STATEMENT OF FAITH

GOD

We believe the LORD God, as revealed in the Bible, is the one and only living and true God. He is the holy, sovereign, self-existent and self-sufficient One (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 135:6; Exodus 3:14).

This God reveals Himself to us in the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each equal in His nature, essence, and being, yet each possessing distinct personal characteristics suitable to His person and work (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2).

He is Creator of all things, visible and invisible. Out of nothing, by the power of His Word, He called all that exists into being and sustains it according to His desire and power (Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 33:6; 104; Colossians 1:16,17).

God has a purpose and plan for all things in heaven and on earth which will be accomplished according to His eternal decrees for His glory. In this, His manifold attributes, including His wisdom, power, love, and faithfulness are revealed to us (Isaiah 46:10-11; Ephesians 1:9-11; Matthew 24:35; Romans 1:20).

THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible, as it was composed in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. This Bible, which in English translations is made up of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is completely sufficient concerning all matters of belief and living (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12-13; Proverbs 30:5).

Man's belief in the authority of Scripture comes from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, who acts upon the mind, heart, and will of man. The Spirit and the Scriptures work in us to draw us into a personal saving knowledge of God in Christ, to establish the content of our faith, and to direct us in the conduct of our daily lives (John 6:44; I Corinthians 2:12-14; John 16:13-15; Romans 6:17).

Nothing is to be added to the Scriptures in any way, such as new revelation or traditions of men, nor taken away from them. They are the standard by which all knowledge is tested (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19; John 3:33; Romans 3:4).

Each of us is called to correctly handle the Word of God. Thus, we are to discern its true, intended, and plain meaning. We establish meaning by context, recognizing the basic unity of the whole Bible and therefore following the basic rule of all sound biblical interpretation — Scripture must be used to interpret Scripture (II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 3:16-18; II Corinthians 4:2).

SALVATION

Man's Need

We believe that in the beginning all of God's creation was good. Mankind, male and female, was righteous, walking with God. Our first parents sinned through unbelief and rebellion, and fell from fellowship with God into disgrace, deserving condemnation to hell. Every person has inherited Adam's sinful nature and is totally unable to do anything that is pleasing to God. All are dead in sin and cannot by themselves respond to the gospel for salvation (Genesis 1, 2, 3; Romans 3:10-12, 5:12-21, 8:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-9).

God's Provision

God sent his only Son into the world to be the one mediator between God and man. Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man, was born of a virgin and lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father, observing all His commands and fulfilling all His purposes. In doing so, He revealed to man the glory, grace, and truth of God (John 1:14; 3:16-17; I Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18, 22-25; John 17:4; I Peter 2:21-22).

Jesus Christ gave up His life by death on the cross at the hands of sinful men, according to God's sovereign purpose. Being without sin himself, he did this in order to suffer God's just penalty for sin on behalf of those whom the Father had chosen to redeem. On the third day he rose bodily from the dead, breaking forever the power of the curse of death for His people (Acts 2:23; Romans 3:23-25; I Peter 1:18-19; I Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-23; Galatians 3:13).

Christ ascended into heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit upon his church. The Holy Spirit works in God's people to make them spiritually alive, enabling them to receive the free gift of eternal life offered in the gospel, and to grow more and more in living obedience to God. The Lord Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding on behalf of his people (Acts 2:33; John 3:3-8; Romans 8:9-11, 34; Galatians 5:22-23).

Man's Response to God's Grace

All who respond by faith to the gospel promises are reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin by Christ's substitutionary death on their behalf. They are declared righteous before God by means of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. They have passed from judgment, wrath, and death, to peace with God and eternal life. They have received the Spirit of adoption as beloved children, calling upon God as Abba, Father (Romans 3:21-26; I Peter 2:24; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; John 5:24; Romans 5:1,9; 8:15).

Growth in conformity to the image and likeness of God through obedience to his word is a vital part of the life of the believer. Believers have been created to do good works, and are to grow in the grace of God, turning from their sin and following Jesus Christ as Lord (John 14:15; Ephesians 2:10; 4:20-24; Romans 6:1-2, 11-14; II Peter 3:18).

All those whom God has chosen and redeemed will most certainly be preserved by God and will persevere in faith until that time when God chooses to take them to be with Him forever (John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24-25).

THE CHURCH

We believe that all those who have faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord are united by the indwelling Holy Spirit into one body called the church, of which Jesus Christ is the head, made manifest in local churches (John 10:16, 17:20-23; Ephesians 2:17-22, 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18; Acts 14:23, 15:41).

God has established two ordinances for the church to observe: baptism, which is performed once as a sign of new life in Christ upon the confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; and the Lord's Supper, which is to be observed regularly in remembrance of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, until He comes (Acts 2:38-41; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

All believers possess a common calling and privilege of communion with God; with our various gifts and callings, we all serve God and one another. Within the household of God, Jesus Christ, the chief Shepherd, gives elders (pastors) to care for the flock, exercising oversight of the church. Deacons are appointed to manage the practical needs of the church (Galatians 3:28; Matthew 20:25-28, 23:5-12; I Peter 4:10-11; Acts 6: 3-4, 20:28; I Timothy 3:1-13; I Peter 5:1-4).

The final authority by which all disputes within the church are to be settled is the Scripture (I Timothy 3:14-15; II Timothy 3:16,17; I Corinthians 14:37-38; II Thessalonians 3:14).

LAST THINGS

We believe that God has appointed a day when Jesus Christ will visibly return in glory to judge the world in righteousness. His justice will be displayed in the resurrection to eternal punishment of all unbelievers, who will be cast into Hell. His mercy will be displayed in the gathering of all believers, in resurrected and glorified bodies, to everlasting life and fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord (Matthew 24:36; John 5:28-29; Mark 13:26-27; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 21:3).