What we believe

There is one unique and eternal God, who exists in an everlasting, loving relationship of Father, Son and Spirit – one God in three persons. God is sovereign in all things, including creation, revelation, redemption, judgment and the establishing of his kingdom. As sovereign loving creator and redeemer, he is worthy of all glory, honour and praise.

Men and women together are created in the image of God, and therefore enjoy a unique dignity in creation and a unique relationship with God. Men and women together have dominion over the created order. Tragically, human nature is universally sinful since the Fall and all are guilty before God. This leaves us under the wrath and condemnation of God. We are unable, without the prior regenerative work of God’s Spirit, to turn ourselves to God.

The Bible is God’s revelation to us. It is divinely inspired and infallible as originally given, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith, conduct and experience. Scripture is sufficient for knowing God. It is not only central to the wellbeing of the church but is able to thoroughly equip the Christian community for life and godliness. There is no other way to know God unless he reveals himself to us.

Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is both fully God and truly human. He entered fully into human experience. He endured temptation, and he suffered and died. He was perfectly obedient to God his father. Jesus took on himself the consequences of human sin. He died and was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead bodily and is now exalted as ruler over all. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God: the name ‘Jesus Christ’. It is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, that the guilt, penalty and power of sin can be removed completely. In that death, God demonstrates his love to us most perfectly and establishes his victory over Satan and all his foes. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary to make the death of Jesus effective in individual’s lives. The Spirit enables sinners to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, so that salvation is entirely of God’s grace and not of human merit or works. Although we enjoy now the blessing of union with Christ and secure relationship with God, we await the final consummation of our hope with the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies, and life with him eternally.

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son and indwells all true believers. His role is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. The Spirit works to illuminate believers’ minds to grasp the truth of Scripture, producing in them fruit. He grants his gifts for the purpose of service, not self indulgence. Their use is determined not by personal desire for fulfilment, or satisfaction but by the principle of building the church.