Our beliefs

1.    About the Bible
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is our ultimate authority in all matters of faith and conduct, because it gives an accurate disclosure of God’s character and will, his acts and their meaning, and his call to mankind.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21, 3:15-16; Mark 12:36, 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32

2.    About the Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons and always acting for his own glory. The Father, the Son and the Spirit are equal in every divine perfection, and they act distinctly but harmoniously in the work of creation, providence and redemption. God has no needs, he is unchanging, he has no beginning or end, he is present everywhere at the same time, and he is one. God is an invisible spirit being. He fully knows himself and all things, his perfect wisdom means he always chooses the best goals and the best plans, he is himself the absolute truth. God is perfectly good, loving, merciful, gracious, patient, peaceful, holy, righteous, just, jealous for his own honour and angry about evil. God is utterly free to act as he wills and he has power to perform everything he wills. In summary God is altogether perfect and complete, eternally delighting in himself and everything that reflects his character - he is the sum of everything beautiful, desirable and glorious.
Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5, 6

3.    About God the Father
We believe in God the Father, who so loved the world that he sent his only Son to reconcile the world to himself. The Son and the Spirit act to bring glory to the Father. When Christ has destroyed all opposition to the kingdom of God, Christ will present the whole creation to God the Father so that he may rule supremely over everything.
Luke 10:21, 22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6

4.    About Jesus Christ
We believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son. Sent by the Father into the world he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in his sinless life, miracles, teachings, his death on the cross, his bodily resurrection, and his ascension to the Father’s right hand, where he intercedes for the church. We believe he is fully man and fully God. He came to implement the rule of the Father on earth as it is in heaven and has been made head over all things for the church.
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16

5.    About the Holy Spirit
We believe in God the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. As the gospel is announced he acts within all those whom God calls, to cause new birth, to give the gift of faith and to grant repentance. He justifies, sanctifies and dwells in all who believe in Jesus Christ. After new birth he fills all believers who seek it with a baptism of power and gifts to serve Christ.
John 14:16, 17, 26; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26

6.    About human beings
We believe that God created mankind in his own image and for fellowship with himself. Adam’s sin has placed all people under God’s wrath and righteous judgement. It has brought physical, spiritual and eternal death to mankind, which is separation from God. Human nature has been ruined by this fall and, apart from a special work of grace, is now utterly incapable of returning to God, or of avoiding sin by choice. There is no hope for human beings apart from salvation in Christ. Every human being has worth because each one still displays something of the original beauty and design of God.
Genesis 1:26; 5:2; 3; 2:17; Ecclesiates 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelations 19:3, 20; 14:15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1

7.    About God’s salvation
We believe that God the Father sent God the Son to die in our place as a sacrifice for our sins and sinfulness. Christ’s death satisfies and averts God’s righteous anger and allows redeeming grace to be freely offered. The gospel is God’s invitation to every human being to receive forgiveness of sins, justification, adoption, and eternal life by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.

8.    About God’s mission
We believe that Christ has commanded his followers to offer salvation to all people on earth through gospel proclamation accompanied by good works. Each person’s response to the gospel is rooted in the free and unconditional choice of that person by God the Father. Nobody can be saved who does not genuinely repent of their sins and, by God’s grace, put saving faith in Christ. All those who have truly called on the name of Christ for salvation will persevere in the faith because of the promise of God to complete their salvation.

9.    About transformation
We believe that the truths of the Bible should affect and govern our attitudes, decisions, words and actions both in public and private. Believers should live for the glory of God and for the well-being of all fellow human beings. The Holy Spirit works in every believer to change our moral character and behaviour through such means as loving and accountable fellowship, prayer, the Bible, confession and repentance, obedience and worship.
1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1, 2; John 14:15, 23, 24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9, 10

10.  About God’s church
We believe that all true believers are part of the universal church, which is the body of Christ. The Father desires all Christians to participate in a local church for worship, good works, mission and fellowship. The ascended Christ has given gift ministries to the churches (including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) for the equipping of Christ's body that it might mature and grow. The spiritual leadership of each local church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer the teachings of the Bible. Christ equips each local church so that it is able to order its life in obedience to his will.
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25

11.  About baptism and communion
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded two ordinances in the local church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. The Lord's Supper is given to remind us of Christ and his death. These two ordinances should be administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

12.  About the goal of history
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom in a new heaven and new earth. The whole creation will then be fully liberated from everything that attacks God’s glory and distorts our humanity, such as sin, Satan, other evil spirits, suffering and disease. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the endless suffering of the wicked in hell and the eternal happiness of the righteous in heaven.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15