Statement of Beliefs
THE BIBLE – We believe that the BIBLE, consisting of the Old and New Testaments alone, is the WORD OF GOD, and that it is divinely inspired. We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration, that it is the only complete and final revelation of the will of GOD to man, and the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
GOD– We believe in the Trinity, the unity of the Godhead. There are three persons: The FATHER, The SON, and The HOLY SPIRIT. They are equally perfect in every divine quality and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (A) We believe in GOD the FATHER (B) We believe in JESUS CHRIST (C) We believe in the HOLY SPIRIT.
THE FATHER– We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST– We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
THE HOLY SPIRIT– We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
MAN – We believe that all men by nature, choice and practice are sinners, but that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We believe, therefore, that those who repent of their sins and by faith receive Christ as Lord and Saviour will rejoice forever in God’s presence, and those who refuse to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour will be forever separated from God.
ETERNAL STATE– We believe in a literal Heaven, the eternal home of the redeemed. We believe Heaven to be the literal place where the saved will live forever in the eternal bliss and blessings of God. We believe in Hell, the Christ-less eternity for the lost, where there will be burning and tormenting for those without salvation. We believe that Hell, unbelievers, Satan and all the fallen angels shall be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever.
SALVATION– We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
BAPTISM– We believe in baptism by immersion after salvation with no merit for salvation in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Spirit). Baptism is an outward expression of our faith in Jesus Christ and simply a public testimony of what God has done by His grace. Baptism is an outward sign of obedience to Christ, and identification with Him in death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is also a witness to the world and a sign of fellowship with the church.
THE LORD'S SUPPER– The Lord’s Supper as instituted by Christ is taken to commemorate and proclaim His death until He comes (Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The bread and wine represent His flesh and blood, and to participate in it is to have communion with Christ and His visible Body—the Church (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
THE CHURCH– We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of professing, born-again believers in Jesus Christ, immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to those local churches we are committed, for perpetual observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master. Its scriptural officers are pastors/elders and deacons. The office of pastors/elders and deacons are limited to men as qualified by Scripture, while both men and women are gifted for service in the church and can both pray.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS– We believe that spiritual gifts are given to the church for the express purpose of winning the lost and edifying other believers. The Holy Spirit is given to each believer upon acceptance of Christ and His purpose is to exalt and bring people to Christ.
ETERNAL SECURITY– We believe in the eternal security of all blood-bought individuals or believers and that such inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled, and that each believer is kept by the power of God and nothing can separate us from Him, ourselves included. We believe that believers can lose the joy of fellowship with God, can grieve God and can quench the Spirit of God in him or herself, but not lose his/her salvation.
WORLD EVANGELISM– We believe that the ministry of reconciliation is committed to every believer and all are saints/priests of God. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. 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.
IMMINENT RETURN– We believe in the future literal and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to save believers to share his glory, and to judge all people according to their works, not for salvation, but to justly punish unbelievers in the lake of fire.
MARRIAGE– Sexual intimacy is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed exclusively within the context of marriage. Marriage is, by definition, between one man and one woman. Marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his Church.
BIBLICAL SEPARATION– We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; that they should be separated from the world while being present in the world, and that they should abstain from all appearance of evil as a testimony to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ECUMENICALISM– We believe that doctrinal purity is essential to gospel harmony and that the Bible commands us to not partner with someone who is preaching another gospel, or teaching contrary to sound doctrine.
On the Sacraments
– We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are intended in the Scriptures for those who believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:38-42). We also believe that the sacraments of the Church (Baptism and Communion) are intended for adults i.e., those who understand the full implications of what they are doing. Since an adult in our culture is 16, that will be the normal minimum age. However, since we vary from one person to another in our understanding, this will be a guide, not a rule, which will be implemented at the discretion of the pastor and other leaders. It may be that some will be asked to wait longer, and others may be allowed to partake earlier.
– In observing the Lord’s Supper, we will have an “open table." That means that the believer attending the service can decide to take part in communion after examining themselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). At the same time, we firmly believe and encourage all who believe in Christ to be baptised and become part of a local church (Acts 2:41-42).
– Communion will normally be held once a month, on the last Sunday of the month. The prayer meeting on the Thursday preceding Communion Sunday would be used to reflect and prepare ourselves prayerfully, that we come to the communion service ready to meet the Lord in a unique way.
– Those who are not walking in fellowship with one another, or who are living comfortably with sin in some way will be asked by the pastor / leaders to not partake of the bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
– Each communion service will contain a short address relevant to some aspect of the doctrine of communion. Sometimes the service will be in the middle of the “main” service, sometimes at the end, at the discretion of the one taking the service.
GOD– We believe in the Trinity, the unity of the Godhead. There are three persons: The FATHER, The SON, and The HOLY SPIRIT. They are equally perfect in every divine quality and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (A) We believe in GOD the FATHER (B) We believe in JESUS CHRIST (C) We believe in the HOLY SPIRIT.
THE FATHER– We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST– We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
THE HOLY SPIRIT– We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
MAN – We believe that all men by nature, choice and practice are sinners, but that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We believe, therefore, that those who repent of their sins and by faith receive Christ as Lord and Saviour will rejoice forever in God’s presence, and those who refuse to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour will be forever separated from God.
ETERNAL STATE– We believe in a literal Heaven, the eternal home of the redeemed. We believe Heaven to be the literal place where the saved will live forever in the eternal bliss and blessings of God. We believe in Hell, the Christ-less eternity for the lost, where there will be burning and tormenting for those without salvation. We believe that Hell, unbelievers, Satan and all the fallen angels shall be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever.
SALVATION– We believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
BAPTISM– We believe in baptism by immersion after salvation with no merit for salvation in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Spirit). Baptism is an outward expression of our faith in Jesus Christ and simply a public testimony of what God has done by His grace. Baptism is an outward sign of obedience to Christ, and identification with Him in death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is also a witness to the world and a sign of fellowship with the church.
THE LORD'S SUPPER– The Lord’s Supper as instituted by Christ is taken to commemorate and proclaim His death until He comes (Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The bread and wine represent His flesh and blood, and to participate in it is to have communion with Christ and His visible Body—the Church (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
THE CHURCH– We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of professing, born-again believers in Jesus Christ, immersed on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to those local churches we are committed, for perpetual observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master. Its scriptural officers are pastors/elders and deacons. The office of pastors/elders and deacons are limited to men as qualified by Scripture, while both men and women are gifted for service in the church and can both pray.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS– We believe that spiritual gifts are given to the church for the express purpose of winning the lost and edifying other believers. The Holy Spirit is given to each believer upon acceptance of Christ and His purpose is to exalt and bring people to Christ.
ETERNAL SECURITY– We believe in the eternal security of all blood-bought individuals or believers and that such inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled, and that each believer is kept by the power of God and nothing can separate us from Him, ourselves included. We believe that believers can lose the joy of fellowship with God, can grieve God and can quench the Spirit of God in him or herself, but not lose his/her salvation.
WORLD EVANGELISM– We believe that the ministry of reconciliation is committed to every believer and all are saints/priests of God. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. 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.
IMMINENT RETURN– We believe in the future literal and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to save believers to share his glory, and to judge all people according to their works, not for salvation, but to justly punish unbelievers in the lake of fire.
MARRIAGE– Sexual intimacy is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed exclusively within the context of marriage. Marriage is, by definition, between one man and one woman. Marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his Church.
BIBLICAL SEPARATION– We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; that they should be separated from the world while being present in the world, and that they should abstain from all appearance of evil as a testimony to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ECUMENICALISM– We believe that doctrinal purity is essential to gospel harmony and that the Bible commands us to not partner with someone who is preaching another gospel, or teaching contrary to sound doctrine.
On the Sacraments
– We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are intended in the Scriptures for those who believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:38-42). We also believe that the sacraments of the Church (Baptism and Communion) are intended for adults i.e., those who understand the full implications of what they are doing. Since an adult in our culture is 16, that will be the normal minimum age. However, since we vary from one person to another in our understanding, this will be a guide, not a rule, which will be implemented at the discretion of the pastor and other leaders. It may be that some will be asked to wait longer, and others may be allowed to partake earlier.
– In observing the Lord’s Supper, we will have an “open table." That means that the believer attending the service can decide to take part in communion after examining themselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). At the same time, we firmly believe and encourage all who believe in Christ to be baptised and become part of a local church (Acts 2:41-42).
– Communion will normally be held once a month, on the last Sunday of the month. The prayer meeting on the Thursday preceding Communion Sunday would be used to reflect and prepare ourselves prayerfully, that we come to the communion service ready to meet the Lord in a unique way.
– Those who are not walking in fellowship with one another, or who are living comfortably with sin in some way will be asked by the pastor / leaders to not partake of the bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
– Each communion service will contain a short address relevant to some aspect of the doctrine of communion. Sometimes the service will be in the middle of the “main” service, sometimes at the end, at the discretion of the one taking the service.