What We Believe

Below are some of the things as Christians we believe.
If you have any questions about anything you read, please just ask us.

The Bible

God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.

Hebrews 1:1–2; Psalm 19:7–11; Ephesians 2:20; 2 Peter 3:2,16; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13; Jeremiah 1:9; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 12:6, 119:160; John 17:17; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 17; Psalm 19:7; Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:105.

God

There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to whom equal honour is due. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory. 

Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 3:16–17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 5:23; Revelation 5:13–14; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 89:14; Revelation 15:3–4; Romans 11:33; 1 John 4:8,16; Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 43:11; Titus 2:13; Genesis 18:25; Acts 17:31; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 4:4-6.

God the Father

God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, the eternal and almighty source from whom all things proceed. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, governing all things according to his sovereign will and for his own glory. In his infinite love and mercy, he is the initiator of salvation, having chosen a people for himself before the foundation of the world and sending his Son to redeem them. As a perfectly holy and just Father, he provides for his children, hears their prayers, and disciplines them for their good. Though he is transcendent in majesty, he is intimately near to those who call on him, offering adoption and an eternal inheritance to all who believe in Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:6; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 1:11; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:3–5; Matthew 6:26; Hebrews 12:7–10; Romans 8:15–17.

God the Son – The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is 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. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin.  He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all.

John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Matthew 7:29; John 14:6; John 17:17; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Revelation 5:9; Luke 24:39; Romans 4:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:9–11; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission. 

John 16:14; John 16:8; John 3:3–8; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:16; Galatians 5:22–23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18–20; Acts 1:8.

The Human Race

All men and women, being created male and female in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. 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.

Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 9:6; James 3:9; Genesis 1:27, 5:2; Matthew 19:4; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 22:37–38; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Genesis 3:1–19; Romans 5:12; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–18,23; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; Romans 8:7–8; Colossians 1:21; John 3:18, 36; Romans 5:16, 18; Ephesians 2:3; John 3:3–7; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Colossians 1:20–22; Ephesians 1:7.

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. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Romans 11:6; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 9:16; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Hebrews 12:2; John 3:16; Romans 1:16; Titus 2:11; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13–14; Romans 2:4; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:28, 5:1; Galatians 2:16; John 1:12; Romans 8:15–17; Ephesians 1:5; John 3:36, 10:28; Romans 6:23.

Church

The Church

The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved 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 administering 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 by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel. 

Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 2:47; Hebrews 12:22–23;  Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Romans 16:5; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 20:28; Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 4:5; John 13:34–35; Ephesians 4:2–3; Hebrews 10:24–25; 2 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 16:1–3,19; 1 John 1:7; Galatians 1:6–9; 2 John 1:9.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith. 

Matthew 28:19 (Baptism); 1 Corinthians 11:23–25 (Lord’s Supper); Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 2:8–9; Hebrews 9:26–28, 10:10–14; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24–25; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:27–29; John 6:35, 63.

Marriage

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. God created us male and female, which is identified by our biological sex.  Marriage is, by definition, heterosexual and between one man and one woman. Marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his Church. Sexual intimacy is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed exclusively within the context of marriage.

Genesis 1:31; Song of Solomon (entire book); Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2–5; Proverbs 5:15–19; Genesis 2:18, 22–24; Romans 1:26–27; Ephesians 5:31–32; Revelation 19:7–9; Ephesians 5:22–30; Colossians 3:18–19. 

The Future

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever.

Matthew 24:30; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:11; John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Daniel 12:2; Acts 17:31; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 2:16; Matthew 25:41, 46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Revelation 20:11–15; Matthew 25:34; Psalm 16:11; Revelation 21:3; Revelation 21:1, 5; 2 Peter 3:13; Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 5:13; Romans 11:36.