THE SCRIPTURE
We believe in the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, as originally given, the Word of God; that it is authoritative and sufficient for our guidance in all matters of belief and practice
(Psa. 19:7-11; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
CREATION
We believe that God is the absolute and sole Creator of the universe, and that creation was by divine decree and not through evolutionary process
(Gen. 1:1-13; John 1:13; Col. 1:16).
THE TRINITY
We believe that God is one, yet eternally three Persons in that one Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
(Isa. 45:5-6; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-2; 5:17, 22-23; 14:24, 26; 16:27-28; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 1:1-3, 8)
THE FACT OF SIN
We believe that through the disobedience of Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin. From that time mankind has been ‘lost’ and at enmity with God, unable by any personal merit or works to fit himself for the presence of God.
We believe that man’s only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross.
(Psa. 53:2-3; Luke. 19:10; Rom. 3:19-23; 5:6, 18-19; Eph. 2:1-9)
SATAN
We believe that Satan is a created angel who incurred the wrath of God’s judgment by rebelling against God, his Creator; that he was defeated through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
We believe that as a usurper he now rules within God’s limitations as the ‘god of this world’;
We believe that at the coming of Christ to reign on the earth, Satan will be bound, eventually to be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity
(Isa. 14:12-17; John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 5:19; Rev. 12:9; 20:2, 10).
THE INCARNATION
We believe that Jesus Christ was God in human form, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, thus being perfect God and perfect man, sinless and incapable of sinning (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John. 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Col. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:22).
SALVATION BY CHRIST’S DEATH ALONE
We believe that Christ died for our sins upon the cross at Calvary, willingly taking our punishment as our substitute;
We believe that by His death and shed blood, God’s justice has been satisfied and believers are made right with God (Rom. 3:24-26; 5:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:26; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:18);
We believe that salvation is only ever by grace through faith in Him, specifically not by good works (1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 2:8-9);
We believe that believers in Christ as the only Redeemer and Saviour have become children of God. (Luke. 20:36; John 1:12; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 3:26).
THE RESURRECTION
We believe that God’s satisfaction with the sacrificial death of Christ as full atonement for the sins of the world is evidenced in this, that our Lord Jesus Christ literally and physically rose from the dead, that He was seen by many over a period of forty days, that He then ascended bodily into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:3,9; 1 Cor. 15:4-6; Heb. 1:3; 4:14).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person who was sent at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) to indwell every born again believer (1 Cor. 6:19), and to baptise every believer into the one Body of Christ at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13);
We believe that He also convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8—11, 14—15);
We believe that He bears witness to Christ and exalts Him (John 16:14);
We believe that regeneration and sanctification are also His work (John 3:5–8; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Titus 3:5-6);
We believe that it is the purpose of God that each believer be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed to every believer, according to Gods will, for the edification of the Church (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 14:12);
We believe that special gifts to the Church of apostles and prophets, relating to the foundation of the Church, (Eph. 2:20) have ceased, together with the signs and wonders and gifts of tongues, prophecies and knowledge that accompanied them (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 1 Cor. 13:8-13; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4);
We believe that no particular gift was ever given to all believers, nor was any gift a sign of spirituality, neither can any particular gift be regarded as a proof of the baptism, indwelling, or fullness of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:30-31).
ASSURANCE
We believe that all true believers are assured of their salvation by the Word of God, through the finished work of Christ on the cross, and that once a believer is saved he can never be lost (Luke 10:20; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1, 31-39: 2 Tim. 1:12), and that having been born again by the Spirit of God, believers will manifest a changed life (Rom. 8:5; Gal. 5:16, 24-25), acknowledging the Lordship of Christ in life (John 13:13; Col. 2:6; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).
THE CHURCH
We believe in the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:9) and that all believers of all races are members of the Church, the body of Christ, of which He is the Head;
We believe that the true Church consists of believers only (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:20-23);
We believe that a local church is the visible expression of this in a locality; that each local church is autonomous and functions apart from any central organisation, though in fellowship with each other;
We believe that the Biblical form of government for the local church is that of elders who are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), as those who will give account to God (Phil. 1:1; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
HEADSHIP AND ORDER
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is one with the Father (John 10:30) and co-equal with the eternal God (John 1:1-3; Phil. 2:6), yet as such became by incarnation subject to the Father (1 Cor. 11:3); that as God is the Head of Christ, so Christ is the Head of man and man is the Head of woman;
We believe that although the New Testament covers some ground that is cultural in application (e.g. John 13:14; 1 Cor: 8), the apostles’ instructions as to Church order are obligatory for us today. This is supported by the statement, ‘these things are the commandments of the Lord’ (1 Cor. 11:16; 14: 34-37);
We believe that the women, though equal in status and position with the men (Gal. 3:28), have different responsibilities (1 Cor. 11:2-16, 1 Tim. 2:11-1 5; ) and are to maintain relative silence in the churches. It is not permitted for women to speak out in the churches (1 Cor. 14:34-38). Women are not permitted to teach men or to have authority over men (1 Tim. 2: 9-1 5).
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that there are only two ordinances commanded in Scripture for Christians to observe, namely baptism of believers by immersion in water, and the regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; 16:30- 33; 20:7; Rom. 6:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
THE GREAT COMMISION
We believe that the Church is bound by the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation, making disciples of all nations, and that as a consequence every Christian is called to be a witness for Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
THE SECOND COMING
The Rapture: We believe that our Lord will come again, firstly to take His own people out of the world, to be with Himself forever (John 14:2-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-16). This ‘rapture’ can take place at any moment and is the purifying hope of the Church (1 John 3: 3).
The Tribulation: This follows the ‘Rapture’ of believers and is a 7 year period of judgment on Israel, the Gentiles and the false Church. (Matt. 24:21; 2 Thess. 2:3-8).
The Return of Christ to Earth: At the end of the Great Tribulation, Christ will return in person, to complete His judgment and to establish His earthly kingdom.
The Millennial Kingdom: Christ will then reign on earth in righteousness and peace for 1,000 years (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 25:31-32; Rev. 19:11- 20:6).
JUDGMENT
We believe that all judgment is given to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:22) and that there will be a resurrection of the just and a resurrection of the unjust, the former to enjoy eternal life and rewards at the ‘Judgment Seat of Christ’, and the latter to suffer eternal punishment following their judgment at the ‘Great White Throne’ (John 5:28-29; Acts 17:30-31; Rev. 20:5-6, 11-15).