WHAT WE BELIEVE

A Summary of what we Believe:

1. God

There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit1. God is unchangeable in his holiness, justice, wisdom and love2. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory3.

(1Deut 6:4, 2 Cor 13:14, Matt 28:19, 2Exo 34:6-7, Rom 11:33-36, 3Rev 4:11, Heb 1:3, Matt 5:45)

2. The Bible

God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine1. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice2.

(12 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Tim 5:18, 2 Pet 1:21, Ps 19:7-11, 119:160 2Jos 1:7-8, 2 Tim 3:14-17)

3. Humanity

All men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God1. As a result of the fall of our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God2. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him3.

(1Gen 1:26-27, Exo 20:3, Deut 6:5, 1 Cor 10:31, 2Rom 5:12, Ps 51:5, 3Eph 2:1-10, Jn 3:16-18, 3:3, 5)

4. Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man1. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father2. He taught with authority and all his words are true3. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God’s punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood4. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father5.

(1Jn 1:1-3, 14, 2Lk 1:30-35, Heb 4:15, 3Mar 1:21-22, 4Rom 3:24-25, 5Eph 1:20, Phil 2:9-11, Rom 8:34)

5. Salvation

Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved1. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel2. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance and faith3. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life4.

(1Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, 2Jn 3:16, 3Col 1:13, Mar 1:15, 4Rom 3:24-26, Jn 1:12-13, 3:36)

6. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God, he has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation1. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures2. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ3. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission4.

(1Jn 16:14, 3:5-8, 2Jn 16:7-11, 14:26, Eph 1:17-18, 3Eph 1:13-14, Rom 8:15-17, Gal 5:22-24, 41 Cor 12:4-11, Acts 1:8)

7. The Church

Christ is the head of the Church1. The universal Church is the body of Christ and to which all who are saved belong2. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism3. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel4.

(1Eph 5:23, Col 1:18, 2Acts 20:28, Eph 1:22-23, 3Phil 1:1, Rev 2-3, Acts 2:41-47, 4Eph 4:1-6, Phil 1:3-5)

8. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel1. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life2. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith3.

(1Matt 28:19, Lk 22:19-20, 2Rom 6:3-5, Acts 2:41, 3Lk 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26)

9. The Future

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness1. The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God2. God will make all things new and will be glorified forever3.

(1Matt 24:29-31, 25:31-32, 2 Thes 1:7b-9, 2Matt 25:46, Jn 5:28-29, 3Rev 21:1-4) 

Creeds & Confessions:

We hold firmly to the great creeds of the Christian faith, like the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. We subscribe to The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (https://founders.org/library-book/1689-confession/). It is a wonderful summary of what we believe the Bible teaches. We are affiliated with SOLA 5 (An association of God-centred evangelicals in Southern Africa). We affirm their Confession (https://sola5.org/confession/) and Values (https://sola5.org/values/).