THE STATEMENT OF FAITH

1. The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the scriptures, both the Old Testament and New Testament, are inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3v16, 17; Roman 10v17)

The bible is inerrant; it contains no contradictions and no error. All Scripture is God-breathed (2Timothy 3v16). In other words, God, the Holy Spirit, inspired the authors of Scripture, revealing to them what He wanted written (Exodus 34v27; 2Peter 1v20, 21; Acts. 1v16; 1Corinthians 2v13; 1Corinthians 14v37; Jeremiah 30v1, 2)

2. The Godhead

We believe God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth; and in whom all things have their source, support and end (John 4v24; Genesis1v1, 26; John1v1-3, Psalm 145v8, 9, Psalm 103v8-13).

There is one God. This one God has a plural nature. This one God is called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; distinct personalities all designated God (Romans1v7; Hebrews1v8; Acts 5v3, 4).

The scriptures do not teach that there are three Gods. What the Bible does teach, is stated in the doctrine of the Trinity as: there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and these three persons are the one God (2 Corinthians 13v14; Acts 10v38).

There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, equal in power and glory Isaiah 6v8; Mattew3v16, 17; Mattew28v19.

3. The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God; we believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in his miracles, in His atoning death as our substitute, in His bodily resurrection and in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (John 1v1-3; 18).

Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the Father, not that He is a son of God, but the Son of God (John 1v14, 18; Hebrews 1v8; 1 John 5v20).

The birth of Christ was supernatural and not natural as in the case of all other men. Jesus was supernaturally ‘virgin-born’ of the Holy Spirit, without a human father (Mattew1v18, 23, Isaiah 7v14).

Jesus died for all men, His blood is the only redemption from sin and by His stripes we are healed (Titus 2v13, Mattew20v28, 1 peter 1v18, 1Timothy 1v15, 2 Corinthians 5v21, Galatians3v13, 14, 1 Timothy 2v6, 1 Peter 3v18).

Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead. It was a physical resurrection. Jesus did not only rise spiritually, nor just as a spirit being, but He rose bodily from the dead and He is alive forevermore-in his resurrected flesh and bone body, representing us before the throne of God as our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 24v39, Romans 8v34, Hebrews 7v25, 2Corinthians 4v14, 1 Corinthians 15v3, 4).

The doctrine of the resurrection is the foundation on which Christianity rests. As Paul wrote, ‘If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins (1Corinthians 15v17, Acts 4v33, Romans 8v11).

4. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, separate and distinct from God the Father and God the Son (2 Corinthians 13v14, Acts 10v38). The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, nor a mere influence, but possesses full, distinct personality. This is the clear and unmistakable teaching of scripture (Ephesians 4v30). The Holy Spirit is personal and is God, the third person of the Holy Trinity (John 14v16, John 16v7, 8, Acts 5v3, 4).

5. The Creation Of Man And His Fall

We believe God created man in His own image, that man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of death, both physical and Spiritual, that all human beings inherit a sinful nature which results (in the case of those who reach moral responsibility) in actual transgression (Genesis 1v26-28, Ephesians 2v1-3, 1 John 3v8-10).

Man is a sinner, fallen from original righteousness (Isaiah 53v6, Romans 3v9, 10, 22, 23). Sin is the condition- the proud, rebellious attitude- of all men, Jew or Gentile, Pagan idolater, moral middleclass citizen or church – going religious man (Ephesians 4v17-19).

There are many definitions for sin: breaking God’s laws or going against God’s will. Summed up, these definitions might be stated: ‘Sin is proud, in depended rebellion against God in active or passive form’.

6. The Eternal Life And The New Birth

We believe the Bible teaches that Salvation is by grace, a gift of God to all those who believe in Christ. Those who receive Christ by faith have their sins forgiven and become children of God, a new creation in Christ Jesus (Titus 3v4-7, John 1v12-13 Romans 10v9, 10, 2 Corinthians 5v17)

7. The Salvation of Man

We believe salvation is a gift from God, no one can add anything to the completed work of Christ to receive it. It is received by faith and faith alone (Galatians 3v26, Ephesians 2v8, 9). Man is justified by faith in the redeeming blood of The Lord Jesus Christ, resulting in a supernatural work of the new birth (Colossians 1v13, 14, 1Peter 1v18, 19).

Man is not justified by trying to keep the Ten Commandments; he is not justified by works, by self-effort or by natural development from within (Isaiah 64v6, Romans 3v20, 28, Galatians 2v16).

8. The Water Baptism

We believe that baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is:

• A symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, Burial and Resurrection. I Corinthians 15v3-4, Col
• A public confession of the new believer’s faith in Christ.

*The water baptism prayer is recommended as follows:

‘On the ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savoir and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.

9. The Baptism In The Holy Spirit

We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, empowering and equipping believers in Christ for service, with the accompanying supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16v17, Act 1v8, Acts 2v4, 38, 39).

All Christian believers are entitled to and should expect the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church.

With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8v14-17, Acts 19v2). The baptism of born again believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 10v44-46, Acts 19v1-6).

10. The Sanctification

We believe the Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of the new birth and continuing until we reach full maturity and when we will receive a glorified body (2 peter 3v18, 2 Corinthians 3v18, 1 Thessalonians 5v23, 1 Thessalonians 3v13, John 3v2).

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (1 Corinthians 6v11, Hebrew 10v10, 14). Sanctification is realized in the believer in Christ by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1v30, Galatians 5v17-23, Romans 6v6-22).

11. The Divine Healing

We believe divine healing is an internal part of the Gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53 v 4-6, Galatians 3 v 13, 14, 1 Peter 2 v 24).

Healing is for physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God, which can work through the prayer of faith and the laying of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and it is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Mark 16v18, James 5v14-16)

12. The devil/satan

We believe that the devil exists and he is the real enemy of Christians. The devil is not an impersonal force, not the principles of evil personified. Personal names and personal pronouns are used with reference to him, while personal attributes and acts are ascribed to him (Luke 4v1-3; John 8v44; Acts 10v38; 1 John 3v8; Ephesians 6v10 -12; 1 Peter 5v8).

13. The Church

We believe the one true Church is the whole company of those who have been redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, that the new birth and personal confession of Christ are essentials of the church membership. (Matthew 16v16-18; Acts 2v38-41; Acts 2v47; 1 Peter 2v9–23).

The True church is made up of all those individuals who have put their trust in Christ as their Savior. It is not merely the attending of church or having a name on the membership list that makes one a member of Christ’ true Church. Only the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the repentant sinner qualifies one for membership in the body of Christ.

(Ephesians 2v18-22; Ephesians 1v22-23; Hebrews 12v23) The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the spirit, with divine appointment for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Each believer born of the spirit is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven. (Matthew 28v19-20; Mark 16v17; Ephesians 4v11-16)