we believe…
…that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and serves as God’s revelation to man. It is fully reliable, totally infallible, and the sole authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Tim 3: 5-17; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Pet 1:21)
…in the One True God The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19; John 1:18; 1 John 4:2; Heb 1:3)
…that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary work on the cross, bodily resurrection from the dead, and his exaltation to the right hand of God all give evidence to his Lordship over all life. (Luke 1:35; 1 Pet 2:22; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Cor 15:4; Heb 1:3)
…that the Holy Spirit is active today He is the co-eternal, third Person of the Trinity and he abides within the believer to encourage, empower and guide him or her in all aspects of their Christian life. (Eph 2:22, 1 Cor 6:19, Matt 12:31)
…in humankind’s fallen nature We were created good and upright but we voluntarily rejected God’s design and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death. Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ: by repentance toward God, faith toward Jesus Christ and regeneration from the Holy Spirit. Evidence of salvation is the inward witness of the Spirit and the outward witness to others of a changed life, righteousness and true holiness. (Rom 5:12-19, 8:16; Titus 2:12, 3:5-7)
…in the church and its mission The church exists to be a community of a new humanity on earth; an alternative to this world and an agent of grace towards all. It’s purpose is to worship God, teach others to be Christ’s disciples, to provide a place of love, acceptance and forgiveness, and engage the world and its suffering for Christ’s sake.(Heb 12:23; Col 1:29; Eph 4:11-16)
…the blessed hope of the church is the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. (1 Thess 4:16,17; Titus 2:13)
…in the afterlife There is both heaven, a blessed home to be desired; and hell; a place of eternal separation from God to be shunned at all costs. Their inhabitants are determined in the final judgment according to what they did with Jesus Christ and his gospel. (Matt 25:46; Rev 9:43-48, 21-22; 2 Pet 3:13)