What We Believe

Statement of Faith

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty the maker of heaven and earth, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father. He came to save humanity from the penalty of sin and became flesh by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary. He suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end. We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is to be glorified. The Holy Spirit is the deposit of life eternal and enables the believer to live a fruitful life.

God the Father

GOD IS LOVE

We know how to love because God first loved us. Although humanity continues to rebel against God, He is merciful, compassionate, gracious, and kind.

(1 John 4:8, 16; Psalm 86:5,15; John 3:16; Rom. 8:38-39 Neh. 9:17; Psalm 103:8; Dan. 9:9; Jer. 9:24; 31:3; Heb. 4:16)

GOD THE CREATOR

We know how to love because God first loved us. Although humanity continues to rebel against God, He is merciful, compassionate, gracious, and kind.

(1 John 4:8, 16; Psalm 86:5,15; John 3:16; Rom. 8:38-39 Neh. 9:17; Psalm 103:8; Dan. 9:9; Jer. 9:24; 31:3; Heb. 4:16)

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT

God is all-powerful.Everything fades in comparison to His splendour. He is known as ‘Almighty God’ and rules supreme. His greatness is beyond our comprehension. He does not submit to the laws of science, nature or to rulers of the earth and His power exceeds every evil force.

(Gen. 17:1; Isa.3:14, 45:21-22; John 11:43-44; Mark 4:37; Psalm 2; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 26:53; Deut. 10:17; Dan. 4:17; Col. 1:16; 1 Pet. 3:22)

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

God is present everywhere at once. His presence is not limited by time or space. He is without beginning or end, transcending all things. The heavens cannot contain Him. There is nowhere to hide from His presence.

(John 4:26; Heb. 7:3; 2 Chron. 6:18; Rev. 1:8; Psalm 139:1-4; Prov. 15:37-12; Jer. 23:24)

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

God is the source of all knowledge, understanding and wisdom. He is familiar with all existence. He knows the heart of every human being and sees the days of each life before it comes to pass. He considers, with full knowledge, everything that is done and is, therefore, a righteous judge.

(Psalm 33:13; 139: 16; Prov. 2:5; 15:11; 1 John 3:20; Heb 4:13; Psalm 67:4, 96:10; 133:13-15; 147:5; Prov. 15:3)

GOD IS IMMUTABLE

God is unchanging. He says of Himself, ‘For I the Lord do not change’. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is impossible for God to lie, therefore when God makes a promise it will be fulfilled. Whatever God’s purposes, He speaks, and whatever He speaks, He brings to pass.

(Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18; Isa. 46:11)

Jesus Christ

JESUS IS THE DIVINE ETERNAL SON OF GOD.

Born of the virgin Mary, fully God; fully man. He emptied himself of outward glory, yet never ceased to be God. His Sonship and deity are acknowledged by the Father; the Son; the angelic and demonic realm; and humanity. He accepts worship, forgives sin, has power over sickness, subdues the elements, raises the dead and will judge the world. All things were created through him and for him.

(Matt. 17:5; John 5:19-20; Heb. 1:6; Matt. 12:28-32; John 8:54, 58; Matt. 5:22,28; 12:28-32; Luke 1:35; Matt. 8:16, 29; 13:41; Rom. 1:1-3; Matt. 16:16; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:6, Matt. 28:17; Mark 2:5; Mark 4:39; 6:49; John 4:27-29; 11:43-44; Mark 2:5; Matt. 15:30; John 5:22,24)

JESUS IS THE REDEEMER.

Jesus came as the sacrificial mediator between God and humanity to save His people from the penalty of sin. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, took the punishment due humankind, died by crucifixion, and provided redemption for humanity. He was bodily resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead.

(Gen. 1:1; Matt. 1:21-24; John 17:5; Heb. 2:14; 4:15; Phil. 2:7; Col. 2:9; Matt. 18:11; 20:28; Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:17; 4:25-26; 12:47; Heb. 2:14; 4:15, 1 Pet. 2:22; John 5:26-29; Matt. 24:31-46)

JESUS IS DIVINE.

He reflects God’s glory, bears His nature, shows His character, emanates His holiness, demonstrates His love, displays His authority, and speaks His truth. When Jesus became flesh, He did not cease to be divine.

(John 5:19-20; John 7:46; John 14:6; 17:5; Col. 2:9-10)

The Holy Spirit

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE THIRD DIVINE ETERNAL PERSON OF THE GODHEAD.

He is both God and from God. He has no substance and no limitations. He is God eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing. Performing personal actions, He speaks and guides with wisdom, intelligence and will. Unseen, the Spirit is often depicted in scripture metaphorically as the One who is poured out like water, comes like a mighty rushing wind, descends like a dove, and appears like tongues of fire. (Gen 1:2; Psalm 104:30; 1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 13:2; Acts 15:28; 16:6-7; Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 12:11; Isaiah 40:13; Luke 1:35; John 14:26; Acts 5:3,4; Heb. 9:14; Acts 10:45; Acts 2:2; Matt. 3:16; Acts 2:3; Eph. 4:30; Acts 5:3; 7:51).

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ‘SPIRIT OF GOD’ AND THE ‘SPIRIT OF CHRIST’.

Sent from the Father he comes only through the mediation of Jesus Christ. The Spirit glorifies and testifies to the Son of God. He descended upon Christ at His baptism empowering Him. It was through the Spirit that Christ taught, healed the sick and cast out devils. (Rom. 8:9; Luke 24:49; John 16:7; Acts 14:16, 26; 15:26; John 16:14; Acts 20:23; Luke 4:1-2, 14, 18; Matt. 12:28).

THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS THE SAINTS FOR SERVICE AND WITNESS AND TESTIFIES TO THE IDENTITY OF CHRIST.

The Holy Spirit is the gift of God to believers. The Spirit’s impact on human life is seen in liberation from sin and moral transformation. He guides with truth, convicts of sin, counsels and empowers the believer for service and witness. (John 14:26; John 16:13; Acts 2:38; Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8)

The Trinity

GOD IS ONE BEING WITH THREE SEPARATE, BUT INDIVISIBLE PERSONHOODS: FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.

It is in knowing each personality of the Godhead that we meet God in His fullness. Each person is not the other person. This is clearly seen in the constant workings of God and is particularly evident in such events as creation, the baptism of Christ and the resurrection.

(Mark 12:29; Gen. 1:1-2; John 1:1-3; Luke 3:21-22; John 2:19; 2 Cor. 1:9; Rom. 8:11)

Humanity

HUMANITY WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

The human body was formed from dust. It is the breath of God that gives and sustains life. In death, the breath returns to God. For those who are united with Christ in life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, there is resurrection with a spiritual body to dwell forever in the presence of God where there is no more pain or suffering. (Gen. 1:27; Gen.3:19; Job 27:3; 1 Cor. 15:44; Rev. 21:4)

GOD CREATED US TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.

Humankind was originally created good, without a sinful nature and granted freedom to commune with God. God’s desire was for free spontaneous love and obedience. Humanity was not created to live autonomously, but to function under God’s command. As God’s caretakers, we were given dominion over everything God made. We were created to live in community with God, humanity, and to take care of his creation. (Gen.1:31; John 3:16; Matt. 22:37, 39; 1 John 4:7; Psalm 8:6)

SIN ENTERED THE WORLD THROUGH OUR DISOBEDIENCE.

Given free will, we rebelled against God by disobeying His command and became aware of good and evil. Sin entered the world through one man, Adam. Adam represented humanity, and all who descended from him were tainted with sin. Mankind was not left to perish for in God’s foreknowing he appointed a time when Jesus Christ, His only Son, would come and redeem humanity. (Gen. 2:17, 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 1:24, 30)

Salvation

SALVATION IS RESTORATION.

Salvation consists of the forgiveness of sins; the imputation of Christ’s righteousness; a restored relationship with the Father; the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling a fruitful life; and the promise of resurrection after death to live in the presence of the Father, Son and Spirit.

SALVATION COMES BY BELIEVING.

Humanity, because of sin, is spiritually dead. It is through hearing God’s good news message of salvation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ, accepting his atoning sacrifice and repenting of sin, that a person is reconciled to God and receives eternal life. Repentance is demonstrated in a changed lifestyle. (Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; James 1:22; Heb. 6:7; 1 John 3:6)

THE BELIEVER BECOMES A NEW CREATION.

Those who receive Jesus are born of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The old sin dominated life passes away. Previously blinded to the things of God, the person takes on a new perspective, understands the things of God. The will is freed from the bondage to sin and evil and the human heart desires to live a righteous life. (John 1:11; 3:3-5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Jer. 9:23-24; Rom. 6:11, 7:14-25; 17-18)

The Bible

THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED, INFALLIBLE AUTHORITATIVE WORD OF GOD.

It is divinely inspired and divinely revealed. The entire Bible is both accurate and relevant – it is tried, and proven truth. Archaeologically, textually, historically, and geographically the Bible has been substantiated. It is the most accurate ancient document available to man and the world’s most-read literature.

(Matt. 16:17; John 14:26; 2 Tim.3:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:21; Matt. 26:54, 56; Mark 8:3; Luke 1:1-2; 24:25-27; 1 John 1:1; Psalm 18:30; Psalm 119:160)

THE BIBLE CAN BE SUMMARISED IN THREE SHORT STATEMENTS:

God created, mankind rebelled, God redeemed.

Statement of Faith

WHAT WE BELIEVE