Statement of Faith

THE WORD OF GOD

We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error, unified in their redemptive purpose, the revealed Word of God to man, (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21) yielding a complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of mankind. We hold the Bible to be trustworthy, the only supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Scripture is our source of revelation of God, the knowledge of salvation, the origin of all things and of the hereafter-it is the final Court of Appeal on all points of doctrine, life, and godliness. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Hebrews 4:12)

THE PERSON OF GOD

We believe there is one living and true God who has revealed Himself in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (John 10:36; 20:21, 22) infinitely perfect and eternal in existence, and equal in glory, majesty, and power (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21, 22):

God the Father is the Creator of all things and the Author of eternal redemption. (Matthew 6:9)

Lord Jesus Christ the Son. The Lord Jesus Christ was manifest in the flesh as the very Son of God, fully God and fully man, Creator of all things with the Father, and the appointed Judge of all men (John 1:14 ,18; Colossians 1:13-20; Acts 17:31; Hebrews 1:1-4). We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood having died on the Cross for our sins. He was buried, resurrected bodily on the third day according to the Scriptures and appeared to His disciples (1Corinthians 15:1-8). He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He continues His High-Priestly ministry. He will personally and physically return in power and glory (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18, 23, Luke 1:34, 35) for a glorious Church and execute judgment upon the wicked (1 Thess 4:16-18). We believe that Jesus is the only saving Name, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17).

The Holy Spirit. We believe He is The Comforter, the Promise of The Father (Acts 1:4), the Revealer of Christ and His work on the Cross, the Empowerer, and the Distributor of gifts and graces upon the Church.

creation

According to the Book of Genesis we believe the triune God created the universe without any evolutionary progression or process or pre-existing material means; we believe He laid the foundation of the earth; made the heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their host are the work of His hands, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them (Psalm 102:25; Acts 14:15; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1-12).

HUMANITY'S FALLEN NATURE AND NEED OF THE SAVIOUR

We believe the human race was originally created by God, in His image, good and upright to have dominion over His creation (Gen 1:27; 3:6). However, with The Fall of humanity sin entered, that is man’s voluntary transgression through disobedience and rebellion. Humanity became separated from God and incapable of saving itself (Rom 5:12). All of mankind needs to turn from sin and trust personally in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to receive redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Rom 3:23.).

SALVATION OF MAN ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

We believe the power of sin and death was broken when Jesus bore our sin at the Cross and rose again, providing the only way of salvation for the whole person: spirit, soul, and body (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Mankind can only be saved by grace through repentance and faith in Christ's perfect and sufficient work of the Cross. We receive remission of sins through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, by Christ's substitutionary sacrifice for us, redemption through faith in His shed blood and regeneration by the Holy Spirit's power, (John 3:5), being justified by grace through faith man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8).

EMPOWERMENT OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE

We believe the Lord's presence, peace and power are manifest in His Body in various ways, which are not, however, to be regarded as a means of salvation. We regard The Lord's Supper as a means of fellowship of the spiritual body of Christ, and as a way of partaking of the spiritual benefits bequeathed to New Covenant believers (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). We regard water baptism, by immersion, as the obedient response to the Lord's command (Acts 2:38 ; Matt 28:19-20) and a visible representation of our death, burial and resurrection with Christ. We regard the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire as a valid and important experience for believers today; all believers are entitled to and should expect and seek the baptism according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and is present for all believers today, often subsequent to the new birth and evidenced by speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:1-4;10:44-46; 19:1-6), empowerment to witness (Acts 1:8), the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of grace gifts and fruit of the Spirit (Romans 5:5, 1 Corinthians 12:5-11; Galatians 5:22, 23), overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8); a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:42, 43), a more active love for the lost, for God’s Word, and for Christ (Mark 16:20).

THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

We believe the Church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22, 23), His Bride (Ephesians 5:25) and Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), the expression of the present rule and reign of Christ's Kingdom of God on earth. Born-again believers are members of the universal, mystical body of Christ by faith. They are a holy priesthood. Believers need to live out their commitment to Christ in love, unity, and community with other body members in the local church. This is the practical expression of Christian faith in action. Christ gifted His Church with unity and a five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds) and teachers for maturing, instructing, equipping, and releasing the whole body to do the works of service, thus revealing God's glory (Ephesians 4:11-16) and fulfilling the Great Commission, evangelizing the world  and making disciples (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15, 16).

DIVINE HEALING

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7, 8). We believe divine healing is within Christ's work of atonement (1 Peter 2:24); the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16). Divine healing is part of God's plan of salvation and predominantly accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in the New Testament. Healing is available by God's grace and can be received through the gifts of the Spirit, laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and simple faith alone, resulting in healing for the whole person (emotional, mental, physical) and deliverance from oppression by the devil (Acts 10:38; Mark 16:17, 18;James 5:14-16). The Gospel is not only in word, but in power and "these signs will follow those who believe."

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

We believe that the laying on of hands, as practiced in the New Testament, is an operation of the ministry of the Holy Spirit for healing the sick, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, impartation of spiritual gifts, dedicating children to the Lord, and sending out ministries (Acts 13:3).

FURTHER REVELATION

We recognize that God is continually restoring truth and light to His Church by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we place no limit on further revelation; however, all revelation must be substantiated and validated according to the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, which we believe to be the Word of God, fully inspired and without error, the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct according to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12.