1. The Holy Scriptures.
1-1 We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given in their entirety by inspiration of God and that they are therefore infallible in all matters and our final authority, being the only true rule for faith and practice.
II Tim 3:15-17, Ps 12:6-7, I Pet 1:21-25, John 10:25, Is 8:20, Acts 17:11
1-2 We believe the Scriptures to be complete, sufficient, and certain for all matters of saving knowledge, faith, and obedience; that there is no need nor warrant to add to them, nor to take from them in any way; and that any such addition or subtraction is forbidden by God’s express command and the fearful judgment and consequences such action will reap.
Deut 4:1-2, II Sam 22:31, Prov 30:5-6, Matt 5:18-19, Jer 36:20-32, Rev 22:18-19
1-3 Entirely as they were originally given by divine inspiration in their original languages of Hebrew and Greek, so we believe the Holy Scriptures, despite the Devil’s numerous attacks, to have been infallibly, miraculously, and divinely preserved as holy, authentic, and pure, being entirely free from corruption and error, according to the promises of God and of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Ps 12:6-7, Ps 119:140, 160, Prov 30:5-6, Rom 7:12, Jer 36:20-32, Matt 5:18, Matt 24:35, I Pet 1:25
2. God - The Trinity.
2-1 We believe there is only one living and true God who is, without beginning or ending, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and who has been pleased to reveal his glorious character in Creation but especially in the Scriptures.
Deut 6:4, Is 44:6, 1 Tim 2:5, Rom 1:20 Ps 19:1-11
2-2 We believe that God has revealed himself in the Scriptures as existing in three distinct persons within the Godhead; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, co-equal in eternity, power and glory.
Matt 28:19, I Jn 5:7, II Cor 13:14, John 10:30, Rom 9:5, Acts 5:3-4
3. Creation and the Fall of Man.
3-1 We believe that God created the universe in six literal days, all originally very good, and that the purpose for the creation of man was that he should love and glorify God his Maker which he was able to do in the beginning.
Gen 1:31, Ex 20:11, Matt 22:36-38, 1 Cor 10:31 Eccl 12:13, 7:29
3-2 We believe that Adam stood as the Head and Representative of mankind, and that in sinning, all his posterity sinned in him. Therefore the sin of Adam is imputed by God to all his offspring and they all derive a corrupt and sinful nature from the womb. From this corrupt nature all other sins proceed.
Rom 5:12, Eph 2:3, Ps 51:5, John 3:6, Matt 15:19, 7:17-18
3-3 We believe that because of Adam’s original sin and the actual sins that men commit; that all men are by nature spiritually dead; that they are subject to physical death; that they are guilty before their holy God and Creator, and merit eternal punishment in hell.
Gen 2:16-17, Eph 2:1, 1 Cor 15:22, Rom 6:23, Matt 25:46
4. The Covenant Of Grace.
4-1 We believe that before the world began God chose, in love, an innumerable and yet certain number of persons unto everlasting salvation, whom he did predestinate to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. This choice was not due to any foreseen faith or good works in those chosen but was according to the free and sovereign grace of God.
Eph 1:4, Jer 31:3, Rom 8:29, Eph 1:5, II Tim 1:9, Rom 11:5
4-2 We believe that God the Father made a covenant of grace and peace with His Son Jesus Christ on behalf of those chosen, who were put into the hands of Christ and made his special care and charge, He agreeing to come into the world to keep the law for them and give His life on the cross for their sins; to rise from the dead, and so obtain for them eternal life.
Ps 89:3, Is 42:6, Heb 13:20, John 6:37, 39, 10:27-29, Gal 4:4-5
5. Jesus Christ The Mediator.
5-1 We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, being established from everlasting as the Mediator of the New Covenant, having engaged to be the surety of His people, did in the fullness of time, really assume human nature, consisting of a true body and soul.
Prov 8:23, 1 Tim 2:5, Gal 4:4, Heb 10:5, Matt 26:38
5-2 We believe that He was born of the virgin and that His taking a human nature did in no way mean that He ceased to be the divine Son of God, but was, during His earthly life, and is forever, both God and man in one person.
Matt 1:23, John 5:17-18, Acts 20:28, Heb 5:6
5-3 We believe that as the Mediator He really suffered and died as a substitute for His people in paying the penalty for their sins, having obeyed perfectly every commandment of God’s law for them. Christ died particularly and only for those who were entrusted to Him in the covenant of grace.
2 Cor 5:21, Is 53:4-6, Mark 10:45, Matt 3:15, Matt 1:21, John 10:15
5-4 We believe that Jesus Christ was buried, that He rose again on the third day in the same body that had been crucified, though now glorified, that He appeared to many and ascended into heaven to intercede for His people.
I Cor 15:4-8, John 20:27, Acts 1:9-11, John 17:9, Heb 9:24
6. Evangelism and Effectual Calling.
6-1 We believe that Jesus Christ has given His Church the responsibility to preach the gospel to every creature and that we are to use all available means within God’s Word to this end. The doctrines of God’s sovereign grace in salvation should in no way inhibit evangelistic zeal and enterprise.
Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, II Tim 2:10, Rom 9:1-3
6-2 We believe that although the gospel is to be preached sincerely and passionately to all, that only those who have been chosen by God in eternity and redeemed by Christ on the cross will actually respond, in true faith and repentance, to the call of the gospel, the Holy Spirit irresistibly working in their dead souls in order to enable them to believe and repent.
Rom 8:29-30, Acts 13:48, John 6:44, 10:16, Ps 110:3, Matt 22:14, John 3:3
7. Justification.
7-1 We believe that justification is an act of God’s free grace whereby He pardons sin and accounts the sinner righteous in His holy sight. This is not based upon anything that we have or have not done but only on the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to the sinner which is received by faith alone.
Rom 3:21-22, 28, Ps 32: 1-2, Rom 4:1-4, 5:19, Gal 3:10-13
8. Sanctification and Perseverance.
8-1 We believe that the sinner who is enabled by the Holy Spirit to trust in Christ and repent of sin becomes a new creature in Christ. However, due to the corruption of his old and fallen nature, there is a continual need and responsibility to progress in holiness through the power of the indwelling Spirit. Without a holy life no man will see the Lord.
2 Cor 5:17, Phil 2:12-13, Gal 5:16, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Heb 12:14
8-2 We believe that all those chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and called by the Holy Spirit through the gospel shall certainly and finally persevere, that not one will perish but shall enter into everlasting life. This in no way contradicts the need for holiness but means that God will keep and preserve his people in the way of holiness.
Rom 8:29 - 30, John 10:28-29, Matt 24:12-13, 1 Pet 1:15-16
9. The Church.
9-1 We believe there is a distinction to be made between the invisible or universal Church, and the visible or local Church. By the invisible or universal Church is meant the whole body of God’s elect people Savingly united to Christ; called invisible because the work of saving grace is in the heart, and hidden from the eyes of men; and called universal because it comprises all of God’s people beyond any boundaries of time, or space, or nationality, or kindred, or tongue, and whether in Heaven or on earth.
Heb 12:22-24, Matt 16:18, Eph 1:22, 5:23-27, II Cor 11:2, Rev 7:9-12, Acts 20:28, Acts 14:23, I Cor 1:2, 4:17
9-2 We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is Head of the Church, which is composed of God’s elect in every age. The Lord’s people, according to His command, are to gather themselves into local Churches. To each of these Churches Christ has given authority and responsibility for administering order, discipline and worship according to the Scriptures. The officers of a Church are elders and deacons.
Eph 5:23, 5:25-27, 1 Cor 1:2, Rev 2-3, Phil 1:1
10. The Ordinances.
10-1 We believe that there are but two ordinances appointed by Christ in His Church; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
10-2 We believe that Baptism is obligatory for every believer who is to be immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is a symbol of union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. It signifies the washing away of sins and is a prerequisite to Church membership.
Matt 28:19, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, John 3:23, Rom 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, Acts 18:8, 1 Cor 1:2
10-3 We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ on the same night he was betrayed. The two elements of the Lord’s supper are bread and wine. The broken bread represents the broken body of Christ in his sufferings and death, and the wine, his blood which was shed for his people at Calvary. This supper is to be observed until the return of Christ. Its purpose is to commemorate and bring to perpetual remembrance the death of Christ, and is in no sense a re-sacrifice of Christ.
Matt 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:19-22, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Matt 28:19-20, Acts 2:40-42, Acts 18:8, cf. 1 Cor 11:17-34
10-4 We believe believers baptism to be prerequisite to Church fellowship, and to communion at the Lord’s Supper, that only they who have obeyed the Lord’s command to be baptised may sit down to remember the Saviour’s death.
Matt 28:19-20, Acts 2:40-42, Acts 18:8, cf. I Cor 11:17-34
11. The Future.
11-1 We believe in the visible, personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matt 24:27, 30, Acts 1:11, 1 Thes 4:16, Rev 1:7
11-2 We believe that there will be at Christ’s return a resurrection of the dead; of the just unto eternal life and blessedness, and of the unjust unto eternal judgment and condemnation.
Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, Acts 17:31, 2 Cor 5:10, I Thes 4:15-17
11-3 We believe that the wicked shall be cast away into everlasting and conscious punishment in hell whereas the righteous will be welcomed into heaven where they will live and reign with Christ and enjoy his presence forever.
Matt 7:23, 25:46, Mark 9:48, 2 Thes 1:1-10, Matt 25:34, Rev 22:3-5