The Bible

The Bible is inspired by God, is complete and consists of 66 books (2 Peter 1:20-21). It is all sufficient, is without error and is the final authority on all matters of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

God

There is one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), existing in three persons as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all equal but distinct (2 Corinthians 13:14). As creator, God is author and sustainer of all (Ephesians 3:9).

God the Father

God as Father is the first person of the Trinity, the author of our salvation, having decreed this for His own glory before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:4-6). He saves from sin all that come to Him through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23). He adopts these as His own and becomes, upon adoption, Father to them (John1:12-13).

 God the Son

Jesus Christ is God’s Son and came to earth (John 3:16) fully God (John 10:30) and fully man (Philippians 2:5-8). He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), led a sinless life (Hebrews 6:5), died on the cross (Philippians 2:8), was buried (Matthew 27:60), was raised up after three days (1 Corinthians 15:4) and ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9) from where He will return again to establish His Kingdom (Revelation 20).

 God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit came from the Father and Son (John 14:25-26) to convict the world of sin (John 16:7-9). He indwells every believer in Christ

(Romans 8:9) and is an enduring helper (John 15:26), teacher and guide (John 16:13).

 Angels, Satan, Demons

Angels were created to serve and worship God (Hebrews 1:6). Satan and demons sinned and were judged by God (Isaiah 14:12-17) and will ultimately be punished in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

 Man, and Sin

Man was created by God (Genesis 2:7) free of sin (Genesis 1:31) and in His likeness (Genesis 1:27). God’s intention was that man should glorify Him and enjoy His fellowship (Colossians 1:16). Adam’s sin of disobedience against God brought upon him the penalty of spiritual and physical death (Genesis 3:1-19). As a consequence, all men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:9-18) and are sinners by choice (Romans 5:10-12) and are therefore under condemnation. God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished (John 3:36).

 Salvation

With no ability to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost (Ephesians 2:8-9). His salvation is wholly of God’s grace (Romans 5:8). Those who repent and trust in Christ as Lord and Saviour are delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life through His death on the cross (Acts 2:38). All true saints are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and will ultimately persevere in the faith (Jude 1:24-25).

 Sanctification

Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-22).

 Future Things

Christ will personally and visibly return to earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and establish His kingdom (Revelation 20). There will be a resurrection of the body of both the just (1 Corinthians 15:51-57) and the unjust, as well as a final judgment of all (Revelation 20:11-15), eternal blessedness of the righteous in heaven with God (John 10:28) and the endless suffering of the wicked (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

 God’s Church

At salvation believers are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the universal church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the head (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The local church is a manifestation of the universal church, autonomous and free from external authority and control (1 Peter 5:1-5). The purpose of the church is to glorify Christ by teaching, worshiping, fellowshipping and evangelizing.

Ordinances

Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38-42). Baptism is an act of obedience and a sign of personal repentance, faith and regeneration (Romans 6:1-11). Believers are baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Acts 8:36-39). The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for believers to commemorate His death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

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