OUR FAITH
We believe....
1. God
We believe in the Eternal Godhead, one God, the Creator of all things, Holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of reverence, confidence, and obedience.
References: Psalm 103:19; Matthew 28:18, 19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–3; and 1 Peter 1:2.
2. The Bible
We believe in the Bible as the word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, inerrant, perfect, and inspired of the Holy Spirit.
Reference: (2 Peter 1:19-21)
3. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men. He was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. We believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus as the scriptures promised.
References: John 1:1–3, 14; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:1–3; and 1 John 5:11–12.
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the blessed Trinity, though omnipresent from all eternity, took up His abode in the world in a special sense on the day of Pentecost according to the divine promise, dwells in every believer, and by His baptism unites all to Christ in one body, and that He, as the Indwelling One, is the source of all power and all
acceptable worship and service. We believe that He never takes His departure from the church, nor from the feeblest of the saints, but is ever present to testify of Christ; seeking to occupy believers with Him and not with themselves nor with their experiences.
References: John 14:16–17;16:7–15; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:7
5. The Depravity of Humanity
We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, and that he fell through sin, and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins,he became subject to the power of the devil. We also believe that this spiritual death, or total depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, with the exception of Christ Jesus. Therefore, every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially and unchangeably sinful apart from divine grace.
References: Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3; 6:5; Psalms 14:1–3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:35; Romans 3:10–19; 8:6–7; Ephesians 2:1–3; 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 John 3:8
6. Salvation
We believe the offer of salvation is God’s love-gift to all. Those who accept it by faith and confess it by mouth become new creatures in Christ. Because fallen humans are unable to save themselves, God, according to His own sovereign mercy, acts to save those who come to Him by grace through faith. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer the penalty of death in place of condemned humanity. By believing the good news that Christ died for his or her sins and then rose from the dead, a person can be forgiven of all sin, declared righteous by God, reborn into new life, and guaranteed eternal life with God.
References: John 3:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 15:1–5; and Ephesians 1:4–12;
2:8–9.
7. Immersion Baptism
Baptism by immersion in water is not an option but is an act of obedience following the example of Christ as described in the scriptures. We believe that baptism by immersion in water is an outward sign of the inward work of salvation. Upon baptism, after salvation, one is added to the local church. Baptism is only by full immersion (picturing the death and resurrection of Christ).
Reference: Acts 2:41
8. Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper is not part of the work of grace but is an act of obedience,for the purpose of demonstrating the death and resurrection of Christ, and an opportunity to ensure that unity within our church is maintained until he comes again.
References: Matt 26:26-28 and 1 Cor 11:20-34
10. Offices in the Local Church
We believe in the offices of the church as mentioned in the Bible. Ephesians 4 :11-12 says – So Christ Himself gave the Apostles, the Prophets, the Evangelists, the Pastors and Teachers – to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. An Elder and Overseer could also be called a Pastor/Teacher or a Bishop and the Bible gives specific criteria of choosing these people for their roles in the Church. 1 Pet 5:1-4, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Tim 3:1-13 (Elder and Deacon). Every person should know what works of service he could be involved in, enabling the growth of the body of Christ.
11. Tithes & Offerings
God did not change the tithing system He instituted before Abraham, only its administration by the New Testament church ministry. Giving tithes and offerings is an act of worship towards God. Tithing is giving a percentage of one's income as set by God, and offerings are given as determined by the individual's evaluation of what he is able to give. The church does not enforce or police tithing, but believes that one should honour God with his substance and the first fruits of all his increase as per the scriptures.
References: Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Corinthians 10:25-28; Matthew 6:19-21; Genesis 14:18-20 ; Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:24; Deuteronomy 14:22-28; 16:16-17; Matthew 23:23; Luke 16:10-13; 21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Hebrews 7:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:3-7; Acts 5:1-5; 4:34-35; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; Malachi 3:8-12; Proverbs 3:9-10;
12. The Great Commission
We believe this it is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are sent forth by Him into the world even as He was sent forth of His Father into the world. It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavour to make disciples of all nations.
References: Matthew 28:18–19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:11
13. The Return of Christ
We anticipate our Lord’s promised return, which could occur at any moment. According to the Father’s plan, Jesus Christ will one day return in power to bring completion of salvation and rewards to believers and judgment and wrath to unbelievers. The Bible teaches that the years leading up to the judgment will be marked by increasing evil, but the actual
time of the end is unknown. It could begin at any moment. Though the details of Christ’s return are sometimes unclear, its reality is certain, and all believers are called to live holy lives in anticipation of His coming.
References: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12; Hebrews 9:28; and Revelation 19:11–16.