// STATEMENT OF FAITH

 

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Bible is God's Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives. (Matt 5:17-18; 24:35; John 4:39; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21)

 

TRIUNE GOD

We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy. (Gen 1:1; Deut 6:4; Ps 86:9-10; Is 43:10-11; Matt 28.19, Mark 12:29; John 1:1-3).

 

JESUS

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, being both fully God and fully man is the only one who can reconcile us to God. (Rom 10:9 – 11, John 1:1;14, Phil 2:5 – 6, John 1:18, Col 1:19 – 20, 2 Cor 5:18, Eph 1:10)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is personal, convicting, guiding, empowering and equipping believers (John 16:8 – 11, Romans 5:5, Titus 3:5, Acts 1:8, Rom 8:13, Gal 5:16

 

SIN

Sin, being all that is contrary to the law, will and character of God has corrupted all of creation (Rom 8:19 - 21) It has separated each of us from God and His design for our lives. We are born with a corrupted nature and entirely unable to save ourselves outside of the work of Christ through the Spirit. (Gen 1:26-31; 3:1-7, Rom 3:23, 6:23, Rom 5:12-21, Rom 8:18 - 25)

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​SALVATION

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We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the 'new birth' we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives (Rom 10:9 – 11). Jesus’ death and resurrection is genuinely offered to all people (John 3:14 – 16, Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1). He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross for the whole worlds sin (1 John 2:2), and rose again to prove His victory and empower us. (1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:25-26; 1 Peter 1:19-20). This position is often called the 'classical Arminian position'.

 

THE CHURCH

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We believe that the church acts as the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) on earth, and is the dwelling place for the Spirit of God (Eph 2:21 – 22), set apart and called to fulfill Jesus’ great command (Matt 22L36 – 40) and great commission (Matt 28:18 – 20)
 

Each believer, born of the Spirit (John 3:3;6), is an important part of the community (1 Cor 12) and is called to use their gifts in service of the mission of God. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).  Each believer is expected to be an active part of the local community (Heb 10:25) in submission to the Eldership (Heb 13:17). The Church is charged with discipleship (Matt 28:18 – 20) and discipline (1 Cor 5)

 

BAPTISM IN WATER
 

We believe in Baptism (full immersion) in water upon belief, confession and identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This baptism is in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as an act of obedience. (Matt 28:19, Romans 6:3-7, Acts 2:17, 33, 38; 10:45-48, Hebrews 9:19-22; 10:22, 12:24; I Peter 1:2, Mark 1:10, Acts 8:38

 

EMPOWERING / BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

We believe in the empowering of the Holy Spirit for mission and ministry as a distinct operation of the Holy Spirit to redemption. One empowered with the Holy Spirit can fully expect to speak in their own spiritual prayer language and be released in other spiritual gifts. The empowering of the Holy Spirit (often called the Baptism in the HS) is an objective experience and is specifically encouraged for all believers. (Luke 3:16, 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4; 8:15-19; 11:14-17; 19:1-7, 1 Cor 12).

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GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
 

We believe that God has individually equipped us so that we can achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to worship God, fulfil our role in the Church, serve the community and be witnesses to the ends of the earth. Some of these gifts are already present in the life of the believer and must be developed, others must be actively sort. (1 Cor 14:1, 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, Eph 4:11-13, Romans 12:6-8, 2 Tim 1:6, Eph 4)
 

HEALING​

 

We believe in present day supernatural physical healing (Exodus 15:26; Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-15). Scripture encourages us to pray in faith for healing, bringing the elders to anoint them with oil. Although we believe physical healing is covered in the atonement, we affirm that the ultimate fulfillment is found in the restoration of all things. All will be healed, as will the whole of creation be restored, this restoration however is only guaranteed in the resurrection. (James 5:14, Rom 8:20 – 24, 1 Cor 15:52 – 56, 2 Cor 4:16)
 

​ETERNITY
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We believe we are all created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. The place of eternal separation is called hell. Heaven is a place of eternal life with God (Matthew 25:46; 13:49-50; Luke 12:47-48; Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:11-15).

SECOND COMING OF JESUS
 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised. We believe this to before the literal thousand-year reign of Christ. Speculation and division about details and dates are both unhelpful and unbiblical. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-8; 1 John 2:28; 3:2-3).

MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY

We believe God has made humanity male and female (Gen 1:27). As sovereign ruler and designer over all creation (Rev 21:6, Col 1:16, Rom 11:33, Jer 32:17) he has the sole right to absolutely define identity and relationships he creates. (Gen 2:23 – 24). Marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman, to become one flesh (Matt 19:4 - 6a) and as defined by God in the scriptures is the only context for holy intimacy (Prov 5:15 – 20, Heb 13:4) All sexual intimacy outside of marriage falls under sexual immorality (1 Cor 7:2) and is a form of adultery (Ex 20:14). “Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure…” (Heb 13:4) Jesus, himself single in terms of marital covenant, like Paul recognized those unmarried and the blessing such a position can be (Matt 19:12, 1 Cor 7:7). Both married and unmarried states are to be dedicated to God.
 

MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP

We believe in and recognize the unique gifts the Spirit has placed upon both men and women within the Church (Acts 2:17 - 18). We believe these gifts are given (1 Cor 12 – 14, Rom 12) irrespective of gender. Additionally, we believe that all leadership positions in the Church are available to both men and women with the appropriate gifts, experience and character. (1 Cor 1:11, Phil 4:1 – 13, Rom 16:1 - 2, Rom 16:3, Rom 16:7, Acts 18:26, Acts 11:5 – 7, Acts 28:23 – 24)

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