What We Believe

The Bible

The Bible is the complete Word of God. It is verbally inspired by God and is therefore free from error. It is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and is the true basis of Christian union.  2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1: 20-21; 2 Timothy 1: 13; Psalm 119: 105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all, Holy, Sovereign, Eternal, existing in three equal Persons, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Genesis1: 1, 26, 27; Genesis 3: 22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Christ

We believe in the absolute and essential Deity of Jesus Christ. in His eternal existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, mediatory ministry and personal return.  Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1: 1-5; John 14: 10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; I Corinthians 15: 3-4; Romans 1: 3-4; Acts 1: 9-11; I Timothy 6: 14-15; Titus 2: 13

Holy Spirit

We believe in the absolute and essential deity and the personality of the Holy Spirit who convinces and convicts us of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. Who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16: 7-13; John 14: 16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; I Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

Satan

We believe Satan exists as an evil personality, the originator of sin, the arch-enemy of God and man.

Man

We believe that man was divinely created in the image of God, that man sinned, became guilty before God, resulting in total depravity, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death.  Genesis1: 27; Psalm 8: 3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:6

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by the sovereign, grace of God, that by the appointment of the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a vicarious, expiatory and propitiatory death. That justification is by faith alone in the all sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of the Lord. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2: 8-9; John 1:12; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

Future Things

We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. In the eternal blessedness of the redeemed and in the judgement and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked in Hell. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8: 17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2: 7-9

The Local Church

We believe the church is a company of immersed believers, called out from the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ, voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word, the mutual edification of its members, the propagation of the faith and the observance of the two ordinances. We believe it is a sovereign, independent body, exercising its own divinely awarded gifts, precepts and privileges under the Lordship of Christ, The Great Head of the Church. We believe its officers are Pastors and Deacons.

Ordinances

We believe that there are two ordinances for the church regularly observed in the New Testament in the following order. 1. Baptism which is the immersion of the believer in water, whereby he or she obeys Christ’s command and sets forth their identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. 2. The Lord’s Supper which is the memorial wherein the believer partakes of the two elements, the bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice) which symbolize the Lord’s body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until He comes.

The Church and State

We believe in the entire separation of church and state.

Religious Liberty

We believe in religious liberty, that every man has the right to practice and propagate his beliefs.

The Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and that, in a special sense, it is divinely appointed for worship and spiritual exercise.

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of society, that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of conscience and the Prince of the Kings of the earth.

Marriage

We resolve that as a matter of belief, doctrine and biblical practice, that we reserve the term “marriage” for the covenant relationship between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. We believe the Bible teaches that marriage is intended by God to be a life long covenant between a man and a woman that symbolizes the relationship of Christ and His Church. This biblical and traditional understanding of marriage is the basis of strong, healthy families and is therefore to be nourished and defended by the local church.