STATEMENT OF FAITH
"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings". (Psalm 40:2)
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"A declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us." (Luke 1:1)
Creeds and Confessions link us with other genuine believers and distinguish us from those teaching error. The rule of faith must always be Scripture itself. Confessions of Faith and Creeds are only of value inasmuch as they embody the true teaching of Scripture as a whole. Many claim to follow the Bible but their teachings deny it. For this reason we are obliged to state clearly what we mean when we say we are 'Bible believers'.
We believe in...
THE SCRIPTURES
The divine verbal, plenary inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; their inerrancy, perspicuity, full authority, and sufficiency in every area of faith and life, the Holy Spirit having deposited and preserved there all necessary revelation. Isa.8:20; Jn.5:39; Gal.1:8-9; 6:16; 1 Thess.2:13; 2 Tim.3:16-17; 2 Pet.1:21
THE BEING OF GOD
One only living and true God, one in being, existing eternally in three distinct yet equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, inseparably united in the essence of the divine being; and by whom, of His own pleasure and for His own glory, all things were created. Ex.20:2-3; Deut.6:4; Isa.43:7; Matt.28:19; Jn.1:1-13; 2 Cor.13:14; 1 Tim.1:17; 1 Jn.5:7; Rev.4:11
CREATION AND THE FALL OF MAN
All things were created immediately by God out of nothing in six literal days. The creation of man in the image of God, but that he sinned and all his posterity in him. The universal sinfulness and guilt of the human race, rendering all subject to the condemnation and wrath of God, from which there is no deliverance but by the blood of Jesus Christ. Gen.1:1, 26-27, 31; Ps.9:17; 51:5; Matt.25:46; Jn.1:1-3; Acts 4:12; Rom.5:12, 19; 7:18; 1 Thess.1:10
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus, eternal God, eternally Son of God, and of one substance and equal with the Father. He received a human body, took upon Himself man's nature yet without sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, these distinct natures were inseparably joined in one person. His death on the cross and bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father, being given all authority in heaven and earth. Isa.9:6; Matt.28:18; Lk.1:34-35; Jn.1:1; 1 Cor.15:3-4; 2 Cor.5:21; Phil.2:6-11; Col.1:15-19; 1 Tim.2:5; Heb.2:9; 4:15; 1 Pet.2:22
SALVATION
The propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the only ground of salvation, accomplishing once and for all time redemption from the guilt and power of sin for all who truly turn from sin and believe in Him. The justification of the redeemed, alone by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and not by works of righteousness performed by them. The perseverance in that salvation to which they were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Mk.10:45; Jn.10:28; 14:3; Acts 13:39; Rom.3:20-26; 4:25; 1 Pet.1:5, 18-19; 3:18; Rev.3:21
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, making the death of Christ effective to the individual sinner, convicting of sin, granting repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, indwelling every child of God from the moment of regeneration enabling all to live godly life and to serve Him. Jn.16:7-11; Tit.3:5; Rom.8:9; Eph.1:13; 4:30
THE CHURCH
The people of God consists of the whole number of the elect in all times and in all nations who have, or shall yet, repent of their sins and believe in Christ Jesus alone for salvation. (Acts 4:12) All are gathered into one redeemed body of which Christ Himself is the head. (John 17:21) In Old Testament times God's people were centred in and around Israel. Today, they are centred in the Church, of which Christ Himself is the Builder (Matthew 16:18), and against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. It embraces believing Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-16).
The gathering of the Lord's people meeting according to the Scriptures for worship, fellowship, attendance on the preaching and teaching of God's Word, and observing such ordinances and discipline as enjoined by Christ. There are two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.( Matt.26:26-27; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42)
THE LAST THINGS
The visible, personal, bodily, return of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are to be two resurrections, first that of the just and later of the unjust. The bodily resurrection of the unjust will be to the fire of conscious eternal punishment and of the just to everlasting blessedness. Dan.12:2; Jn.5:28-29; Acts 1:11; Rev.5:4-6, 11-15. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 20:4-5; Revelation 20:11-14.
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John:9)
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So many these days deny essential elements of the Christian faith. We happily identify ourselves with the ancient creeds of the Christian Church, some of which can be read here along with the main Reformed Confessions.
They can be read here: