What we believe

We believe in God, the Almighty Father, who made the universe and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. Together with the Holy Spirit, they form the one true God in three persons. Yet, the Father is God, the Son is God and the Spirit is God (Matthew 28:19).

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1). He was true God and true Man. He lived a sinless life while on earth and so when he died, he did not die on account of his own sin, but on account of the sins of the whole world (Mark 10:45). He rose physically from the dead and now rules the universe as God’s chief executive officer. He gives new and full life to all those who trust in him.

We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit. He too existed forever with the Father and was, like the Son, involved in creation. He was and is with Jesus. It was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. The Holy Spirit, in a way we cannot comprehend, indwells all those who put their trust in Christ, helping, empowering and enabling them to be more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit guarantees our place in heaven and keeps us from falling away from God. (Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 1:13-14)

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the standard by which we live. By ‘inspired’ we mean that the Bible says that which God intends it to say. God speaks to us today through his ancient, yet ever-living Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We believe that humankind rebelled and continue to rebel against God. Adam and Eve knowingly disobeyed God and chose to make their own decisions without reference to God. Death and sin are now part of the human condition as a direct consequence of that rebellion. We are no better than Adam and Eve and fall under the same judgement from God who, because of his infinite purity, cannot tolerate rebellion and sin. (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-13)

When Jesus died he made atonement for our sins. That means that he died as our substitute, in our place, so that we do not have to bear God’s judgement and anger. (Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

The moment we put our confident trust in Christ we are justified, that means God declares us ‘not guilty’ on account of what Christ has done for us. It is a once off, once for all, binding, legal-type transaction. You can never be unjustified. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4)

We are justified only by confident trust in Jesus Christ, not by any good things we may have done. Once justified the natural, authentic response is God-orientated living and good works. If there are no good works in a person’s life (i.e. no lifestyle change) they were probably not justified. (John 3:36; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit aids us in this lifelong endeavour. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)

God is in sovereign and complete control over the world and over each and every human life. He chooses to rescue some and not others, according to his own purposes (Ephesians 1:11-12). Yet, we are held responsible and accountable for our decisions and the Bible plainly teaches that, “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”. (Romans 10:13) Predestination and election are mysteries beyond human comprehension. We firmly believe in both divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

We believe that Jesus Christ is now exalted in heaven, where he “sits at God’s right hand” and has been given all authority, dominion and power. (Daniel 7, Matthew 28:18)

We believe that the Lord Jesus will return unexpectedly. When he does return every person that has lived and is living will be judged as to what they have done (Romans 2:6). Those that have had their sins forgiven through faith in the Lord Jesus will reign with Jesus forever in the new universe; and those that have not put their confident trust in Jesus will join Satan and his demons in hell (Revelation 21:1, Revelation 20:13-15).

Our position we hold to is called Covenant Baptism. We believe in infant baptism as the New Testament sign of children belonging to the believing community until they opt out. Therefore we baptize children of Christian parents. We also believe in believer’s baptism for believers who were not baptised as babies or would like to be baptised again as a matter of conscience. Believer’s baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality: It declares your death to self-sufficiency and your being made alive to God.