Our Theology

There is one, and only one, living and true God, who is eternal and immutable. He is the Lord and sovereign over all creation. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three distinct persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God governs all things according to His will and is accomplishing His purposes in the world and in the Church.

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary. He is truly God and truly man, yet without sin. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day He was raised bodily from death, he ascended into heaven and now reigns over heaven and earth at the right hand of God the Father, where he is the only mediator between God and man.

The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God. It comprises the 66 books of the Old and New Testament and is true in its entirety. It is the authority by which all human conduct is governed, and all Christians must therefore submit to its supremacy and sufficiency, both individually and corporately, in all matters of belief and conduct.

God created humankind, male and female, in His likeness. All men and women are sinful by nature and are incapable of regaining righteousness by personal effort. All humans have equal value before God and were created to worship God and to enjoy relationship with Him. This relationship was disrupted by the voluntary disobedience of our first parents. All humans therefore fall under the just judgement of God and are alienated from Him, from each other, and from His creation.

Restoration to true righteousness and reconciliation with God is provided by God’s free gift of salvation from the guilt, penalty and eternal consequences of sin. Salvation is provided solely through the work of Jesus Christ and through no other person, creed, process or power. Salvation was accomplished through the perfect obedience, penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. A sinner’s justification before God from beginning to end, is by God’s grace alone, appropriated by faith in Christ alone. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to those who are saved as the only ground of acceptance before God.

In order to receive salvation, a man or woman must be regenerated, or born again, by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ. It is through His work alone that sinners are convicted of sin, brought to repentance and new birth, and grow in maturity and a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.

Christ is the head of the universal church, which is the body to which all who are saved belong. The church’s calling is to serve God in the world, to proclaim, obey and defend His truth, to exhibit His character and to demonstrate the reality of the life-transforming power of God. Members of the universal church are commanded to join together in local congregations. A local church is a visible assembly of believers, who are united under suitably qualified leadership, who meet together for Bible teaching, corporate worship, fellowship and prayer, and to encourage one another to persevere in faith and good works. A local church administers the ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and exercises pastoral care and discipline.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. 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 faith.

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