OUTLINE OF OUR “STATEMENT OF FAITH”

  • Timothy 3v16,17
  • 2 Peter 1v19-21

The Bible is the word of God. It consists of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, which were written by people who were inspired by God to communicate God’s message. It carries His authority and in it He has told us all we need to know about Him, and His purpose for His world.

  • Matthew 28v19
  • Genesis 1v26
  • John 14v9
  • Mark 12v29

There is one God, eternally existing and manifesting Himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Together they form the Godhead, or the Trinity.

  • Genesis 1v26; 3v2-24
  • Romans 3v24,24; 6v23; 8v22
  • Ephesians 2v3,12; 4v18

Adam and Eve, the first humans, were perfect when created by God.  They had a full relationship with Him, but they chose to disobey His commands, and “fell” from the state of perfection. They no longer desired to please God, but themselves, and became unfit for His presence.  They were cut off from God by sin.  Sin affected the whole of creation and as a result, all humans are spiritually lost and face the prospect of being judged by God for their disobedience.  The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God, unless a person’s sin is forgiven and his relationship with God restored in this life.  The only way for the relationship to be restored was by God the Son coming into the world to bear the penalty imposed on sin.

  • Matthew 1v18,20
  • John1v1,2,14
  • Colossians 2v9
  • Hebrews 4v15
  • Isaiah 53v5,6
  • Matthew 20v28
  • 2 Corinthians 5v21
  • Galatians 3v13

Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin.  He is the earthly manifestation of God the Son. Although true man and subject to the temptations common to mankind, he remained sinless. At Calvary, on a Roman cross, He gave Himself as a sacrifice for us, taking upon Himself the sin of the world.  He, who was God, became sin for us.  He suffered the penalty of separation from God the Father so that those who accept that His sacrifice was in place of them might be restored to a full relationship with God.

  • Romans 3v20, 24, 25
  • John 14v6
  • Acts 16v30,31
  • Ephesians 2v4-10

Those who put their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus as the only means of having their sins forgiven are “justified”, which means that God accepts them as righteous people, as if they had never sinned.  This justification is on the basis of faith in Jesus alone.  There is nothing that a person can ever do to merit favour or forgiveness of God.  It cannot be gained by good works, and it cannot be bought.  God Himself has paid the price of our salvation, and offers it as a gift.

  • John 16v8
  • John 3v6, 8
  • 1 Corinthians 2v12-14
  • John 14v26
  • Romans 8v5, 9
  • Acts 1v8
  • Galatians 5v16
  • Ephesians 5v18
  • 2 Thessalonians 2v13

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convince people of their need of salvation, and to bring them to salvation by being “born again”.  At that point, a person becomes a “new creation” and is indwelt by the Spirit who empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills those who surrender to Him.

  • Matthew 27v50
  • Mark 15v37,43-46
  • Matthew 28v5,6
  • John 20v14-18
  • Acts 1v9
  • 1 Corinthians 15v3-8
  • Hebrews 4v14,15; 9v24
  • 1 John 2v1

Jesus truly died on the Cross, but He did not remain dead.  He arose bodily from the grave and ascended to heaven.  He appears before God the Father as our advocate and High Priest, which means that he represents us in the presence of God.

  • John 14v3; 17v24
  • Acts 1v11
  • 1 Thessalonians 4v14-17

Jesus, who is at the moment in heaven, will return for His people, to take them to be with Him forever.

  • Hebrews 9v27
  • 2 Corinthians 5v10
  • 1 Corinthians 3v10-15
  • Revelation 20v11-15

All people who have ever lived will appear before God.  Those who have been justified by faith in Christ will appear at the Judgement Seat of Christ to give account of their lives as Christians and will live forever in a new heaven and a new earth.  Those who have not been justified will appear at God’s Great White Throne and will be judged according to their works.  They will be eternally separated from God.

  • Ephesians 5v22-32
  • Colossians 1v18
  • Romans 16v5,16,23
  • 1 Corinthians 1v2
  • Galatians 1v2

All Christians of all times together form the Church. The Bible uses various terms to describe it, including the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ.  Sometimes that great body of Christians is referred to as the Universal Church.  A local church is an association of Christians in a particular area.