Statement Of Faith
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Jesus
We believe that Christ Jesus is the living son of God. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, becoming man without ceasing to be God. We believe Christ was without sin and was crucified, shedding his blood on behalf of all mankind so that we might be redeemed and set free from the power of sin and death and as such brought us into right standing and relationship with God the Father when we put our faith in Him. We believe in his burial, resurrection, his ascension into heaven and his return in power and glory.
(John 1:1-3, John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1-3, Luke 1:26-35, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 7:25, Colossians 2:9, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28)
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God
We believe that God is eternal and reigns supreme over all things and exists as three equal divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God has made Himself known from the beginning of creation and continues to make Himself known today. He is unchanging and always good as is demonstrated in the giving of His son, our Lord and saviour Christ Jesus and is worthy of our wholehearted adoration and worship.
(Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 47:7-8, Matthew 28:18-19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Revelation 4:11)
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Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity indwells those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus. He is our helper, teacher and guide. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified, empowered and revived to live a life worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ and to operate in the divinely distributed gifts of the Spirit. We believe that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement and leads us to repentance.
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Mankind
We believe God created mankind, both male and female in His image to bring Him glory and to live in fellowship with Him. We believe the two genders complement each other and that the union between a man and a woman in marriage serves as a reflection of the union between Christ and The Church. The husband represents the headship and sacrificial love of Jesus for his bride (the church) and the wife through submittance*, reflects the love of the church for her Lord Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 3, Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)
*We recognise that these scriptures have at times been taken out of context. We believe these scriptures signfy a mutual love and respect between a husband and wife that is representative and displays the love of Christ for the his bride The Church and the churches love and surrender to the bridegroom Jesus.
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Church
We believe that the church is the new covenant, that is the spiritual body of believers with Christ being the head. We believe the Church is made visible in local churches where believers have made their faith public in Baptism. We believe the local church is called to gather regularly in the service of God, our spiritual brothers and sisters and the community. We believe we are called to fellowship in worship, communion, sound biblical teaching and discipleship and to inspire and encourage each other to acts of love and obedience to God's word. We are to be accountable to one another with gentleness and faith whilst sharing the truth of the gospel to a lost world, demonstrating our faith in Christ not just in word but in action.
(Ephesians 5:25-27, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41, 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Galatians 1:6-9, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Peter 2:9)
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Scripture
We believe the bible is the divinely inspired word of God and as such is entirely trustworthy and the highest authority pertaining to life and faith.
(2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 3:15-16, Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 1:1-2)
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Salvation
We believe salvation and repentance are gifts from God, received by faith in Christ's substitutionary death on the cross. We believe that such persons have been delivered from condemnation and are justified before God through Christ’s shed blood alone, and not on the basis of their works. We believe we are called to be continually transformed into a new being, being dead to sin and alive to obeying Christ. We are called to be holy and set apart and by the power of the Holy Spirit we continue to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
(Ephesians 2:8-10, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Mark 1:15, Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:1, Romans 3:24-25, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Philippians 1:25, Colossians 1:28, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Hebrews 12:10, John 3:36)