Our beliefs about God

There is one unique and eternal God, who exists in an everlasting, loving relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God in three persons – co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14). God is sovereign in all things: including creation, revelation, salvation, judgement and the establishing of His kingdom. As the sovereign loving creator and redeemer, He is worthy of all glory, honour and praise.

Our beliefs about the Bible

The Bible, Old Testament and New, is God’s revelation to us. It is God-breathed and infallible as originally given, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith, conduct and experience (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13). Scripture is sufficient for knowing God and His plan. It is not only central to the well-being of the church but is able to thoroughly equip the Christian community for life and godliness.

Our beliefs about humanity

Men and women together are created in the image of God, and therefore enjoy a unique dignity in creation and a unique relationship with God. Men and women together have dominion over the created order (Genesis 1:26-28). Tragically, human nature is universally sinful since the Fall and all are guilty before God. This leaves us under the wrath and condemnation of God (Romans 3:9-11). We are unable and unwilling to turn ourselves to God, without the prior work of God’s Spirit who gives us new birth (Romans 8:5-8; John 3:3.5).

Our beliefs about the person and work of Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful humanity (John 1:1–2, 14; Luke 1:35). The Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as our representative and substitutionary sacrifice. As a result of Christ’s death the guilt, penalty and controlling power of sin is removed. In addition, God demonstrates both His justice and His love to us most perfectly at the cross and establishes His victory over Satan and all His foes. Our justification and our resurrection are made sure by His bodily resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5). The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our King and High Priest, He fulfils the ministry as Ruler, Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9, 10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2). We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1).

Our beliefs about the work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He brings about regeneration, baptising all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them for the day of redemption (John 16:8–11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18). His role is to bring glory to Jesus Christ thus making Jesus Christ central in all things. The Spirit works to illuminate believers’ minds to grasp the truth of Scripture, producing in them his fruit, granting them His gifts and empowering them for service.

Our beliefs about salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God given by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8–10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19). There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God: the name Jesus Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary to make the death of Jesus effective in an individual’s life. The Spirit enables the sinner to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, so that salvation is entirely of God’s grace and not of human merit or works. We choose God because He first chose us. Although we now enjoy the blessing of union with Christ and a secure relationship with God, we await the final consummation of our hope with the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies, and life with Him eternally in the new heavens and the new earth.

Our beliefs about final judgment

We believe that all people (living and dead) will stand before the final judgment seat of Jesus Christ and hear His declaration of their eternal destiny based on their individual and personal response to God’s offer of salvation. Such a declaration will be entirely just and fair (1 Peter 1:17, Romans 2:11, Romans 3:19, Colossians 3:25). We also believe that hell is real – that it is a place of eternal conscious punishment for those who have ignored and rejected God’s offer of salvation. It is this reality of final judgment that motivates us out of loving concern to tell others about Jesus, forgive others freely, to live godly and upright lives and to have our inward need for justice in the world to be satisfied.

Our beliefs about the assurance of believers

All the redeemed, once they are saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which clearly forbids the use of Christian freedom as an occasion for sin (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11–15).

Our beliefs about ministry and spiritual gifts

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer’s responsibility to attempt to develop their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion and involves the placing of the believer into the Body of Christ. God grants His gifts for the purpose of loving service, not self indulgence. Their use is determined not simply by personal desire for fulfilment or satisfaction, but by the principle of building the church. We also believe that no particular spiritual gift(s) proves the presence of the Holy Spirit or is an indication of deep spiritual experience (1 Corinthians 12:7,11,13; Ephesians 4:7–8). We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14, 15). We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him (Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

Our beliefs about the church

We believe that the visible church is the gathering of believers around Christ in his word. It is a community of people intended by God to bear witness to Him and actively seek the extension of His rule. Within its community both men and women are to build up the church in love and truth. The church is the body and bride of Christ, made up of all born-again believers (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:25–27; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 11:2). The Bible makes clear that in church leadership, as in marriage, the roles of men and women are not interchangeable. We are committed to expressing the differences within relationships mindful of our mutual dependence. Gender is just one of many distinctions (ethnic, socio-economic etc.) that points to the ultimate and eternal unity where God’s people will be fellowshipping with one another and glorifying Him forevermore in the new creation (Revelation 7:9-10).

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