1. God
We believe that there is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in His holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to His sovereign will and for His own glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
2. The Bible
We believe that God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone (excluding the Apocrypha). 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 sufficient for all matters of belief and practice. (2 Timothy 3:15-16, 2 Peter 1:21)
3. The Human Race
We believe that 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. As a result of the fall of our first parents by voluntary transgression, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-21)
4. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He is the Eternal Word who came done to earth as the Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. He performed numerous supernatural miracles as a man filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, and 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 currently intercedes for believers in the presence of the Father. (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22, Acts 2:22, 10:38, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:12, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4, Acts 1:9, Ephesians 4:8-10, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25)
5. Salvation
We believe in salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the Scriptures, died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day, and that through His blood we have redemption. All who repent and believe in Christ are justified by faith, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life. This experience is also known as the New Birth, and it is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit upon initial faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11, 3:5-7, Romans 10:8-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, John 3:5-6, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 5:1)
6. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells true believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission. We believe that the Holy Spirit Baptism endues believers with power for service. This comes with the essential, biblical evidence of speaking with unlearned tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of Christ in the Church today. (Acts 1:4-5, 8, 2:4, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 19:6, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28, Ephesians 4:7-16).
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 visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers 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; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. 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. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22, Hebrews 12:23, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:11-16, Galatians 2:10, 6:10, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12-14).
8. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. We believe that all who have truly repented and believed in Christ as Lord and Saviour are commanded to be baptised by immersion in water. Water Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church. We believe that all who have truly repented and believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour should regularly participate in Breaking of Bread. The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) is a commemoration of our redemption through Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all. All its blessings are received by faith. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 2:38-39, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:20-34)
9. Divine Healing
We believe that deliverance from sickness and disease by Divine Healing is provided for in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Divine health and healing is the privilege of all believers, and it is accessed by faith in obedience to the Word and Spirit. (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, 1 peter 2:24, James 5:13-16).
10. Sanctification and Holiness
We believe in the sanctification and holiness of the believer in obedience to the command of God. Sanctification is an act of separation from immorality and evil, and a dedication of the whole being to God. It is realized in the believer by a daily faith walk in identifying with Christ in his death and resurrection, reckoning on his union with Christ, and offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:14-16, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 John 2:6, Romans 6:1-13, 8:1-13, 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Peter 1:5)
11. Serving and Giving
We believe that true believers are called to a lifetime of service to Jesus Christ by giving freely and generously of their time, skills, money and resources to the work of the Lord. This includes regular giving in tithes (a tenth part of the income) and offerings to the church treasury in order to support the work of the ministry. It also includes voluntary donations to support evangelism, missions, welfare and charity work. (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 12:42-48, 19:11-27, Malachi 3:10-11, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9, Deuteronomy 8:18, Proverbs 3:9-10, 11:24-25, 19:17)
12. The Future
We believe in the personal, visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and the everlasting conscious punishment of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life. (Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:22-24,51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:1-6, Daniel 12:2-3, John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 20:10-15)