WHAT WE TEACH

1. To follow Christ is to follow the Bible (66 books) as the inerrant, infallible and inspired Word of God, (2 Tim 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19 – 21; Pr 30:5, 6). We test all doctrine and teaching by it, (2 Tim 3:16; Gal 1:8; Pr 30:5, 6). The Bible is the supreme authority and is without error or contradiction. It is our rule for doctrine and faith. We believe the Bible contains all things necessary to salvation, (Sola Scriptura)

2. There is one God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (Deut 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14; Heb 9:14; 1 John 4:13–15).

3. The death, burial and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The deity of Christ – that God became flesh, (1 Jn 1:1; 4:2, 3; 20:28; 1 Tim 3:16; Col 1:14-20; Heb 1:1-4; Jn 1:1). He was born unto a virgin, (Matt 1) and was sinless, (1 Pet 2:22), fully God and fully man. Christ is the only mediator between God and man, (1 Tim 2:5).

5. The Holy Spirit is a divine person who guides, teaches and sanctifies us, (Jn 14:6; 16:13,14).

6. The finished and perfect sacrifice of the cross of Calvary, (Hebrews 9:25, 26; 10:10-18; 1 Peter 3:18; John 19:30). This was a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. All those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ are justified on the grounds of his blood. Repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation. Those that truly repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life as given in the sovereignty of God.

7. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, wholly apart from works, (Eph 2:8, 9; Tit 3:5; Acts 16:30, 31; Romans 4:5; 2 Tim 1:9; Acts 20:21). At justification we are accounted (‘imputed’) righteous before God, not because of anything in us, but because of Christ and His righteousness, (Rom 1:17; 3:26; 4:2-5; 5:1, 2).

   • The following is also true in regard to the doctrine of salvation

   1. 1. God chooses man in salvation. Man does not choose God. (Eph 1:4, 5; Rom 3:11).

      2. Man is unable to come to God of himself for salvation unless the Holy Spirit draws him first. (Rom 8:6, 7; Rom 3:10, 11; Jer 17:9; Is 64:6, 7) Only by the drawing of the Holy Spirit will the ‘all’ that the Father has given, come. (Jn 6:37)

      3. God elects, chooses His people of His own determination (Eph 1:5, 9, 11; 1 Thes 1:4; 1 Pet 1:2, 10; Tit 1:1, Rom 8:33; 11:5, 7; Col 3:12; Rom 9:15-18; Gal 1:15, 16; Jn 6:37; 5:21.. etc)

      4. The blood of Jesus is sufficient for all humans to be saved. But it will in the end be effective for only some, considering ‘few’ will ultimately be saved. (Jn 10:11-15; Heb 10:14; Matt 20:28; 1 Cor 15:22; Matt 1:21; Rev 5:9, 10)

8. Sanctification is living a life separated from the sinful world and dedicated to God. This power of holiness of character is granted at salvation and is then progressively experienced in maturity throughout our lives in the continuing work of the Holy Spirit. We recognise that we are morally responsible for our thoughts, words and deeds, so as not to ‘grieve the Holy Spirit’, but rather we wish to submit and surrender ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, that we would not have influenced from the old fleshly nature. We therefore believe in separation from religious apostasy, worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations as commanded by God, (2 Tim 3:1-5; 1 Jn 2:15-17; 2 Cor 6:14-17). We believe in being filled and controlled by the Spirit (Eph 5:18), and that this is a continuous experience and the result will be the fruit of the Spirit, (Gal 5:22).

9. We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that evolution is not compatible with the Bible.

10. We recognise that there are many gifts given to the church and they are given only sovereignly according ‘as He wills’ and that they must edify the body of believers. The value of the gifts is tested not by their self worth or self edification but by there usefulness to the church.

11. We believe in the lost estate of all mankind through original sin. That mankind was inherently corrupt and incapable of being acceptable to God apart from the divine grace, (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:9, 10, 23; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1-30). We believe in the bodily resurrection of all, some to be with the Lord eternally, and others to damnation eternally. Heaven and Hell are real and actual places, (Lk 16:19; 1 Thes 4:16-18; Rev 20:4-6; 11-15).

12. Satan is a created being who, together with his evil angels, is destined to everlasting punishment in the Lake of Fire, (Job 1:6, 7; Is 14:12-17; Matt 4:2-11; 25:41; Ezek 28:1-19; Rev 12:4; 20:10).

13. Baptism and The Lord’s Supper (communion) are ordinances and signs. Baptism is an outward identification (not a means) of salvation, with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, (Matt 28:19, 20; Mk 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38-41; Col 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-21). Communion is the memorial of the death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ using the symbols of bread and the fruit of the vine. We encourage those of like faith and belief to partake of the elements with us.

14. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ could come personally at any time and we look forward to this event, (Tit 2:13). We believe in a ‘falling away’ of the church and a general apostasy before the return of Christ, (2 Thes 2:3; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 4:3, 4), and in the physical reign of Jesus Christ on earth in the Millenium, (Rev.20:4-6, 11-15; 5:10; Isaiah 9:6-7; 24:23; Zech.14:1-21; Mic.4:1-3).

15. We believe in fellowship with other Christians who are doctrinally sound and who believe according to the above faith statements. Although we do not wish to be sectarian, we do not accept the ecumenical unity of churches that is evident today. We believe this is compromising the Word of God and is expressly against Scripture, (Rom 16:17; 2 Cor 6:14-18; Eph 5:11; 2 Thes 3:6; I Tim 6:3-5; Tit 3:10).

16. We believe in ‘earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints’, (Jude 3)