As a church our beliefs
are aligned with the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, which
gives a concise statement of biblical doctrine. In no way is
it equal to the infallibly authoritative Word of God. A brief
summary of what we believe follows.
The
Scriptures
God
has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of
the Old and New Testaments alone. These Scriptures
in their entirety were given by inspiration of God
and are, as originally written, the very Word of God.
They are therefore without error and utterly reliable
with regard to fact and teaching. They are thereby
the only infallible and authoritative rule of all saving
knowledge, faith and obedience.
God
There
is only one God, the maker, sustainer and ruler of
all things according to his sovereign will and for
his own glory. He exists eternally in three distinct
persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are equal
and with no division of nature, essence or being. He
is unchangeably perfect in all his attributes. To him
all people owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.
From
eternity he decreed all things that happen, and perpetually
governs all creatures and events. However he is in
no way the author or approver of sin, nor does his
decree in any way diminish or violate the responsibility
of men.
The human race
All
men and women, being created in the image of God, have
inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose
is to obey, worship and love God.
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created by God in perfect righteousness.
By disobedience, they lost that righteousness and became corrupt. The
guilt of Adam's first sin is imputed
to all men who are born in a sinful state and condition, called original
sin. Every aspect of human nature has been corrupted, and all men and
women are without spiritual life, guilty before God and hostile to him.
Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God, and needs
to be born again, forgiven, and reconciled to God in order to know and
please him. Although responsible to do so, they are unable of themselves
to repent of sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and
Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ
The
Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and is both fully
God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin,
and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He thus perfectly
fulfilled the law, suffered, and died on the cross in the place of
sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by
his blood. He rose from the dead, and in his resurrection body ascended
into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his
people in the presence of the Father.
Salvation
Salvation
is entirely a work of God's grace, and cannot be earned or deserved.
It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to
all in the gospel. Those who have been predestined to be saved, God
in his love and by his word and Holy Spirit calls into fellowship with
his Son. This is on the basis of his mercy in Christ, not because of
foreseen merit or faith in them.
He grants them repentance by which they are convicted of the evil of
their sin. He enlightens their minds and renews their wills and affections,
so that, hating their sin, they humbly seek to walk before God in order
to please him in all things.
He grants faith, by which the sinner rests upon Jesus Christ alone
for salvation. Through faith alone the righteousness of Christ is imputed
to the sinner, justifying. him in God's sight.
All who believe in Christ
are adopted into the family of God, and enjoy all the liberties and
privileges of the children of God.
Those whom God saves through faith in Christ will never totally or finally
fall away from the state of grace, but will persevere to the end.
The Holy Spirit
The
Holy Spirit regenerates and indwells all believers, and renews their
whole nature, bringing assurance of salvation, and producing an increasing
holiness and likeness to Christ.
The Church
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the universal church, to
which all God's elect belong. It is made visible in local
churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed
to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the
Word, the administration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper,
for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism.
The unity of the Body of Christ is expressed within and between churches
faithful to the gospel, by mutual love, care, and encouragement.
Baptism
Baptism
is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ and is obligatory
for every believer. Rightly administered, it involves total
immersion in water, in the name of the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit. It does not impart spiritual life, but is
a symbol of union with Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection.
It also symbolises entry into his church, and therefore precedes
church membership.
The Lord's Supper
The
Lord's Supper, administered with the unchanging elements
of bread and wine, is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice
offered once for all, and should be observed by the church
until he returns.
The future
The
Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory, visibly, personally
and bodily. He will raise the dead, and judge the world in
righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment,
and the righteous, with glorified bodies, will live and reign
eternally with Christ. God will make all things new and will
be glorified for ever.
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