Our Statement of Faith
Doctrine of: Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was written by God inspired men; that it is truth without any error and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the age the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true centre of Christian union; and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation which, as originally written, does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God. By “Inspired” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings have ever been and ever will be inspired and remain the very Word of God. 2Timothy 3:16-17; 2Peter 1:21; Acts1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Romans 3:1- 2
Doctrine of: Godhead
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God; an infinite and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness; and worthy of all possible honour, confidence and love. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection and attribute; executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Jeremiah 10:10; John 10:30; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 28:19; 1John 5:7
Doctrine of: Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has been in existence throughout all eternity, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit; possessed the nature of God and man; He lived a sinless life, He died a substitutionary death on the cross, resurrected bodily in three days, ascended to be with the Father and is there seated at His right hand making intercession for us and will return bodily. We believe that Jesus Christ condescended to take on the form and nature of man, and that He is fully God and fully man at the same time. Hebrews 1:2; John 17:5; Luke 1:31-35; 1Peter 1:19-20; 1Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 7:25
Doctrine of: Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with and having the same nature as God the Father and God the Son; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled—for He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement; that He seals, guides, indwells, baptises, teaches, sanctifies and helps the believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit fills the believer, empowering him for Christian living and imparting spiritual gifts for Christian service. John 14:26; 16:13; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:13; 1Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30; Acts 2:1-5; 1Corinthians 12:13; Romans 12
Doctrine of: Mankind
We believe the Genesis account of creation; the Genesis account must be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly; and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind”.
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his maker, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice; and therefore, under just condemnation, without defence or excuse. Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 3:4-7; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-14; 7:23-25; Colossians 1:21
Doctrine of: Sin
We believe that through the transgression of this “one man” sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. The words “for all have sinned” mean: that in Adam existed the entire race undistributed, and thus as the branch shares in the root, so the whole of mankind shares in the guilt, penalty, death and corrupted nature springing from that first transgression. We believe that “for all have sinned” means that each individual has actually sinned against God.
We believe in the total depravity of man—that while all men may not be as bad as they could be, all are utterly lost in their unredeemed state; for all are dead in trespasses and sins. Thus man is utterly helpless to remedy his lost condition apart from the grace of God. Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9
Doctrine of: Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to sinful man by grace and received solely by repentance (turning from sin) and placing faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who accomplished complete redemption by His substitutionary death and shedding of His precious blood. Romans 4:16; John 3:18; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8, 9; Philippians 3:4-9; 1Peter 1:18, 19
We believe that both repentance and faith are a gift from God. Phil 1:19; 2 Tim 2:25. We believe that Five Points of Calvinism are in accordance with the letter and spirit of the full Word of God on this matter. For more on Calvinism, click here: Calvinism
Doctrine of: Church
We believe that a local church of Christ is a congregation of baptised believers who are associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. We believe the true mission of the Church is found in the great commission.
Doctrine of: Satan
We believe that Satan was once a holy angel and enjoyed heavenly honours; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince and the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s greatest tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind apostasy, the lord of the antichrist and the author of all powers of darkness; destined however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and judgement of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 3:15
Doctrine of: Prophecy of End Times
We believe in the premillennial return of Christ; that His return from heaven will be personal, visible and glorious, a blessed hope for which we should constantly watch and pray, the time being unrevealed but always imminent; that when He comes He will first by resurrection of the dead in Christ and translation of the living remove from the earth His waiting Church (Rapture), then pour out the righteous judgements of God upon the unbelieving world (Tribulation), afterwards descend with His Church and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years (Millennium).
We believe that the spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven, that their works shall be brought before the judgement seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own; that the spirits of the unsaved at the time of death descend immediately to hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgement, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into the lake of fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment. 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:10, 11; 1Corinthians 15:51-55; Revelation 20:4
Recommended Website
Sola 5 http://sola5.org/
Alpha and Omega Ministries http://www.aomin.org/
Grace To You https://www.gty.org/
Desiring God https://www.desiringgod.org/
The Calvinist Corner http://www.calvinistcorner.com