Our Beliefs

The Christian Faith

Our faith is the historic Christian faith presented through the gospel of Jesus Christ as given in the Bible. We are committed to holding, teaching and proclaiming this faith. The following is an outline of the essentials of the Christian faith. It is only an outline – in as few words as possible for convenience.

We believe in one God, the almighty creator and ruler of all (Dt 6.4; Gen 1.1; Ps 90.2; Heb 11.3; 1 Tim 1.17; 6.15-16; Ps 103.19) . Through Jesus Christ he has been revealed as existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each distinct, yet fully God (Mt 28.19; Mk 1.9-11; Jn 14.16; Eph 4.4-6).

We believe in the Father, from whom are all things, and who does all things by his will and according to his purpose (Job 42.2; Eph 1.11; 1 Cor 8.6) . In love he sent his Son into the world to be our saviour (Jn 3.16; 17.3; Rom 8.32; 1 Jn 4.10).

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who existed eternally with the Father, and through whom all things were created and all of God’s work is done (Jn 1.1-5; 5.19-21; Col 1.15-17; Heb 1.1-3; 1 Cor 8.7). He is fully God and he became fully human, being born of the virgin, Mary (Jn 1.14; Lk 1.35; Mt 1.20; Phil 2.5-10). He lived an authentic human life, yet was without sin (Heb 2.14-17; 2 Cor 5.21).

Jesus was crucified and died for our sins that through his death we might have the forgiveness of sins and be brought into a right relationship with God (Rom 5.6-11; 8.3; 2 Cor 5.14-15, 21; 1 Pet 2.24) .

Jesus was buried and was raised again, creating new life out of death (Rom 6.4-11; 1 Cor 15.20-21; Eph 2.4-6; Col 2.12-13). He appeared to the apostles and sent them to proclaim the gospel to all nations that people might believe in him and be saved (Lk 24.26-49; 1 Cor 15.1-11; Rom 10.14-15).

Jesus ascended to heaven and, together with the Father, sent the Holy Spirit to those who put their faith in him (Jn 7.37-39; 14.12-16; Eph 1.13; Rom 8.9).

We believe in the Holy Spirit, by whom all things were created and all of God’s work is done (Gen 1.2; Ps 104.30; Job 33.4). He indwells believers and leads us to do the will of God against the power of sin (Jn 14.16-17, 26; 16.13-15; Gal 5.16-17; Rom 8.1-17). He also unites all believers in one body of Christ, the church, and empowers service for God and the witness to Jesus Christ in the world (1 Cor 12.13; Eph 4.4; 1 Cor 12.4-11; Jn 16.7-11; Ac 1.8).

We believe that Jesus will come again to raise all believers into his resurrection and glory (Mt 24.30-31; Mk 13.26-27; 1 Th 4.16-17; 1 Jn 3.2; 1 Cor 15.42-44). He will judge the earth and establish God’s kingdom over all (Mt 25.31-46; 1 Th 1.5-10; 2 Pet 3.7-10; Rev 19.11 – 20.15). And God will bring about a new creation which will never pass away in which he will live with his people through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit forever (2 Pet 3.13; Rev 21.1-4;22.1-5).

The gospel of Jesus Christ embraces the entire Bible and lies at its centre. The whole Old Testament is fulfilled in Christ, and the New Testament gives the apostolic witness to him and teaching of him (Matt 5.17; Luke 24.25-27, 44-49; 1Cor 15.3-4). We affirm that “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3.16-17). We accept the Scriptures alone and in their entirety as God’s word as both necessary and sufficient for our whole life. The word of Christ given in Scripture brings about faith in us. By faith we receive for ourselves what God has done for us in Christ, and by this faith we live (Rom 10.17; 1.17; Gal 2.20; 5.6).

The Way of Christ

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14.6)

Faith in Jesus is the way to God. Having a relationship with God through him is like travelling a roadway. To guide us into the way and along it, Jesus established three activities to act as signposts. These signposts point to three key aspects of the relationship.

The first signpost is the proclamation of the gospel (or good news) of Christ which calls
us to faith and sets us on the way.
Next is baptism by which we dedicate ourselves to following him in faith.
Third is the Lord’s Supper which highlights our fellowship with others who follow in faith.

As a church we are committed to these aspects of the way of Christ and to the activities that point to them.

1. Faith in Christ

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1.15)

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24.46-48)

At the entrance to the way stands the gospel (or good news) of Jesus Christ, which calls us to repentance and faith. To repent means to change our mind and agree with God about our sin. The Bible says all have sinned – we have gone our own way instead of the way of God, our creator. God cannot tolerate or overlook sin. As a result we are all under God’s sentence of death and in our sin we are eternally separated from him.

Furthermore, we cannot erase our sin or make up for it. We cannot attain a right relationship with God for ourselves in which we have eternal life. Only God can provide this for us. But this meant he had to come in the person of Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again. In so doing he created new life from death. We receive this life through faith. The gospel calls us to repent, or confess our sin, and put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus spoke of repentance and faith as the narrow gate through which we must enter.

As a church we are committed to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to holding our relationship with God by faith in Christ alone.

Acts 20.21; Romans 3.23; 4.1-8; 5.18-19; 10.8-17; John 3.16; Mark 10.45; 1 Timothy 2.5-6; Ephesians2.1-9; Matthew 7.13-14; Galatians 3.1-2

2. Following Christ

“Follow me…” (Matthew 4.19)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.19-20)

Faith leads to following. Once we are through the gate we find ourselves on the road. Jesus then calls us to start walking – he calls us to follow him. This we do by obeying his teachings. Through faith we have received eternal life, which consists of a relationship with God. Now we must begin to live this life by learning the word of God and acting on it. This is real faith. Without good works faith is dead.

The activity that directs us to follow Jesus is baptism. In baptism we both acknowledge something that Jesus’ death has done for us, and we act on it. We acknowledge that Jesus’ death for sin has brought about a spiritual death to sin within us. Our former self, which was a captive to sin, has died. We have been made new in order to walk in the newness of life. We then act on this truth by committing to be followers, or disciples. In so doing we make our faith visible – we outwardly identify ourselves as Christians. Our Christian life will involve an ongoing struggle with sin, but we continue to confess our sins and claim God’s forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit within gives us a new desire and power to follow Jesus.

As a church we are committed to teaching the whole word of God and to calling believers to be followers, signaling that decision by baptism

Ephesians 2.10; James 2.26; 1 Peter 2.24; Romans 6.1-14; Colossians 2.6-15; Galatians 3.27; 5.16-25; 1 John 1.8-9; Acts 20.26-27

3. Fellowship in Christ

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22.29-20)

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Corinthians 10.17)

Jesus does not call us to follow him alone. Rather through the indwelling Spirit he has made us part of his one body, or church. As we outwardly identify ourselves as Christians through the baptismal commitment to follow Christ, we also identify ourselves as members of his church. This gives us a common identity with other members and opens the door to church fellowship.

To highlight this aspect of his way, Jesus established a group activity for the church to carry out. This is the Lord’s Supper (or Breaking of Bread, or Communion). As with baptism, the Lord’s Supper involves both acknowledging something about his death for us, and acting on it. We acknowledge that through his death we have a relationship with him not merely as an individual, but as a member of his church. And we act on this truth by committing to church fellowship – to being followers together.

Ongoing fellowship is crucial to our walk as followers of Jesus. We need the accountability and the support that it provides. We learn and grow through what we receive from one another and through serving one another. As we do so, the body of Christ is built up in love and we take our place in it.

As a church we are committed to being followers together and to making church fellowship a priority in our lives, dedicating ourselves to this through the ongoing celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 12.13; 11.17-34; Acts 2.41-42; Ephesians 2.19-22; 4.1-16; 1 Corinthians 12-13; Hebrews 10.23-25; 1 John 1.3-4; 2.19-20; Matthew 18.15-20; 1 Corinthians 5.6-13