What We Believe
The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.
God
There is only one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things. He is, in and of Himself, perfect and infinite in all of His attributes; and to Him all creation owes its highest love, reverence and obedience.
The Trinity
God is revealed to us in three distinct persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of these persons have distinct personal attributes and roles, yet without division of nature, essence or being.
Providence
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and continually upholds, directs and governs all creation and events; yet not in a way so as to be the author or approver of sin, nor does he remove the free will and responsibility of people.
Election
Election is God’s eternal choice of some people to everlasting life - not because of foreseen faith or merit within them, but solely because of God's mercy in Christ. The elect are then, in time, called by Him to faith in Christ.
The Fall of Man
God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; and therefore, his descendants inherit a nature that is corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. They are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors themselves.
The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only true and distinct Son of God, who is at the same time, born of God and yet eternal, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. He has taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin. He lived a life of perfect righteousness; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father. Now at His right hand, He lives forever to intercede for His people. He is the only Mediator, Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those who are dead in trespasses and sins by enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free grace alone.
Repentance
Repentance is a grace of God, whereby a person is made aware of the depth of their sin by the Holy Spirit. By this recognition, they humble themselves with godly sorrow and hatred of their sin. They are determined to now walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
Faith
The nature of saving faith is based upon everything that is revealed in God's Word concerning Christ. This is a gift of God whereby a person accepts and rests upon Christ alone for justification and eternal life. It is brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and leads to a life of holiness.
Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full pardon of sinners from all sin, through the obedience and death of Jesus Christ. Through this obedience and death, God's wrath and righteous requirement of man is fulfilled in Christ. This justification is not brought about by anything done in the individual, but rather is a declaration made by God based solely upon the merits of Christ.
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated and justified are also sanctified. This sanctification is progressive, brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the process by which Christians are continually made more into the image of Jesus Christ. This process is brought about by faith based obedience to all that Christ commands. This will be the inevitable result of all those who have been united to Christ.
Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God has justified, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never be lost by the Father, but will certainly persevere to the end. They may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, and by doing so, they grieve the Holy Spirit, damage their joy, bring reproach on the Church, and are disciplined as God's children. Through all of this, the elect of God will be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and He has been given all power and authority over it. Christians are commanded to gather themselves into particular (local) congregations or churches; and to each of these churches He has given proper authority for administering discipline and worship which He has appointed. The standard offices of a Church, which Christ has established are Pastors or Elders (these are the same), and Deacons.
Baptism
Baptism is a command of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, where they are immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of their fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving themselves up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
The Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a celebration and proclamation of the Lord's death on behalf of His people. It is a sign for believers whereby they declare their union with the New Covenant and Christ himself as its mediator. It is to be administered with bread and wine, and to be observed by Christ's church until He returns. It is in no sense a re-sacrificing of the Lord Jesus Christ, but is designed to commemorate His death, and to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and with one another.
The Lord's Day
The Lord’s Day ought to be a day of worship and encouragement for the people of God, both public and private. We should seek to gather on the first day of the week, as the early church did, because it is the day our Lord rose from the dead. This is distinct from the Sabbath under the Old Covenant, both in its obligations and function.
Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience; and it is not to be bound by the doctrines and commandments of men, which may be contrary to His word, or not contained in it. This liberty of conscience, however, is to be bound by love for one another. Whatever liberty we have in Christ ought never to be used in such a way that it brings destruction upon the conscience of others.
Resurrection
The bodies of men and women after death return to dust, but their spirits remain, some in God's presence and others under torment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. Those who are righteous will be raised to live with Him eternally, but the wicked will be raised to eternal destruction and judgement.
The Judgment
God has appointed a day, on which He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to their deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.