Our Statement of Faith

SECTION 1 THE SCRIPTURES

We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments as plenary and verbally inspired of God, Inerrant, and Divinely preserved through time, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

2 Pet. 1:19-20

SECTION 2 THE TRUE GOD

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1), equal in every divine attribute (2), and exercising distinct but harmonious offices in work of creation, providence, and redemption (3).

We believe that God is a sovereign, living, intelligent, rational Being, and that He has a plan for man and for the universe.

We believe He has the will, power, and authority, and is actively engaged in carrying that plan to completion. (4)

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, and is true God and true man. (5)

(1) Deut. 6:4-5; 1Cor. 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19

(2) John 10:30; Mt.28:19

(3) Acts 5:30-32; Heb.9:14; 1Pet.1:2

(4) Gen. 18:25; Isa. 57:15; Eph. 2:10; Rom. 8:28-29

(5) Mt. 1:18-20; Lk. 1:26-38; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; John 14:17-11; John 20:28; Gal. 4:4-5

SECTION 3 CREATION

We believe in the literal Genesis account of creation. That the universe and man were created in six literal twenty four hour days (1) by a direct creative act of God, apart from any process of evolution (2).

(1) Ex.20:11

(2) Gen.1; Col.1:16, 17

SECTION 4 MAN

We believe that man was created in a state of perfect innocency, in the image and likeness of God, that he sinned of his own free will, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and, in the case of those who reach the age of moral responsibility, are sinners in thought, word, and deed. (1)

Man is a tripartite being consisting of body, soul, and spirit. (2)

(1) Gen. 1:26-27
Rom. 5:12; 3:23

(2) 1Thess.5:23;
Heb.4:12

SECTION 5 SIN

We believe that sin is any transgression against the law of God (1), that it entered the race in the disobedience of Adam and passed upon all men (2) so that all men are dead in trespasses and sins (3) and by nature children of wrath (4).

(1) 1Jn.3:4; 5:17

(2) Rom.5:19

(3) Eph.2:1

(4) Eph.2:3

SECTION 6 SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

1 Cor. 15:1-4;
Heb. 10:9-12;
Rom. 3:24

SECTION 7 THE RESURRECTED LORD JESUS CHRIST

We believe in the crucified body of our Lord, His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there as High Priest and Advocate.

1 Cor. 15:1-20;
John 20:24-29;
Acts 1:10-11;
Heb. 1:3; 4:14-16; 7:25;
1 Tim. 2:5

SECTION 8 SALVATION

We believe that all who hear and believe the gospel (1)
and receive through faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again
of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. (2)

(1) 1 Cor. 15:1-4

(2) John 1:12; 3:5
Eph. 2:8-9
Gal. 3:26
Titus 3:5

SECTION 9 REGENERATION

Regeneration is the impartation of the divine nature to man by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (1), and is described in Scripture as the new birth (2), a spiritual quickening (3), and giving of a new nature (4) and a spiritual translation (5). In regeneration the believing sinner receives a new life and a new nature.

(1) Titus 3:5

(2) 1Pet.1:23

(3) Col.2:13

(4) 2Pet.1:4

(5) Col.2:13

SECTION 10 SANCTIFICATION

We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, to belong wholly to Him and to be used for His glory (1). Positional sanctification takes place at the time of salvation, making the believer a saint in his standing before God (2), progressive sanctification is a process which takes place during the believer’s life (3), and ultimate sanctification takes place at the rapture (4), giving the believer a glorified body (5).

(1) Ps.4:3

(2) Heb.10:10

(3) 2Pet.3:18

(4) 1Jn.3:2

(5) Phil.3:21

SECTION 11 ETERNAL SECURITY

We believe in the “eternal security” of the believer; that it is impossible for one born into the family of God ever to be lost.

John 1:12
10:27-28

SECTION 12 SPIRIT BAPTISM

We believe that Spirit baptism is the operation whereby God the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer at salvation into the body of Christ.

1Cor.12:13
Gal.3:27

SECTION 13 JUDGMENT

We believe in the resurrection of the wicked dead after the literal millennium, that they will be judged at the great white throne, according to their works (1), and that they will be cast into the lake of fire (2).

(1) Jn.3:18, 19
Rom.1:20, 24

(2) Rev.20:15

1. We believe that the unreached will be judged on the same basis as the unbeliever, the law of God having been written on their hearts (3) and the nature of God having been revealed through His creation, so that they are without excuse (4).

(3) Rom.2:15

(4) Rom.1:20

2. Salvation comes only through the hearing and believing of the Word of God through the Gospel (5).

(5) Rom.10:13-15
1Cor.15:1-4

3. We believe in the resurrection of believers who have died and the translation of living saints at the rapture (6), that they will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ (7) according to their works, and that those whose works do not endure will suffer loss of reward (8).

(6) 1 Thess.4:16, 17

(7) 2 Cor.5:10

(8) 1Cor.3:15

SECTION 14 THE HEREAFTER

We believe that the term heaven refers to a literal and distinct place and not a condition or state, that it is the abode of God (1) and of good angels (2).

We believe that the term Hell (Hades) refers to a literal place of suffering and torment (3). At the great white throne judgment Hell will give up the dead who will then, after judgment, be cast into the lake of fire for eternity (4).

(1) Is.66:1

(2) Mt.24:36

(3) Lk.16:22-26

(4) Rev.20:12-14

SECTION 15 THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

We believe that the Church which is His body – the bride of Christ is the entire company of saints from the time of Christ’s resurrection to the Rapture, who are united together in Christ through the baptism by the Holy Spirit.

Jn.7:39; 20:22
1Cor.12:13

SECTION 16 THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the local New Testament church is the visible manifestation of the Body of Christ in a specific place, organized into an assembly of immersed believers, who are associated by covenant in faith and fellowship of the Gospel, to observe the ordinances, study the Word, fulfill the Great Commission, participate in the ministry of the local church and share in the blessings of Christian fellowship (1).

(1) Acts 2:41-42

1. We believe that the Great Commission was given to the local church (2). That fulfillment of the Great Commission includes the making of disciples, Scripturally baptizing them, and then teaching them to observe the whole counsel of God (3). That Scriptural missions result in the establishing of Local New Testament Churches (4), and that the Local New Testament Church is the only God ordained instrument for world evangelism (5)

(2) Mt.28:19-20

(3) Acts 20:27

(4) Acts 14:23

(5) Mt.16:18
1Tim.3:15

2. We believe that the only form of church government taught in the Scriptures is an autonomous local church (6) which decides the issues based on congregational decision (7), always in subservience to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the body (8). The final authority of the church in all matters of faith and practice are the Holy Scriptures (9).

(6) 1Tim.3:15

(7) Acts 14:23; 15:22

(8) Col.1:18

(9) 2Tim.3:16-17

3. We believe that it is Scriptural for churches of like faith and practice to fellowship together (10), but that these fellowships have no ecclesiastical authority over the local church nor in any way infringe upon its independence or sovereignty.

(10) Gal.1:2

SECTION 17 BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that the ordinances of the local New Testament church are baptism (1) and the Lord’s Supper (2).

The only Scriptural mode of baptism is that of immersion (3). Baptism is administered to believers only and through baptism the believer enters into membership of this church (4).

The Lord’s Supper is administered to members of this church only, not under church discipline (5), and who are in obedience to His commandments (6).

(1) Mt.28:19-20
Acts 2:41

(2) Lk.22:19
1Cor.11:23-26

(3) Acts 8:38, 39
Rom.6:4

(4) Acts 2:41

(5) Mt.18:17

(6) 1Cor.11:27-29

SECTION 18 CHURCH OFFICERS

We believe that the Scriptural officers for the local New Testament church are pastors and deacons (1), and that the New Testament concept of the Diaconate is that of service (2).

(1) Acts 20:28;
1Tim.3; Phil.1:1

(2) Acts 6:1-6

SECTION 19 SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that with the completion of the New Testament and its almost universal acceptance by the early church, the need for authenticating signs was supplanted by authenticating Scripture (1), hence the spiritual gifts given for authenticating the ministry of the early church ceased, the most notable and controversial among these being the gifts of healing (2) and of tongues (3).

(1) 1Cor.13:8-10

(2) 1Cor.12:9

(3) 1Cor.12:10

1. We believe that with the completion of the Scriptures, God ruled out the possibility of any additional revelation (4), therefore the revelatory spiritual gifts such as apostleship (5) and prophecy (6) have also ceased.

(4) Rev.22:18-19

(5) Eph.4:11

(6) 1Cor.12:10

2. We believe that while the authenticating sign gift of healing is no longer bestowed by God upon individuals to administer, God can sovereignly heal in answer to prayer and faith.

SECTION 20 CHURCH AND STATE

We believe in the sovereignty and independence of the local church from any centralized power, whether from other churches, denominations, or the State. We believe in the separation of church and State. We believe in obeying local and central government except where they violate the commands of God’s Word.

Rom. 13:1-7;

Acts 5:29; 15:3; 19:31

SECTION 21 SEPARATION

ECCLESIASTICAL AND PERSONAL

We believe that the spiritual unity of all who have been born again by the Spirit of God is a blessed and wonderful teaching of Scripture. However, many will not endure in sound doctrine and become apostate (1). In such instances, the plain injunction of Scripture commands the separation from such apostasy (2). The Word of God not only commands separation from apostates, but from those who fellowship with them (3).

(1) 2Tim.4:3-4

(2) 2Cor.6:14;
2Thess.3:14

(3) 2 Jn.9-11;
2 Thess.3:6

We believe that the believer is commanded to do all to the glory of God (4). He must consciously do nothing to cause his brother in Christ to stumble or be offended (5). The use of intoxicating beverages or tobacco, questionable amusements, and extremes in personal dress and conduct are but a few worldly practices that the believer who seeks to honour his Lord will abstain from. Personal separation is not separation from various practices, but separation unto God, which will result in separation from the world (6).

(4) 1Cor.10:31

(5) Rom.14:21

(6) James 4:4;
1Jn.2:15

SECTION 22 LAST THINGS

We believe in that “blessed hope” – the Personal, premillennial, pretribulation and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when the Church will be “gathered together unto Him.” (1)

(1) Titus 2:13;
Acts 1:10-11;
1 Thess. 4:13-18

1. We believe in the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Scriptures which foretell and assure the future regeneration and restoration of Israel as a nation. (2)

(2) Ezek. 37:11-14; 21-28
Rom. 11:26-27

2. We believe this age will end with the rapture of the body of the Church. At that time the Holy Spirit as the restrainer and Indweller will no longer restrain, thus paving the way for the following events:

a. The Day of God’s wrath commonly known as the Tribulation period (seven years) and the last week of the prophetic 70 weeks given to Daniel. (3)

(3) Dan. 9:24-27; 12:1
Rev. 6:16-17
1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9

b. The revealing of the wicked one commonly known as the Antichrist or son of perdition. (4)

(4) 2 Thess. 2:3-17
Rev. 19:20; 20:10

c. The Revelation of Jesus Christ when He comes back to the earth, after the Tribulation, with His saints to stand on the Mount of Olives in the full radiance of His eternal glory. (5)

(5) Mt. 24:27-31
Jude 14, 15
Zech. 14:1-9

d. The judgment of the nations. (6)

(6) Mt. 25:31-32

e. The resurrection of the righteous dead. (7)

(7) Rev. 20:6

f. The millennial reign of Jesus Christ – a literal reign of 1000 years by Jesus Christ on earth over all people, nation, and tongues. This will especially be the fulfillment of the promises of Israel for their Messiah the King to reign on the throne of David. (8)

(8) Rev. 20:4-6
Phil. 2:9-11

g. The resurrection of the wicked dead. (9)

(9) Rev. 20:5

h. The Great White Throne judgment and eternity. (10)

(10) Rev. 20:7-15
1 Cor. 15:22-25
Rev. 21 & 22