WHAT WE BELIEVE
OUR CORE BELIEFS
The ‘Apostles Creed’ has been used by the Church (with some variation) as an expression of what Christians believe for over fifteen hundred years:
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic (universal) church; the communion (union) of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.”
Amen.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error. It is the supreme and final authority for all matters of Christian life and belief.
GOD
There is one true and living God, who eternally exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who are equal in every divine perfection.
We believe that God is sovereign: in creation, in sustaining the universe, in the revelation of Himself, in saving mankind and in the final judgment of all people. He works out everything in accordance with His will.
MANKIND
Man was created by God in His own image, male and female for relationship with Him; but through his sin incurred physical and spiritual death. As a result, all people are separated from God by their sin and are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ.
GOOD NEWS
The Gospel is the good news of God’s saving actions towards sinners through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God, took on human nature, lived a sinless life, and died a substitutionary death for sinners.
ALL NEED TO & CAN BE SAVED
Salvation is a free gift that comes only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone who turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus Christ and His death on their behalf receives forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is He who makes people aware of their sin and their need of God. He gives us new birth and transformation.
The Holy Spirit works progressively to transform genuine believers more and more into the image of Christ. His work is carried on in our hearts through such appointed means as the study of Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers. The Holy Spirit also empowers believers for Christian witness and service and gives gifts for the building up of the body of Christ, the church.
THE CHURCH
The universal church, composed of genuine followers of Christ, exists to worship, serve, and glorify God. All members of the universal church are to be vitally committed members of a local church, where they receive pastoral care and the opportunity to employ their God-given gifts in His service.
MISSION
The church and every Christian joins God’s mission to restore people to a relationship with Himself through Jesus and the extension of His Kingdom (His ways) in every walk of life for the good of all people.
JESUS' RETURN,
FINAL JUDGEMENT,
RESTORATION
We believe in a future, personal, visible return of the Lord Jesus to the earth in power and glory.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people—those who have received forgiveness in Jesus will rise to endless joy, living and reigning with Christ, and the lost to endless punishment away from the benevolent presence of God.
After final judgment God will restore all of creation to its original perfection, putting an end to all sin and suffering.