Our Beliefs

God has revealed himself and his gospel fully and finally in the Person of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 18; Hebrews 1:1-3). This revelation is pre-served for us in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments—the Bible (Luke 24:25-27, 46-47; Romans 1:1-2; 2Peter 1:12-21; 1 John 1:1). The Bible in its original autographs is a supernatural, verbal revelation, given by the plenary inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God is its Author and it is therefore infallible, inerrant and authoritative (Exodus 20:1; Matthew 21:42; 2Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2Peter 1:18-21.

The Bible alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice; our consciences are bound by it alone, not by any council, creed, individual or supposed new revelation (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 15:1-9; 22:29, 31-32; Acts 17:11; 28:23-25; Revelation 22:18-19).

In the beginning the Triune God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing, by the power of his word, in six days according to Scripture (Genesis 1:1—2:3 ;Hebrews 11:3). God created everything good and perfect for the glory of his own name (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; Psalm 104:31; Romans 11:36). God created mankind, male and female, in his own image (Genesis 1:26-27). The whole human race is descended from Adam and Eve, the first man and woman (Genesis 1:28; Acts 17:26). Adam and Eve wilfully and freely broke God’s commandment (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:14). By so doing they lost their original righteousness and communion with God (Genesis 3:10-11, 22-24).

Since Adam was appointed to stand in the place of all mankind, each of his descendants inherits the guilt of his sin (Romans 5:12-19), to which is added guilt for sins personally committed (Romans 3:10-20). Furthermore, all people inherit a corrupt nature from their original ancestors, Adam and Eve. Sin is rebellion against God and his law (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 3:4). It expresses itself in acts of disobedience by doing what he prohibits and failing to do what he requires (Ephesians 2:1).

Although mankind, through Adam’s fall, became dead in sin and unable to save himself, God was pleased to provide a way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ alone (John 5:39; 14:6; Acts 4:12). In order to inherit eternal life, it is essential for a person, by the sovereign intervention of God, to be taken out of Adam and united with Christ (Romans 5:12-19).

Salvation is in Christ and in him alone. God’s work of redemption proceeds from God’s grace alone, on the basis of Christ’s mediatory work alone, through faith alone (Romans 1:2-4 , 16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9). In the deepest sense, all the initiative in salvation lies with God, and the glory for salvation belongs to God alone (Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:1-14; Revelation 5:9-10; 7:10).

God calls all men to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and freely promises to all such people that they will be redeemed from sin and inherit eternal life (Isaiah 55:1; John 3:16; Romans 9:33; Revelation 22:17). Furthermore, God has promised to give his Holy Spirit to all of his elect, in order that they may be made willing and able to repent and believe (Psalm 110:3; John 6:37, 44; Acts 13:48;16:14).

In order to give effect to God’s eternal purpose, the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, took on human flesh: He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and in this way two whole, perfect, distinct natures—divine and human—were inseparably joined together in one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14; Romans 1:3-4; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 2:9). Being thus true God and true man, unchangeably sinless (Hebrews 4:15; 1Peter 2:22), the Lord Jesus Christ was appointed mediator between God and man, prophet, priest and king (Luke 1:32; John 1:45 (quoting Deuteronomy 18:18); Hebrews 7:21; 1Timothy 2:5).

Jesus Christ lived on this earth as a man under God’s law, which He perfectly fulfilled (Galatians 4:4-5; Hebrews 5:8-9). On the cross, He acted as substitute for his elect, bearing their sins and suffering God’s wrath in their place (Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 20:28; 2Corinthians 5:21). He died and rose bodily on the third day; forty days after that He ascended to the right hand of the Father, from where He poured out his Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:3; 2:33; 1Corinthians 15:3-6); at God’s appointed time, He will return personally to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (1Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28).

The Holy Spirit is from eternity truly God, the third Person of the Divine Trinity (Acts 5:3-4; 2Corinthians 13:14).

The Holy Spirit resides irrevocably in the hearts of all true Christians from the moment of their conversion, being received once and for all (Ephesians 1:13); nevertheless, the same Spirit continues to be supplied to them throughout their lives. Thus, it is the duty of those already indwelt by God’s Spirit both to request further supplies and larger measures of the Holy Spirit, and to be filled continually with (i.e. controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; Ephesians 5:18).

The universal church consists of all the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, its head (Hebrews 12:23). This universal church is the bride and body of Christ, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way, and the agency which forms the focus of God’s work of reconciling all things to himself (Ephesians 1:9-10, 23; 3:6-11; 5:25-32). The universal church may be called invisible with respect to the internal work of the Spirit.

All those who profess faith in Christ and obedience to the gospel, and who do not destroy their profession by ungodliness of conduct, are to be regarded as visible saints. A local church ought to be constituted only of visible saints (Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:37-42; 1Corinthians 5:1-9). In addition to this fundamental principle, true churches are recognized by their faithful preaching of the gospel (Galatians 1:6, 9), pure observance of the ordinances in the fear of God (Matthew 28:18-20; 1Corinthians 11:23-25), practice of church discipline (Matthew 18:15-20; 1Corinthians 5:1-9) and mutual love (John 13:34-35).

Christ is the Head of every local church, and He has given to each local church all that power and authority which is necessary for the exercise of worship and discipline (Matthew 18:17-20; 1Corinthians 5:4-5).

Although officers are not essential to the existence of a local church, they are necessary for its well-being (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). In the present age (i.e. the age after the founding and establishment of Christ’s church on earth), Christ has appointed two offices for the government of the local church: elders (also known as pastors, bishops or overseers) and deacons (1Timothy 3:l-13). It is the particular responsibility of elders to keep watch over the flock as men who must give an account, to provide sound teaching for the edification and strengthening of the saints, and to prepare God’s people for works of service (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:9; Hebrews 13:17). Certain elders maybe set apart to labour in preaching and teaching (1Timothy 5:17). Deacons are appointed to attend to ministries of mercy and other practical service, in order to free the elders for prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-7; 1Timothy 3:8-13).

It is the fundamental responsibility of all human beings to worship and serve their Creator (Romans 1:19-21). Although unbelievers fail in this responsibility (Romans 1:18-23 , 25 , 28), Christians, whose lives are being transformed and renewed by the gospel, are called to live lives of worship by offering themselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Christian ethics is controlled by God’s Law, which is expressed in the two great commandments (to love God and our neighbour), summarized in the Ten Commandments, and applied to the New Testament believer by Christ and the Apostles (Matthew 5:17-20; Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10).

Christians are members of one another by virtue of their union with Christ (1Corinthians 12:12-27); therefore, participation in the fellowship of the Body of Christ through the local church is one of the believer’s greatest privileges and responsibilities (Psalm 84; Hebrews 10:25). This fellowship is one of the most important means of proclaiming Christ to the world (John 17:21), as well as one of the believer’s primary sources of preservation, comfort and edification (Hebrews 3:13; 1 John 4:12).

Christ has commanded his disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Believers, therefore, have a responsibility to the world around them—without distinctions of race, language or class—to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ by their actions, lifestyle and words (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:14; Titus 2:11-14). In this way they are to make disciples of all nations.

As partakers of God’s saving grace, believers are the first fruits of God’s new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3:10-11; James 1:18). In the church, they begin to experience the fellowship that will characterize the new humanity (Hebrews 12:22-23). Yet, believers continue to live in the present world and in human society, which is maintained and upheld by God’s common grace (Psalm 145:9; Romans 2:15; 1Peter 1:1). In this human society, God has appointed civil rolers to maintain order and justice, if necessary, by the use of the sword (Romans 13:1-4; 1Peter 2:14).

Civil government is an institution separate from the church; it has no mandate to prescribe the doctrines and practices of any church, or to coerce its citizens into following one religion or another, or to prevent its citizens from practising religion (Matthew 5:43-47 ; 18:15-17 ; Acts 4:19 ; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ; Romans 13:3-4 ).
God has commanded Christians, within the limits of obedience to God, to submit to their rulers, to participate in the life of their society, and to promote the well-being of their fellow-citizens (Jeremiah 29:4-7 ; Matthew 5:38-47 ; Acts 4:19 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ; 1 Peter 2:13-25 ).

Marriage is a lifelong covenantal union between one natural man and one natural woman; it must be entered into publicly and formally. It was ordained by God at creation for the mutual help of husband and wife, and for the propagation of the human race (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:20-24; Deuteronomy 24:1; Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage is thus the basis of the family, which is the essential building-block of any stable society (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:7; Malachi 2:15; Ephesians 6:1-3).

Since marriage is a creation ordinance, its privileges and commitments apply to both believers and unbelievers. However, it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord (1Corinthians 7:39).

After death, the human body returns to dust; the spirit, however, is immortal and neither dies nor sleeps (Genesis 3:19; Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:23; 23:43; 2Corinthians 5:6-8; Hebrews 9:27). The spirits of the righteous are received into the presence of the Lord in anticipation of their final resurrection and full eternal inheritance (Luke 16: 23; 2Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23; Revelation 6:9). The spirits of the wicked are cast into hell, where they await their final judgement (Luke 16:23-28; Acts 1:25; 2 Peter 2:9).

A time is coming when all the dead shall be raised and their souls united to their imperishable, resurrected bodies forever (John 5:28-29).

After the general resurrection there will be a day on which God will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ (John 5:26-3; Acts 17:31). All people who have ever lived upon earth will be judged in perfect righteousness, according to what they have done (Romans 2:5-10; Revelation 20:12-13). The righteous will receive the reward of eternal joy, everlasting life and imperishable glory in the presence of the Lord; the wicked, who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be cast aside into everlasting torments, punished with everlasting destruction, and shut out from the gracious presence of the Lord and the majesty of his power (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:6-10; 2Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Although the final judgement is according to works, it is not as though the righteous earn or deserve the eternal life which they will receive (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:9-10). Their good works are merely the evidence of God’s gifts of regeneration, faith, justification and union with Christ, for whose sake alone they are given their eternal inheritance (Romans 5:1-2, 9-10; 6:23). On the other hand, those who will be condemned will be fully deserving of their punishment, since their works arise from a heart at enmity with God and find expression in the rejection of God’s kindness, righteous claims and holy law (Romans 1:18-21; 2:1-5; 3:9-20).

God has clearly revealed that the day and hour of Christ’s coming are unknown to men (Matthew 24:36-41; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). His purpose is that they should shake off carnal security, reject the distraction of date-setting, and keep watch at all times, since they do not know the day or hour (Matthew 24:42-25:30 ; 1Thessalonians 5:4-11). Thus prepared for the glorious appearing of their Lord and Saviour, they will always be ready to say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen” (Revelation 22:20).