Doctrinal Statement

1. The Bible

We believe the Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

2. God

We believe the Godhead is eternally co-equal and co-existent in three persons; not three Gods but one; not one Person but three, namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19).

3. Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Thus we uphold His absolute deity as well as His complete humanity; two natures but one undivided Person (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1; Hebrews 2:9-16; Hebrews 1:5-12; Philippians 2:5-8).

4. The Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that He ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of God, in the position of power and authority. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead (Daniel 12:2; Romans 8:34; Mark 12:36; Mark 14:62; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20; Philippians 2:8-11; Luke 22:69; Hebrews 8:1; Revelation 20:11-15).

5. Lordship

We confess the Lord Jesus Christ and no other, as Head of the Church, and as our Lord (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18, 24).

6. The Second Advent of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus will manifest Himself in glory, majesty and power and in physical presence. This is the second coming of Christ and the blessed hope of the Church (Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

7. The Fall

Every individual has sinned and is guilty before God. Man by nature is depraved and incapable of saving his own soul (Romans 3:10,23; Ephesians 2:8-10).

8. Redemption

The Lord Jesus Christ, by His life, death resurrection and ascension, has made available to all mankind the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. These blessings are made personally real to the individual, not by works, or by any personal merit in themselves, but by faith alone, which is accompanied by repentance (John 3:16; Romans 8:8-13; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:11).

9. The New Birth

We believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Birth, which makes a repentant sinner a child of God being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (John 1:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

10. The Church

We believe that the true Church consists of the community of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who by faith have had their sins forgiven and have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the fellowship of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, recognizing that the true Church is not confined to any one denomination (Hebrews 12:23-24; 1 John 1:7; Ephesians 3:3-10; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 10:32).

11. Baptism

We believe in the baptism by immersion, of believers only (Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 10:47; Hebrews 10:22; Acts 8:36-39; 1 Peter 3:21).

12. The Lord’s Supper

We believe in the Breaking of Bread as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ and as practiced by the Early Church (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

13. Tithing

We believe in the biblical principle of tithing (Malachi 3:10) and the systematic giving of financial resources (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

14. Sanctification

The Scriptures teach of a life of holiness, and we are to obey the command “Be ye holy for I am holy.” Believers are sanctified (i.e. set apart) for God’s purpose at conversion. Continuation in sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word and through faith and submission to the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 6:1; Philippians 3:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

15. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and that this baptism, as a distinct experience from the New Birth, is promised to every believer (Matthew 3:11; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 2:32-33; Acts 15:7-9).

16. Divine Healing

We believe in the gifts of healing and that God still, in our day, heals the sick (Mark 16:18; Matthew 8:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14-15).

17. Spiritual Gifts

We believe that God has never removed the gifts referred to in 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14, and that whenever the Holy Spirit moves on the Church in power, these gifts are manifested. We believe it is contrary to the apostolic command for any to “forbid speaking in tongues.”

18. The Priesthood of Believers

Each individual believer has full and equal access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, as a believer-priest (1 Peter 2:1-9; Revelation 5:9-10 (RV); Revelation 1:6).

19. The Ministry

The ascended Christ has given various ministries to the Church and each of these exists for the strengthening of, and is essential to, the welfare of the Church. They are set forth in Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28 and elsewhere.

20. Miracles

We believe in miracles, both as recorded in the Bible, and as being possible in the present day (John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:10).

21. Judgement

We believe that both the living and the dead will be judged, it being understood that the believer’s condemnation was borne by our Lord Jesus Christ in His redemptive work (John 5:24, 28, 29; Revelation 20:11-15).