We Believe

Concerning the Scriptures	1. The Scriptures, in the original writings of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, were completely inspired by God. (2 Tim. 3:16) 2. They were written by men through the power of the Holy Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:21), and are the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (Isa. 40:8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21) 3. We believe in: a) The fidelity of the scriptures. (Dan.10:21; Lk. 1:72; Rom. 1:2) b) The finality of the Scriptures. (Rom. 11:26; 2 Cor. 4:13; Gal. 3:10) c) The sufficiency of the scriptures: i) For guidance for salvation. (Rom. 3:28, 5:1, 10:9; Gal. 3:24) ii) For instructions in the Christian faith. (Rom. 6:1-23; 2 Cor. 13:9; 1 Thess. 4:13)

Concerning God	1. There is one true and living God, who in sovereignty is the creator, sustainer and remover of all. (1 Chron. 29:11) 2. He exists eternally (Psa. 90:2), and manifesting Himself in a Tri-unity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19; Jn. 10:30; 2 Cor. 3:14) 3. He is gracious, merciful, compassionate, steadfast in love, and also the righteous Judge of all. (Jon. 4:2; Neh. 9:31; Psa. 86:15; 1 Jn. 4:8, 2 Tim. 4:8) 4. He is omniscient (Psa 139:1-4); omnipresent (Psa. 139:8); omnipotent (Gen. 18:14) and unknowable except by divine revelation (Job 11:7). 5. All who reject the provision of God through the sacrifice of His Son for sins will be banished by God into Hell eternally. They will suffer the consequences of sin forever in a place described by the Lord Jesus Himself as Hell, a place of torment and darkness and fire. (Lk. 16:23; Jude v. 13; Mk. 8:36)

Concerning Christ	1. The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His vicarious, substitutionary, and sacrificial death upon the cross for the remission of our sins. His burial, resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father and His present ministry as High Priest and Advocate for His own. He is the only Saviour of mankind. (Matt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:31; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Jn. 1:7; 1 Cor. 15:4; Acts 1:9; Heb. 8:1) 2. His sacrifice on Calvary was sufficient for the “whosoever”. (1 Jn. 2:2) 3. His blood alone can cleanse from all sin. (Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Jn. 1:7) 4. Christ rose triumphant from the dead and we affirm the bodily resurrection of Christ. (Lk. 24:6; Jn. 20:27-28, 21:5-12) 5. Christ will come to the air to receive his own. (I Thess. 4:15-19) 6. That He will come again, the second time, with all “born again believers” to set up His earthly kingdom, and to reign in righteousness over the entire earth. (Rev. 19:11, 20:6; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Phil. 2:9-11)

Concerning the Holy Spirit	1. He has been sent by the Father and Son to prove the glorification of Christ. (Jn. 7:39) 2. He has been sent by the Father to be a comforter as the Lord was. (Jn. 14:16) 3. He came to: “bring all things to your remembrance” (Jn. 14:26); “guide you into all truth” and “show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13). 4. He can convict the human being of sin, righteousness and judgment to come. (Jn. 16:8) 5. He indwells the believer. (Rom. 8:9) 6. He intercedes for us before the Father. (Rom. 8:26)

Concerning the Believer	1. At the moment of one putting their dependence on Christ alone for salvation, the individual is made a child of God, possessing eternal life. Having been justified, sanctified and sealed with the Holy Spirit, is safe and secure for all eternity (Jn. 1:12; 10:28; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 1:13-14). 2. Salvation is provided through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and is the only ground for a sinner’s justification and acceptance by God. (Jn. 10:28; Rom. 5:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 4:25; Eph. 1:6) 3. The Holy Spirit operates in the conviction and conversion of the sinner and in the sanctification of the believer whom He indwells at the time of their conversion. (Jn. 16:13-14; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 6:19) 4. The Holy Spirit was given to teach, therefore the believer seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand scripture and to make it their authority in their individual lives, fellowship and service. (Jn. 14:26; 1 Jn. 2:27; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jn. 16:13) 5. We hold that we are commissioned by the Lord to preach, teach and baptize. Baptism is commanded by the Lord for all born again believers. Baptism by immersion publicly signifies that the believer, having died to his old self and life of sin, is identified and buried with Christ in baptism. (Matt. 28:19-20; Rom. 6:3-4)

Concerning the Gospel	1. Salvation is for the “whosoever” irrespective of background, color, creed or nationality. 2. All have sinned and are totally helpless to aid in ones own salvation. (Rom. 3:23, 24) 3. Without the shedding of the precious blood of Christ, there is no remission of sin. The only way of salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not of works. (Eph. 2:8, 9) 4. It is entered into by all those who hear and understand the gospel, repent of their sin, and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. (Jn. 5:24) 5. We believe the Scriptures teach that it is Heaven or Hell (or Lake of fire) for eternity. The only way of salvation is through Christ and without works of merit. (1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 20:15)

Concerning the Church	1. There is but one Church and fellowship, the Body of Christ, composed of all those who accept by faith Jesus as Saviour and confess Him as Lord. This means that the church as a whole is not an organization, but a living organism, described in Scripture as the “Body of Christ”. (Eph. 1:22-23, 2:20-22; 1 Cor. 12:12-13) 2. We should be obedient to His command: "Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19), which shows forth the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Cor. 11:26).

Concerning Creation	1. We believe in the creation of all by the word of God, not by evolution. That the earth may be untold millions of years old but the actual work of its development was some 6,000-10,000 years ago, and was a series of divine activities over 6 days. 2. Man was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26), but when Adam sinned, his entire family inherited a propensity for sin with it’s ultimate consequences, death and alienation from God (Rom. 5:12-18). 3. Universally man is short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23); totally unprofitable (Rom. 3:12); without strength (Rom. 5:6); and ungodly (Rom. 5:6).

Concerning Satan	1. We believe in a real individual, once called Lucifer, now having a number of names of which the most common are Satan and the Devil. (Isa. 14:12; Matt. 4:1) 2. He is, with some of his sympathizers, able to roam the earth but is the Prince of the power of the air who has a vested interest in every individual on the face of the earth, saved or unsaved. (1 Jn. 5:19; Eph. 2:2; Col. 3:6-7). Other associates are reserved in chains of darkness. (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6) 3. He is not in Hell but will be cast into the Lake of Fire to be eternally banished from God. (Rev. 20:10) 4. He is the accuser of believers before God. (Rev. 12:10)

Concerning the Future	1. We believe the Scriptures teach the pre tribulation coming of the Lord for His own of this age, believing in the dispensations God has designated (Jn. 1:17, note the two distinct eras). 2. That there is coming a time of intense persecution of believers for a minimum of 3 ½ years. (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:14) 3. That there is a time of unimagined judgments from God to be executed, when men shall long for death and not be able to die. (Rev. 9:6) 4. That Christ will come amid untold millions of celestial beings (the armies of Heaven). He shall crush all offending foes, and having cleansed the earth geographically, environmentally and spiritually, He will reign on this sphere for 1000 years. (Rev. 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 5. This earth will not be eradicated by man but it is given into the hands of Christ. (Heb. 1:12) 6. There will be a Great White Throne Judgment when every unsaved individual will stand bodily before Christ. (Jn. 5:22, 27; Rev. 20:11-15) 7. Ultimately, Christ will hand all over to God and for all eternity, God will be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:28)