We believe…
in common with the worldwide established church the core beliefs expressed in the Nicene Creed. These include the trinity of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the virgin birth, the physical crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the future return of the person of Jesus Christ to earth to judge the living and the dead.
Scripture
that the 66 books of the Bible from Genesis to Malachi (39 books) and from Matthew to Revelation (27 books) are the inspired Word of God and that the canon of scripture is closed and complete. The canon of scripture is inspired by God and therefore authoritative.
Sin
that all men are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam and it is God’s work to make men righteous through the atonement of Jesus Christ – there is no other way to salvation. No man should presume to mediate between men and God in Christ’s place.
- John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
- 1 John 2:1-2 But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Salvation
that God is Sovereign and in his divine wisdom has given men free will to choose or reject salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. However, no-one is able to come to salvation unless God chooses and draws them and while people are powerless to save themselves they are saved through the gift of grace. The righteous in Christ will inherit eternal life but the wrath of God remains on those who reject Jesus Christ.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
- John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
- John 1:12-13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
- John 6:43-44 Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him
Salvation is for the whole person (body, soul and spirit)
that the work of salvation is to save us from the consequence of sin and restore us to wholeness. The Greek word sozo is used for both ‘saved’ and ‘healed’. In the following passages the word translated saved or healed are the same Greek word ‘sozo’.
- Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”
- Mark 6:56 “all who touched him were healed”
- Mark 5:23 “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
- Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptised shall be saved”
- Also: Luke 8:36, Acts 2:21, Acts 14:9, Eph 2:8, Luke 18:42, James 5:15, Mark 5:34, Mark 5:28, Luke 17:19, Acts 4:9, Acts 4:12, Mark 6:56
Salvation is both deliverance from sins and from sickness:
- Psalm 103:3 “Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases’.
- James 5:14 “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
- 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
- Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Important Note: This is not to say that if someone is in need of physical healing that they are not saved – anymore than if we sin we are not saved. Salvation, healing and deliverance are first and foremost issues of faith in Jesus, and we hope (as the gospel promises) for the full manifestation of these in our lives, whether in this age or the one to come.
The Priesthood of all believers
that all Christian’s are called to ‘full time ministry’ (works of service Ephesians 4.12) and that this is to be expressed in all occupations and walks of life.
- 1 Peter 2:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Water Baptism
that water baptism accompanies confession of faith in Christ Jesus as an act of submission and obedience. Baptism is a Biblical ordinance and a powerful spiritual and public association with Christ’s death and resurrection. Although not essential for salvation it is a consequence of salvation.
- Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
- Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
- Colossians 2:10-12 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Communion
that the sharing of bread and wine by believers is an act of obedience to the command of Jesus to remember his work of salvation whenever it is taken. We partake of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through the bread and wine of the communion as an act of faith.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
- Acts 2:42-43 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
that baptism in the Holy Spirit is not essential for salvation but an essential consequence of salvation and supernatural empowerment for the victorious and effective Christian life.
- Jesus said: Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 8:15-17 then they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
The present and coming Kingdom of God
that it is man’s work and purpose to serve God and through obedience to His will to bring His reign and rule to the earth through the delegated authority of Jesus Christ until he returns to make all things new.
- Luke 17:20-21 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
- Matthew 6:10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
- Psalm 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man.
- Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
The Fivefold Ministries: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher
that God anoints and appoints apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to serve the church (some locally and some trans-locally) and to equip all believers for works of ministry until it ‘attains to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ’.
- Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
that God gives supernatural empowerments to all his people by virtue of the indwelling Holy Spirit to equip them to demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ in love and power and for the works of ministry. The Holy Spirit determines which gifts and to whom he will give them; however His choice is influenced by our desire to receive them.
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
- 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Miracles
that healing, signs and wonders are manifestations of God’s Kingdom to lead people to Christ alone.
- Jesus says in John 14:11-13 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
- Paul says in Romans 15:17-19 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.
that true signs and wonders are important temporary manifestations which are a sign and a foretaste of the Kingdom to come when Jesus returns to earth.
- 1 Corinthains 13:8-11 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
- Revelation 21:3-4 “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
that true signs and wonders lead people to Jesus Christ and bear spiritual fruit that is eternal.
- John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.
Service to God
that our salvation is not dependent on our service to God but our service to God is a response to the gift of salvation. Our greatest calling is to serve Him with all our heart and our greatest hope is that we may one day stand before our Lord Jesus and hear the words:
- ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
The local church
For the Christian believer being a relational part of a local church is a necessary requirement for spiritual growth. The Bible describes the local church as a body with diverse parts which function together in love and fellowship with Christ as the head. There are many different expressions of local church community where believers can be discipled and grow in love for Christ and one another; the important thing is that a believer is relationally part of a local church family.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Paul counsels Timothy a local church leader: “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13-14
- Acts 2:42-43 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
