What do we believe?

Article 1. GOD

We believe that there is ONE God who exists eternally in three distinct but equal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is infinite, pure, perfect and unchangeable in all His characteristics and attributes including His holiness, justice, power, wisdom and love. He is the Almighty Creator, Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to His sovereign will and for His own glory.

Ge 1:1; Ex 34:5-7; Dt 6:4; 32:3-4; Ps 90:1-2; 96:4-6; 103:19; 145:3,8-9; Isa 6:1-5; 44:6; 45:22-25; Dan 4:34-37; Mt 3:16-17; Heb 11:3; 1 Jn 1:15; 4:8; Rev 4:11; 15:2-4; 20:11-12

Article 2. The Bible

We believe in the divine inspiration of Holy Scripture, its inerrancy, its infallibility, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.

Isa 40:6-8; Mt 5:17-19; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 1 Pet 1:23-25; 2 Pet 1:20-21

Article 3. The LORD Jesus Christ

We believe in the real humanity and the full deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. He was conceived of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and remains utterly and unchangeably sinless. We believe that Christ died upon the cross, that He literally and bodily rose from the dead on the third day, and that He ascended to the right hand of the Father where He now reigns in heaven and upon earth.

Isa 7:14; 9:6; Mk 15:25,33-39; Lk 2:26-35; 24:1-8, 36-39; Jn 1:14; Ac 1:1-3,9; 1 Cor 15:3-8; Col 1:15-19; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 1:1-3; 2:14-15; 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5; 4:2

Article 4. The Human Race

We believe that God created men and women in His own image, so that every individual has inherent worth and dignity. As a result of the fall, however, mankind has become intrinsically sinful. Every aspect of human nature has been corrupted by sin so that men and women are spiritually dead and morally guilty. By nature, mankind has become subject to God’s condemnation and wrath.

Ge 1:26-27; 3:8-13; Ps 14:2-3; Isa 1:4-6; 53:6; Jer 17:9; Mk 7:20-23; Rom 1:18-20; 3:23; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Col 1:21; 1 Pet 4:1-5

Article 5. Salvation through Christ's Atoning Death

We believe that God, in His infinite love, grace and mercy, has provided eternal salvation from the guilt, penalty, power and, when in glory, the presence of sin. This salvation is solely on the basis of the sacrificial and atoning death, once and for all time, of our representative and substitute, the LORD Jesus Christ who is the only mediator between God and man.

Isa 53:4-6; Mk 10:45; Rom 3:25; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 10:11-14; 1 Pet 2:24; Rev 5:9

Article 6. Justification by Faith

We believe in justification as God’s free and undeserved act of love and mercy, in which the sinner is pardoned all his sins and accepted as righteous in God’s sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to him, this justification being received by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Lk 18:9-14; Rom 1:16-17; 3:21-4:25; 5:1,18-19; 1 Cor 1:30; 6:11; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 2:15-16; 3:10-14; Php 3:8-9; Tit 3:3-7

Article 7.  Regeneration and Conversion

We believe that God the Holy Spirit must make the work of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting him repentance towards God the Father and faith in Jesus Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about this inner spiritual change - the new birth - that is essential to salvation. It is, however, no less the responsibility and duty of all to receive God’s gracious offer of salvation, to repent and believe the good news.

Eze 36:26-27; Mk 1:14-15; Jn 3:1-8; Ac 2:37-40; 17:30; Eph 2:8; Tit 3:5-6; 1 Jn 3:9

Article 8. Election, Sanctification, Perseverance and Glorification

We believe that sinners are chosen, called, justified, sanctified, kept and glorified by the grace and power of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells the regenerate, producing in them an increasing likeness to Christ and empowering them for witness in the world.

Ps 125:1-2; Jn 6:37-44; 10:27-30; Ac 1:6-8; Rom 8:28-30; 2 Cor 1:20-22; 3:17-18; Eph 1:4-6,11-14; 1 Pet 1:3-5; 2 Pet 1:3-4; Jude 24-25

Article 9. The Church and Church Ordinances

We believe in the one holy and universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong. This Church, of which Christ is Head, finds visible expression in local congregations of believers. We believe that the local church is autonomous and independent, being subject to the authority of Jesus Christ alone.

We believe there are but two ordinances that Christ has given to the Church - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each is a means of strengthening (not saving) grace, the benefit of which is to be received by faith.

Mt 26:26-28; 28:18-20; Jn 17:20-23; Ac 2:36-47; 1 Cor 11:23-29; 12:12-27; Eph 4:4-16; 5:22-32; Col 1:15-18; 1 Pet 2:9-10

Article 10. The Future Return of the LORD Jesus Christ

We believe in the future personal return of the LORD Jesus Christ who will overthrow Satan and all the forces of evil. We believe that Christ will judge all men, executing God’s just, everlasting and conscious punishment upon the unrepentant wicked and receiving the redeemed to eternal and blessed glory. God himself will make all things new and be glorified forever.

Mt 24:30-31; 25:31-46; Ac 17:30-31; 1 Cor 15:50-57; 1 Th 4:13-18; 2 Th 1:6-10; 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 6:15-17; 19:11-21; 20:7-15; 21:1-14, 22-27; 22:12-13