Statement of Faith

The Church

Membership

We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12–13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23–32; Revelation 19:7–8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). We believe that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–21, 38–47) and will be completed at the second coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

We believe that the church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present age (Ephesians 2:11–3:6). The church is distinct from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age (Ephesians 3:1–6; 5:32).

We believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18–20; Hebrews 10:25).

Authority

We believe that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor/teachers; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–5).

We believe that the elders lead or rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17–22; 1 Peter 5:1-4) and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17). We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2), mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5–14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matthew 18:15–22; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; Titus 1:10–16).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5).

We believe that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The elders should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well (Acts 15:19–31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4–7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1–4).

Purpose

We believe that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13–16; Jude 20), by instruction of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16–17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42).

We believe that the reading and expounding of Scripture must be central to the life of the church, as the fountain from which all other ministry flows. We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, in which we gather for corporate worship in the name of our Saviour, who rose on the first day of the week. (Ps 1; 19; 119; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Matt. 18:15-22; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; Rev. 1:10; Acts 20:7).

We believe that all saints have been called to the work of service (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:12; Revelation 22:12).

Ordinances/Sacraments

We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38–42).

Christian baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36–39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1–11). It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41–42).

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28–32). We also believe that, whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so is present, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16).

Spiritual Gifts

We believe that the church needs to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purposes in the world. To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts. He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7–12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual gifts to each member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; 1 Peter 4:10–11). The Holy Spirit distributes among all believers a variety of gifts which are to be used primarily for the exaltation of Christ (1 Peter 4:14), the building up of Christ’s body, the Church (Ephesians 4:11-13), maintaining unity (Romans 12:4-5), the promotion of evangelism and mission (Colossians 1: 27-28; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25), and to demonstrate God’s compassion, mercy and power by helping those in need, in accordance with His perfect will for the sick, suffering and afflicted, including those under demonic oppression (Matt. 8:1-17; 8:28-9:7; 18-33; Mark 1:14-3:6, 5:1-43, 6:30-43, 7:31-37, 8:22-26, 9:14-29, 10:46-52; Lk. 7:1-17; 8:26-53; 9:1-2, 37-43; 10:17; Acts 3:7; 5:16; 9:34; 14:10; 16:18; 19:12; 28:8; Psalm 119:67, 71; 2 Cor.12:7-10; Phi. 2:27; 2 Tim. 4:20; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:19), and finally to glorify God (Acts 9:35, 42; Hebrews 2:4; Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:18, 9:1-2; Matt 10:7-8; Acts 8:6-7, 13; Matthew 20:30, 34, 14:14; Luke 7:13; Matthew 8:15; Acts 9:36, 40-41; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:4, 12, 26; Matthew 9:8; John 9:3).

We believe that Divine revelation was given in a unique way to the apostles and chosen disciples for the writing of Scripture in the form of the New Testament (2. Tim 3:16-1).

We believe that today the gifts, both the ministering or equipping gifts (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Cor. 12:28c; Eph. 4:11-16) (usefully divided into two categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts [1 Peter 4:10-11]), as well as the miraculous gifts, including healing and divine revelation continue to bear witness to the present Kingdom (Matthew 10:1-8; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1-1-2, 8-12), authenticate the Gospel message (Acts 5:12-16; 19:11-12; Romans 15:17-19), and build Christ’s Church.

We believe that the Spirit of God continues to give these gifts to His church today according to His will (1 Cor. 12:11) as He sees fit , in accordance with His purposes to build-up His Church (1 Corinthians 12: 4-10, 27-30; 1 Cor. 13:8-11; 14: 27-33; Galatians 3:5).

We believe that caution is required as miraculous gifts, signs, healings, and revelations can be counterfeited by Satan, so as to deceive many (Matt. 24:24; Mark 12:22-23; Acts 16:16; 1 Corinthians 13:13–14:12; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 13:13–14).

We believe that God especially hears and answers the prayers of faith offered by the saints (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1–6; John 14:12-14; James 5:13–16; 1 John 5:14–15).

Distinguishing Marks

We believe that the church is distinguished by her gospel message, her sacred ordinances, her discipline, her great mission, and, above all, by her love for God and by her members’ love for one another and for the world (the lost). We believe that the church should display to the world a spiritual, Christ-centered unity that transcends ethnicity, age, or any other barrier, a unity that can only be produced through the gospel. (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Cor. 12; Jn. 13:34-35; Eph. 2:11-22; Eph. 4:1-16; Eph. 5:19-21; Heb. 10:23-25).

The Responsibility of Believers

We believe that it is the obligation of every believer to demonstrate by life and testify by word to the truths of the Holy Scriptures and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all the world. (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). We believe that it is the responsibility of all believers to remember the work of the Lord in prayer and to support it with their means as the Lord has prospered them. (Luke 18:1; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16)

Missions

We believe that God’s glory and fame must be spread to the ends of the earth for the joy of all peoples. We believe that apart from conscious faith in Christ, there is no hope of salvation for the nations. We believe God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world; and that God, in His sovereignty, has placed us in this city, among these people, at this time, for the advance of His kingdom. We believe that missions is the process of evangelizing the lost and planting churches; and we believe that it is our great privilege and responsibility to participate in this cause both locally and internationally. (Ps. 47, 67; Matt. 16:18; 28:18- 20; Acts 1:8; Acts 17:26-27)

Marriage and the family

We believe that, according to God’s good and wise design, He created men and women equal in value and dignity but distinct and complementary in their function and roles in the home, church, and society. We believe that God has ordained marriage as a heterosexual relationship between a natural man and a natural woman. We believe that marriage and children are gifts from God and that the sexual relationship is only to be enjoyed within the bounds of marriage. We believe God has designed the family and the home to be the primary building block for all of society (Gen 1-3; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; Eph 5:22-33: Rom 1:26-27; Heb. 13:4).