responsibility to lovingly train up their children in the way they should go; that children are to honour and obey their parents; that in the church likewise, the role of spiritual oversight as constituted in the office of pastor or elder/overseer is for qualified men; that this is not to restrict women or other men from freely exercising their God given spiritual gifts within the body for the benefit of all.
Genesis 2:18, 20, 21-25; Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Timothy 2:11-14; Titus 2:1-5; Proverbs 22:6
2 We believe in THE ONE TRUE GOD: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual, and personal Being; perfect, infinite, and eternal in His Being, holiness and love, wisdom and power; absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons but without division of nature or being, and each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people. Genesis1: 1, 26, 27; Genesis 3: 22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14
3 We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: who is the eternal Son of God, the Creator of all, the Second Person of the Trinity who was born of a virgin, taking on a human body with a sinless nature. His perfect life, sacrificial death, burial and resurrection fully satisfied God’s just demands to be the world’s Redeemer and Saviour of all who believe. He is at present enthroned at the right hand of the Father as the Advocate and the Intercessor for all of His people and He is the Judge of all. Philippians 2:5-8; John 19:30; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:1; John 5:21,22; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17
4 We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT: who is the Third Person of the Trinity; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgement; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, anoints, and bestows gifts on all who become children of God through the living Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16: 7-13; John 14: 16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; I Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
5 We believe ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST: that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness; that by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful both in nature and practice, thus alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgement and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation. Genesis1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:6
6 We believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH: that salvation is a free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish; that this salvation affects the whole man; apart from Christ, there is no possible salvation. Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:11-13; John 3:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1-11; Romans 8:1
7 We believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS: not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore as Christians we should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, walk as He walked, accept as our solemn responsibility the duty and privilege of bearing the gospel to a lost world; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who, in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies of God, have presented themselves wholly to Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:7-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Romans 6; Ephesians 4:17-32
8 We believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming utterly depraved in character, the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels (wicked spirits), the deceiver and god of this present world; that his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good; that he was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; that we are able to resist him and overcome him only in the armour of God, by the blood of the Lamb, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Genesis 3:1-7,14-15; Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7; Isaiah 14:12-15; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; James 4:7; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10
9 We believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His return from Heaven will be personal, visible, and glorious; a blessed Hope, for which we should constantly watch and pray, the time being unrevealed but always imminent; that when He comes, He will first, by resurrection of the dead and translation of the living, remove from the earth His waiting church, then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world, afterwards, descend with His church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years. (Agreement on exact order of events leading up to His Second Coming is not necessary for church membership, but belief in the fact of the Second Coming is necessary.) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; Matthew 24:15-25,46; Revelation 19:11-14; Revelation 20:1-3
10 We believe in FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION, AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT: that the spirits of the saved, at death, go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the Judgment seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own; that the spirits of the unsaved, at death, descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into Hell, the place of final and everlasting punishment. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2: 7-9
11 We believe in THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: that Christ is our Great High Priest, and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God's presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6
12 We believe in THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST: That He alone is Head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit; that all members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16
13 We believe in THE LOCAL CHURCH: that a New Testament church is a local assembly of born-again, baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances, to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and a united testimony, and to actively engage in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should co-operate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God; that the ordinances given to the local church are two: Baptism and the Lord's Supper; that Baptism is by immersion of believers, thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; that the Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believer as a continuing memorial of Christ's body which He gave and His blood which He shed for us. Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:40-46
14 We believe in CIVIL GOVERNMENT: that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of society; that all in authority over us are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-7
15 We believe in THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-7
16 We believe in THE LORD'S DAY: that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and that, in a special sense, it is the divinely appointed day for worship and spiritual exercise. Mark 16:9; John 20:19; Acts 20:7
17 We believe in MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY as designed by God: That God created us male and female both equal and in His image; that human sexuality is a blessing to be experienced, but that only within the confines of marriage; that marriage is a solemn covenant of love between one man and one woman entered before God in a public ceremony and intended for life; that marriage is ordained of God as the foundation and bond of family life to provide for the safe nurture of children, the mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, and for the welfare of society; that gender roles within Scripture supersede cultural norms being a part of God’s original creative design; that men and women are equal but different; that in marriage, the husband is responsible to give loving leadership in the home and to honour, cherish and serve his wife and children in that role; that the wife is to respect the leadership role of the husband; and that together they bear the right and responsibility to lovingly train up their children in the way they should go; that children are to honour and obey their parents; that in the church likewise, the role of spiritual oversight as constituted in the office of pastor or elder/overseer is for qualified men; that this is not to restrict women or other men from freely exercising their God given spiritual gifts within the body for the benefit of all.
Genesis 2:18, 20, 21-25; Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Timothy 2:11-14; Titus 2:1-5; Proverbs 22:6