THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that both the Old and New Testaments are inerrant in the original writings. The Scriptures are the supreme and final authority for faith and life. (2Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:20,21)

THE GODHEAD

We believe the Godhead exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are one God having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections. (John 1:1-14; John 10:30; John 15:26; Col 2:9; Heb 1:1-3; Isa 9:6)

GOD THE FATHER

We believe and teach that God the Father is the only true and Holy God, the first person of the trinity, is the author of one eternal plan which includes all things. In the beginning God created out of nothing, the world and all things therein (Gen. 1:1-31). He is the sovereign ruler in the universe and by his sovereign power he continues to sustain his creation (Col 1:16,17). He is the spiritual Father only to those who receive Jesus Christ through faith. (John 1:12)

GOD THE SON – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who came to this earth in order to manifest God and become the Saviour of the World. On the human side Jesus became and remained a perfect man. On the divine side Jesus Christ retained his absolute Deity.

We believe in

(a) His external existence as God,

(b) His incarnation and virgin birth,

(c) His death on the cross as the substitutionary atonement for sin,

(d) His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead,

(e) His present ministry of intercession in heaven, and

(f) His personal, future return to earth. (John 1:1.14: Matt 1:23; 1 Cor 15:3; 1Pet 2:24, 3:18; John 20:20, 27,28; Heb 7:25; 1 Thess 4:16; Matt 24:30)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity is a divine person. By his baptism, unites all believers into one universal body which is called the Church. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, regenerates, baptises, indwells, seals and sets apart believers unto a holy life; that He keeps and empowers believers, day by day; that He is the Teacher of the Word of God and the Guide for daily living. (Titus 3:5-7; John 16:7,8; Eph 1:13,14; John 14:16,17,26; 2 Thess 2:13)

MANKIND

We believe that

(a) mankind was created innocent and pure, and

(b) Adam fell through the sin of disobedience. Therefore,

(c) all are corrupted in body, soul and spirit and

(d) all need redemption. (Gen 1:27,31: Rom 5:18,19; Rom 3:23)

SALVATION

We believe that

(a) salvation is by grace, a free gift of God apart from works,

(b) salvation includes repentance, a turning in our hearts to God’s way from our own way,

(c) salvation is through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,

(d) all who receive Jesus Christ are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become the children

of God and

(e) true salvation will be manifested by a changed life. (Eph 2:8,9; Acts 17:30; Acts 16:31; 2

Cor 5:17)

REGENERATION

We believe

(a) That regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature

and divine life are given to the believer.

(b) Regeneration is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit,

through the hearing and believing of the Word of God. (John 3:3; Titus 3:5; Rom 10:17)

JUSTIFICATION

We believe

(a) That justification before God is an act of God whereby, He declares the guilty sinner

righteous, in perfect standing before Him, through faith in Christ

(b) Righteousness is the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us and is apart from any

virtue or work of mankind. (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9; Rom 4: )

(c) Results of Justification -Forgiveness of Sin (Acts 13:38,39)

– Peace with God (Rom 5:1)

– Righteousness of Christ in us

– Eternal Life (Titus 3:7)

SANCTIFICATION

We believe

(a) That every believer is initially sanctified (set apart) to God by Justification and is

therefore declared to be holy (2 Thess 2:13)

(b) Sanctification is positional – being set apart from spiritual death (sins penalty), sins

dominion (sins power) and being set apart to God and for God’s use (Heb 10:10; 1 Cor 6:11)

(c) Sanctification is progressive – God at work in the believer’s life, transforming them to

express the image and character of Jesus through obedience to the Word of God and the

empowering of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:26; 1 Thess 4:3; Phil 2:13)

GLORIFICATION

Glorification is future – When the believer will experience complete transformation, conformity to the likeness of Christ, when they shall be like Him (1 John 3:2; Jude 1:24)

SECURITY

We believe and teach that all the redeemed once saved are kept by God’s power and are forever secure in Christ. (John 3:36; 6:37; 14:19; Rom 5:9,10,17, 18; 8:35,39; 1 Cor 1:8,9; Eph 1:13,14, Eph 4:30; Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 1:3,5; 1 John 5:11,13)

SEPARATION

We believe and teach

(a) That believers should be separated to our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 1:12)

(b) The Christian life is a life of obedience, righteousness and a continual pursuit of holiness

(Rom 12:1,2; 1 Pet 1:15,16; 2 Cor 7:1)

(c) Separation from all worldly and sinful practices as commanded by God (1John 2:15,17;

1 Cor 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22)

GOOD WORKS

We teach that Christians are called to good works, but that good works don’t merit salvation but demonstrate the reality of saving faith. (Eph 2:8,10; Titus 3:5,8; James 2:17,26)

THE FUTURE

We believe

(a) in the personal, visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth

(b) in the bodily resurrection of the just to eternal abode in the glory of God’s presence

(c) in the bodily resurrection of the unjust to judgment and conscious, everlasting

punishment in the lake of fire. (1 Thess 4:16,17; Matt 24:30; Rev 20:11-15)

SATAN

We believe Satan is

(a) the deceiver who led mankind to sin against God

(b) the spiritual adversary of God and man

(c) a real being. (Gen 3:1-7; John 8:44; Rev 12:9)

WATER BAPTISM

(a) Baptism by immersion of believers upon profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ soon following conversion and is a symbol of our spiritual union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (Matt 28:18,20: Acts 16:33,34; 8:36,39; Rom 6:1,11 7:3,5)

(b) Also a sign of our fellowship and identification with the Body of Christ. (Acts 2:41)

LORDS SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial and a proclamation of Christ’s death until He comes. The emblems of the Lord’s Table (communion) are representatives of the flesh (body) and blood of Christ and therefore serve as a memorial, reminder of His finished redemptive work. (1 Cor 10:16,17; 11:23,32)

FELLOWSHIP

We believe Christians should associate themselves with others likeminded for the purpose of sharing the Word of God, teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:24)

THE CHURCH

We believe the local church is governed by elders and deacons whom the Holy Spirit raises within the congregation. (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

UNIVERSAL CHURCH

(a) There is only one true Universal Church comprising all of those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as Saviour and Lord, who are placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the Church.

(b) The Church began on the day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for his own at the rapture. (1Cor 12:12,13; Acts 2:1,21, 38-47, 1 Cor 15:51,52, 1 Thess 4:13,18)

(c) The Church is completely distinct from Israel (Rom 11:11,26; 1 Cor 10:32)

(d) The Church is the Bride of Christ (Rev 19:7,8; Eph 5:23,32) of whom Christ is the Head. (Eph 1:22; Col 1:18)

THE LOCAL CHURCH

(a) Whenever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command (Heb 10:25) this is the expression of the Local Church. (1 Cor 11:18,20; Gal 1:2, 1 Thess 1)

(b) We believe the Local Church is governed by Elders also called Overseers, Pastors, Pastors/Teacher and Deacons whom the Holy Spirit raises up to minister, lead and serve His people. (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 3:1,7; 5:17,22; Titus 1:5,9; 1 Pet 5: 1,4)

ITS GOVERNMENT

(a) We believe in complete autonomy of the Local Church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference from any hierarchy of individuals and organisations on any issues of doctrinal nature and biblical principles of Church government concerning the Christian faith.

ANGELS

We believe

(a) That Angels are created beings, were created to serve and worship God, therefore are not to be worshipped. The greatest of these beings known as “Lucifer” who sinned through pride and became known as Satan.

(b) That a great number of other Angels followed “Lucifer” in rebellion and these ‘fallen’ angels known as demons are his active agents and associates in stirring up evil in the world and opposing the work of God.

(c) That Satan and his demonic agents have been judged and sentenced by God on the basis of the work, death and resurrection of Christ, although he now rules as the “god of this world.”

(d) That there remains a large number of sinless Angels who serve God as administrators and messengers of His kingdom.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that spiritual gifts are divinely given and sovereignly distributed by the Holy Spirit to every member of the body of Christ. The purpose of these gifts is to glorify God and to edify the church to fulfill its divinely appointed task. There are gifts given to enable every believer to share in the ministry of edification and growth of the Church. Revelation (Anything extra-biblical that adds to scripture, as though it has the same authority) is not ongoing; tongues are neither the exclusive sign of the baptism of the Spirit nor of spiritual maturity and Christ’s atonement does not guarantee physical healing.

The exercise of spiritual gifts must always be consistent with Scripture. (1 Corinthians chpts 12-14; Colossians 1:16; 1 Thess 5:23)