While we appreciate, honour and learn from Christian thinkers of past generations, and those of our own, the Bible is our rule of the faith. The following are but concise definitions of our beliefs and practices as found in the Bible.

WE BELIEVE that the Bible is the Word of God, written down by the apostles and prophets as inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16-17), guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:21). We believe that it is without error and provides all we need to live a life pleasing to God (2 Pet 1:3).

It has been accurately preserved through the centuries and faithfully translated into English by careful scholars and linguists. It teaches us how God in love sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world, and that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life (Jn 3:16).

WE BELIEVE that man, consisting of body, soul and spirit was created by God in His likeness. Man is not an animal, but is created higher and above animal life; created with dignity to worship, serve and represent God (Gen 1:26-27, 1 Thess 5:23, Heb 4:12).

WE BELIEVE that mankind was originally created good, but when tempted by Satan, disobeyed God’s command and became a sinful creature, incurring both physical and spiritual death. As a result all members of the human race are born in sin and are sinners by nature and practice (Gen 2:15-17, Gen 3:1-6; Rom 1:19-32, Rom 3:23, Rom 5:12).

WE BELIEVE in One God who eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father planned our salvation and the Son accomplished it by dying on the Cross to pay the penalty of our sin (Eph 1:3-7). The Spirit convicts us of our sin (Jn 16:8) and when we respond in faith, applies the work of Christ to our lives to cleanse us from our sin (Tit 3:5-7).

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man; that He was born of the virgin Mary (Lk 1:35); that He lived a perfect, sinless life (1 Pet 2:22); and that He died on the cross for our sins, and rose again the third day, in fulfilment of prophecy (1 Cor 15:3-4).

WE BELIEVE that every person will be physically raised from the dead: the saved to life everlasting and the unsaved to eternal condemnation. (Jn 5:28-29; Rev 20:11-15).

WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). As God in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), He is uniquely qualified to be our substitute and to take away our sin (1 Pet 2:24). His resurrection and ascension to God the Father’s right hand assures us of our salvation (Rom 4:25; Heb 7:25).

WE BELIEVE that this salvation is a gift of grace, and cannot be earned by any merits of our own; it is neither by good works nor by a good life (Eph 2:8-9). Good works are rather the grateful response of our hearts (Eph 2:10; Tit 3:8).

WE BELIEVE that this salvation frees us from our guilt, the penalty of our sin (1 Pet 3:18, Isa 53:5, Isa 53:10), from our shame that exists because of our broken relationship with God and others (Col 1:20-22, Heb 12:2), and from the fear of death and evil that exist as consequences to our sin (Heb 2:14-15).

WE BELIEVE that when God saves us by His grace, He gives His Holy Spirit to enable us to live in a way that pleases Him (Lk 24:29). He gives to us a new heart, with new desires: a love for His Word, a love for His people, and a desire to speak with others about Him.

WE BELIEVE in the one true church, the body and bride of Christ, which He began to build on the day of Pentecost and will complete at His second coming, and into which all regenerated believers of this age are baptised by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:13)

WE BELIEVE that each member of the church is given unique gifts by the Holy Spirit, in order to help the church to worship, grow, and share the good news more effectively. (1 Cor 12:4-14)

WE BELIEVE that the Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. In the book of Acts, we find the earliest history of the church founded by Jesus Christ and in the epistles we find the instructions given to the church by the apostles. These show that Christ is the head of the church (Eph 1:22-23), each local church being accountable to Christ (Rev 1:20), and elders/overseers have responsibility for shepherding these churches (1 Pet 5:1-4).

WE BELIEVE in two Christian ordinances, baptism and Communion (The Lord’s Supper).

Baptism by immersion signifies that the believer has died with Christ, has been buried with Him and has risen to walk in newness of life with Him. (Acts 2:41, Matt 28:19).

The Lord’s Supper is a time when believers worship by remembering the Lord, His death and resurrection, until He comes again. His death is remembered by the broken bread, and the wine, symbolising his broken body and blood (Lk 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26).