What we Believe.
- The Word of God.
We believe that the very Word of God is found in the bible. The bible was written by men who were lead and inspired by God, the Holy Spirit.[1] The bible is inerrant and infallible (without error or able to err), in its original transmission.[2] The bible is therefore the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.[3]
- The Trinity.
We believe there is only One and True God.[4] God is three persons; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, in one essence.[5] Each person equal in divine perfection executes distinct roles coalescing into one purpose through creation, providence and redemption; His own glory.[6] It is this God who as the Supreme Being exists in perfect harmony, without need, for all eternity that we worship.
God the Father
We believe in God the Father as a supreme,[7] personal, eternal[8] spirit,[9] perfect and benevolent in everyway, [10] ordains all things that come to pass.[11] He is the sovereign in ALL things and by His grace and mercy has allowed His created beings to be adopted as His children through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.[12]
God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ as the eternally begotten Son,[13] conceived of the Holy Spirit, His Virgin birth,[14] sinless life,[15] miracles testifying to His authority[16] and teaching the very words that give eternal life.[17] His death was substitutionary in atonement, His righteousness imputed to believers, [18] and His conquering of sin, death and Satan by the cross.[19] His bodily resurrection,[20] ascension into glory, His session, reigning on high forever[21] interceding for His people, until His visible and bodily return.[22]
God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son[23] and has been sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and so bring sinners to repentance through regeneration,[24] sanctifying them towards conformity in Jesus Christ for the glory of God.[25] We also believe the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer[26] and acts to call,[27] instruct, guide[28] and empower God’s people in the glory of God.[29]
- The Fall of Humanity
We believe that man was created in the image of God and without sin.[30] Yet, through the initial sin of Adam, all mankind was subjected to sin and thus all humanity has inherited a sinful nature and void of any innate good.[31] All humanity under bondage to sin[32] is rightfully deserving of condemnation and is destined for eternal ruin.[33]
- The Salvation of Humanity
We believe that all humanity is under righteous and eternal condemnation, however, the Lord displays His incomprehensible grace by calling sinners to repent through the gospel and offering reconciliation with Him for all eternity.[34] Salvation and peace with God is found in no other means than by faith in Jesus Christ.[35]
- The Progressive Sanctification of God’s people
We believe that once people come to God through their regeneration, death onto life, by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, they are progressively acted upon by God’s Spirit towards greater conformity to Jesus Christ.[36] With the expectation of one day being fully glorified, in bodily form in the presence of God.[37] The believer’s life is thus one of turning away from a past life and towards a holy life in Christ Jesus. Never reaching true holiness, but actively pursuing it this side of glory.[38] This progression towards holiness and glory is God’s work of sanctification in the believer.[39] The action of sanctification is both a passive (without effort – God’s doing) and active (with effort – believer’s doing).[40] Thus the believer is exhorted to persevere in the faith through acts of bible reading, prayer, worship, and fellowship.[41] The ultimate hope the believer has in their perseverance rests in the action of God to keep all His children until the very end.[42]
- The Ordinances of the Church
We believe that the Lord has entrusted two ordinances for His church to practice. The first baptism, is the full bodily immersion of believer’s into water in the name of the triune God.[43]Followed by the Lord’s Supper; to be taken as a symbol of covenantal faithfulness with Jesus as Lord and Saviour of our lives.[44]
- The Return of King Jesus.
We believe in the bodily and visible return[45] of Jesus Christ as the victorious and reigning King of all created things.[46] It will be during this time that all believers, of all times, will be united to their King[47] and be partakes with Him in His future Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body[48] and for all people to come to a day of judgment under the Justice of the Lord Jesus Christ; The eternal joy for believers[49] and the eternal and conscious torment of unbelievers.[50]
Theological Distinctives:
While the above statements of what we believe hold to be true and universal within the orthodox Christian church, we also hold to three distinctives that mark our conviction as a church. Complete agreement is not required in these theological distinctives for the sake of membership, but it should be known that we would preach, teach and counsel in accordance with these convictions.
- Reformed in our theology
We trust that the Lord is completely sovereign over all things in which through providence He preserves and governs all His creation, and all outcomes for His ultimate glory. We find ourselves firmly within the Evangelical and Reformed tradition.
- Baptistic in church polity
The congregation acting under the head of Christ and His Word has the final authority in church governance with a Council of Elders who oversee and teach the people. We proclaim and practice the ordinance of believer’s baptism.
- Complementary in ministerial roles
We rejoice that the Lord has created men and women in equal essence, dignity, and value but ordained each with differing yet complementary roles.
[1] 2 Peter 1:20-21
[2] Psalm 19:7-11, 119:160
[3] 2 Timothy 3:16
[4] Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6
[5] Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,3; 14:11
[6] Exodus 9:15-16; Psalm 148:3-6; Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 3:9-11
[7] Romans 9:19-20
[8] Exodus 3:14;
[9] John 4:24
[10] Genesis 21:23; Psalm 31:19
[11] Daniel 2:20-21
[12] John 1:12, 20:17; Galatians 3:27; Matthew 5:45
[13] John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9
[14] Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 2:4
[15] 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5
[16] Luke 6:19; John 3:2; Acts 2:22; 10:38; Hebrews 2:4
[17] John 6:68; 12:50;
[18] Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18
[19] Romans 6:9; Hebrew 2:14; 7:22-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 3:21
[20] Luke 24:39; John 20:27; Acts 1:99-11; 1 John 1:1
[21] Acts 2:33; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians; Ephesians 1:20; 15:25; Hebrews 1:13
[22] Matthew 24:30,31; Luke 21:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:16
[23] John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; Acts 13:2-4
[24] John 3:6-8; 6:63
[25] Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 19; Ephesians 3:16; Galatians 5:16, 17, 22, 25; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
[26] 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19
[27] Romans 5:5, 8:14, 15
[28] Acts 16:6-10
[29] Luke 4:14; 24:49; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:5
[30] Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29
[31] Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22;
[32] Romans 3:10-12, 23
[33] Jeremiah 17:9,10; Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:47,48
[34] Romans 5:1, 8, 15, 16; Ephesians 2:8, 9
[35] Romans 10:14-16a; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5
[36] Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; John3:3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:24; Titus 3:5
[37] Romans 8:30; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Philippians 1:6; 3:21; Colossians 3:10;
[38] Romans 7:18, 23; Philippians 3:12, 14; 1 Timothy 6:12, 19
[39] Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22
[40] 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:12, 13; Hebrews 13:20
[41] Psalm 1; James 4:2; Hebrews 10:25
[42] Luke 22:32; John 6:40; 10:28; Romans 8:35-39; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3-5
[43] Matthew 3:4-6, 16; 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-8; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11f
[44] Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17, 21; 11:23-26
[45] Matthew 24:27; Mark 13:21, 26
[46] Luke 21:27; Revelation 1:7, 8;
[47] 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 11:12
[48] Job 19:26, 27; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 3:21
[49] Colossians 3:4; Revelation 7:15-17
[50] Daniel 12:2; Luke 3:17; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:10