What We Believe
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is inspired by God. II Timothy 3:14-17; II Peter 1:20-21
THE GODHEAD
We believe that the Godhead is eternally co-equal and co-existent in three persons; not three Gods but one; not one person but three, namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26; Mark 12:19; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. Thus we uphold His absolute deity as well as his complete humanity; two natures but one undivided Person. Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1; Hebrews 2:19; Hebrews 1:5-12; Philippians 2:5-8
THE RESURRECTION
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of God, in the position of power and authority. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead. Daniel 12:2; Romans 8:34; Mark 12:36; Mark 14:62; I Corinthians 15:3-4, 20; Philippians 2:8-11; Acts 2:33; Luke 22:69; Hebrews 8:1; Revelation 20:11-15
LORDSHIP
We confess the Lord Jesus Christ and no other, as Head of the Church, and as our Lord. Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18-34
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus will manifest Himself in glory, majesty and power and in physical Presence. This is the second coming of Christ and the blessed hope of the Church. Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27; I Corinthians 15:51-53; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 1:7; I Thessalonians 4:13-18
THE FALL
Every individual has sinned and is guilty before God. Man by nature is depraved and incapable of saving his own soul. Romans 3:10; 23; Ephesians 2:8-10
REDEMPTION
The Lord Jesus Christ, by His life, death, resurrection and ascension, has made available to all mankind the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. These blessings are made personally real to the individual, not by works, or by any personal merit, in themselves but by faith alone, which is accompanied by repentance. John 3:16; Romans 8:8-13; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:11
THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that the true Church consists of the community of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who by faith have had their sins forgiven and been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the fellowship of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing that the true Church is not confined to any one denomination. Hebrews 12:23-24; I John 1:7; Ephesians 3:3-10; I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:3-6, 13; I Corinthians 10:32 BAPTISM We believe in the baptism, by immersion, of believers only. Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 10:47; Hebrews 10:22; Acts 8:36-39; I Peter 3:21
THE CHURCH
We believe that the true Church consists of the community of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who by faith have had their sins forgiven and been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the fellowship of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing that the true Church is not confined to any one denomination. Hebrews 12:23-24; I John 1:7; Ephesians 3:3-10; I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:3-6, 13; I Corinthians 10:32 BAPTISM We believe in the baptism, by immersion, of believers only. Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 10:47; Hebrews 10:22; Acts 8:36-39; I Peter 3:21
THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe in the Breaking of Bread as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ and as practised by the Early Church. I Corinthians 10:16-17; I Corinthians 11:23-32
SANCTIFICATION
The Lord Jesus Christ, by His life, death, resurrection and ascension, has made available to all mankind the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. These blessings are made personally real to the individual, not by works, or by any personal merit, in themselves but by faith alone, which is accompanied by repentance. John 3:16; Romans 8:8-13; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:11
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and that baptism, a distinct experience from the New Birth, is promised to every believer. Matthew 3:11; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 2:32-33; Acts 15:7-9
DIVINE HEALING
We believe in the gifts of healing and that God still, in our day, heals the sick. Mark 16:16-18; Matthew 8:16-17; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14-15. SPIRITUAL GIFTS We believe that God has never removed the gifts referred to in I Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14, and that whenever the Holy Spirit moves upon the Church in power, these gifts are manifested. We believe that it is contrary to the Apostolic command for any to: “forbid to speak in tongues”.
PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
Each individual believer has full and equal access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, as a believer-priest. I Peter 2:1-9; Revelation 5:9-10 (R.V); Revelation 1:6
THE MINISTRY
The ascended Christ has given various ministries to the Church and each of these exists for the strengthening of, and is essential to, the welfare of the Church. Ephesians 4:11; I Corinthians 12:18 and elsewhere. MIRACLES We believe in miracles both as recorded in the Bible and as being possible in the present day. John 14:12; I Corinthians 12:10
JUDGEMENT
We believe that both the living and the dead will be judged, it being understood that the believer‘s condemnation was borne by our Lord Jesus Christ in His redemptive work. John 5:24; 28-29; Revelation 20:11-15.
MARRIAGE
We believe in heterosexual relationships between a natural man and a natural woman within the confines of lawful matrimony.