Doctrinal Statement

1. The Divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Scriptures, also known as the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inerrant Word of God. Written by holy men of God, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the only ultimate and infallible authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice. Utterly sufficient for Christian life and godliness, the Bible does not just contain the Word of God, but in fact is the Word of God. The Bible is indivisible in its verbal inspiration, for such verbal inspiration encompasses the entire Scriptures. As such, it is to be neither added to, nor subtracted from, in either word or thought.

(Psalm 119:89,160; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14; Revelation 22:18-19)

2. The Nature and Unity of the Godhead

We believe that the Lord our God is but the one, only, true, and living God. He is one essential being, existing in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who are altogether co- equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial. Being of one substance, yet the substance being undivided: The Father is a distinct person from the Son; the Son is a distinct person from the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is a distinct person from the Father. All infinite, there is but one God, who is undivided in nature and being. Eternal and infinitely perfect in all of his attributes, His subsistence is entirely in and of Himself. He is the one true Sovereign, who rules, unobstructed, over all creation.

(Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 45:5-6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Hosea 13:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

3. The Deity and Humanity of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Triune God, eternally begotten of the Father, is of the same essence and substance as the Father and the Spirit, being co-equal and co-eternal with them in the Godhead. In His being eternally begotten of the Father, the notion of his subordination to the Father, in essence and substance, must be denied and rejected. Christ is He through whom all that has come into being, came into being. When the fullness of time had come, according to the will of the Father, Christ was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, taking upon himself human flesh, yet maintaining the fullness of Deity that He eternally possessed; this is the union of Christ’s humanity and divinity in one person.

(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1, 8:58, 10:30; Romans 8:3; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 3:16)

4. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, of the same essence and substance as the Father and the Son, being co-equal and co-eternal with them in the Godhead, is He who has been sent of the Father and the Son into the world to accomplish God’s divine will. In being sent by the Father and the Son, the subordination of the Spirit to the Father and Son, in essence and substance, must be denied and rejected. The Spirit’s works in the world and in the Church are many, with particular focus on the regeneration, justification, and sanctification of God’s people.

(Genesis 1:2; John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18)

5. Humanity

We believe that humanity, in the form of both men and women, was specially created in the image of God. Made for the purpose of bringing glory to God and enjoying him forever, humanity fell from its state of sinlessness into corruption through the transgression of our federal head, Adam. It was his original sin that brought death and corruption into the world, thereby resulting in all people, in all places, throughout all time, being born with a will enslaved to sin, and thus being by nature children of wrath. Dead in their trespasses and in their sins, mankind is utterly unable to free itself from such bonds, and finds itself spiritually dead, deserving of nothing but God’s just and righteous judgment. Apart from the saving grace of God, mankind indeed finds itself helpless and hopeless.

(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 2:15-24; 3:1-19; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-23; 5:12-19; 6:23)

6. Christ’s Atonement for Human Sin

We believe that in order to redeem people from the guilt, power, and penalty of sin, the Son of God took upon himself human flesh, becoming united in His full divinity and full humanity, according to the foreordained will of God, and was given the name ‘Jesus’, for He would save His people from their sins. Having lived a sinless, perfect life, He voluntarily sacrificed Himself upon the cross, as a penal substitutionary atonement, in order to bear the wrath of God due to His people. The atonement is sufficient and effective for all those whom the Father foreknew and predestined to be conformed into the image of his Son, namely His beloved and elect people. The sinner is justified apart from works of the Law, and thus is not made right with God due to any personal merit. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for it is the glorious and free gift of God.

(Isaiah 53:4-7, Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:13- 14; 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:24; 3:18)

7. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is vital and necessary in the saving work of God in a sinner’s life. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts a person of their sinful plight before a holy God; it is the Holy Spirit who sheds abroad in a person’s heart the saving grace of God, thereby regenerating them, as ones sealed in Christ by the Spirit; it is the Holy Spirit who grants repentance and faith as gifts to a person, as well as many other spiritual gifts; it is the Holy Spirit who actively brings about the ongoing sanctification of a person, leading them into greater fellowship with Christ their Lord. The saving work of the Holy Spirit is initiated and completed by him, and is therefore achieved entirely apart from the will and cooperation of the individual. The Holy Spirit’s primary task is to bring glory to Christ, and He does so marvellously through these aforementioned works.

(John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:1-5; Colossians 3:1-3; Titus 3:5)

8. The Church

We believe that the Church, as the beloved bride of Christ – namely, those whom he atoned for – is the body of elect individuals whom God has set apart from the world through the saving work of the Spirit. All regenerate persons, throughout the ages, are members of the one, holy, universal and apostolic Church, which takes local form wherever these saints of God unite for worship, fellowship, and service according to the principles set forth in Scripture. All believers are called to a priestly ministry in the offering of spiritual sacrifices and are sent into the world to be witnesses testifying to the truth of the Scriptures. The Church should be governed in line with the principle of the autonomy of the local Church and congregational government. God specifically calls particular men to the offices of Church oversight and leadership, and as such, the Church recognises such men as Pastors/Elders/Overseers. With Christ as the sole Head of His Church, it is in Him that all power, rule, and authority is found; such a reality precludes any person, vicariously or otherwise, from assuming him/herself to be either the head of Christ’s Church, or His supreme earthly representative.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:42, 6:1-5; 20:17-35; Romans 12:4- 8; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:15; 4:3-6; 4:12-16; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13)

9. Holy Baptism

We believe that Baptism is one of two ordinances of the Church. It is a sign of one’s fellowship with Christ, and a seal by means of one’s union with Him in His death, burial and resurrection, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who actually confess the aforementioned are the only proper subjects of this ordinance. This ordinance (or any other) does not cause and/or merit the saving grace of God, and is therefore not a work by which salvation can be achieved. The element to be used in the ordinance of Baptism is water, wherein the professing individual is to be immersed in the name of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – according to the example set forth by Christ, and the subsequent obedience demonstrated by the Church in the New Testament.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:1-7)

10. Holy Communion

We believe that Communion – otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist – is one of two ordinances of the Church. Instituted by Christ on the night before His crucifixion, this ordinance is to be celebrated with the elements of bread and wine by all the saints of Christ, until the end of the age. It commemorates and proclaims the Lord’s substitutionary atonement, with the bread and wine being a sign and seal of our partaking in the accomplished sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood. This ordinance (or any other) does not cause and/or merit the saving grace of God, and is therefore not a work by which salvation can be achieved. There is also no miraculous transformation in the substance or form of the elements, for such a case would result in a continuation of the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins, which in reality was once and for all accomplished on the Cross. As such, all notions of transubstantiation must be denied and rejected.

(Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16- 17; 11:23-30)

11. The Return of the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that at the end of this age, in a time appointed and known by the Father, according to His good pleasure and divine will, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly to the Earth, in all His majesty and glory. The final consummation of the Kingdom of God on Earth awaits His promised return.

(John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

12. The Day of Judgment and the Eternal State

We believe that at the end of this age, God has appointed a day wherein He will judge all the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; it is to Him that all power and judgment is given of the Father. It is on such a day that all persons who have lived upon the Earth, throughout the ages, as well as those apostate angels, shall be brought before the tribunal of Christ to give an account for their every thought, word, and deed. Every person shall each receive reward or punishment according to their deeds. All those judged as unrighteous, in their resurrected and dishonourable bodies, will be consigned to Hell, that place of everlasting torment and punishment. All those judged as righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, shall receive their reward, and will consequently dwell forever in the full presence and fellowship of the Lord.

(Matthew 10:14-15; 12:36-37; John 3:36; 12:48; Romans 2:5-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15)