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DECLARATION OF
FAITH
WE BELIEVE:
1.
GOD.
There
is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the
Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
God is unchangeable in his
holiness, justice, wisdom and love.
He is the almighty Creator,
Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his
sovereign will for his own glory.
2. THE BIBLE.
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old
and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors,
so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God,
without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine.
The Bible alone
speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief
and practice.
3.
THE HUMAN RACE.
All men and women, being created in the image of
God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to
obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every
aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without
spiritual life. guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore
under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and
reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
4.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in
obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true.
On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing Gods punishment for their
sins, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his
resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He
intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.
5. SALVATION.
Salvation is entirely a work of Gods grace and
cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ
and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he
calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are
justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal
life.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify
Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts
spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells
all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness
to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship,
service and mission.
7.
THE CHURCH.
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is
the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local
churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other
for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism
and the Lords Supper, for pastoral care and discipline, and evangelism. The
unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual
love, care, and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only
where they are faithful to the gospel.
8.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Baptism and the Lords Supper have been given to the
churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union
with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The
Lords Supper is a commemoration of Christs sacrifice offered once for all and
involves no change in the bread and wine.All its blessings are received by
faith.
9.
THE FUTURE.
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead
and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to eternal
punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in
fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified for
ever.
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