We believe that the Bible is inspired by God, true, without error, authoritative and sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21).

We believe there is only one true God (Deut. 6:4), creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1), who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (Rom. 1:3-4; Heb. 1:8), was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38) and is both fully God (John 1:1, 14) and fully human (1 Tim. 2:5).

We believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 1:19), died as the sacrificial substitute to pay the penalty for sin (1 Pet. 3:18), He was buried and that He physically rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-8), defeating sin, death and the devil (1 Cor. 15:56-57; Heb. 2:14-15).

We believe that only through repentance from sin (2 Cor. 7:10) and faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9) can someone be reconciled to God (Rom. 5:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:18-20), receive forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7) and experience all the blessings of salvation, both now and in the age to come (Mark 10:29-30; Eph. 1:3).

We believe that sin is rebellion against God and disobedience to His law (Rom. 5:19; 1 John 3:4), falling short of His glory (Rom. 3:23) and that the deserved penalty for sin is physical and spiritual death (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23) and final eternal separation from God in hell (Rev. 20:11-15).

We believe that Christians still struggle with sin, being part of this fallen world, but are declared at salvation to be new creations, righteous before God (2 Cor 5:17, 21). They then become more and more like Jesus – in thought, action, and relationships (Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Pet. 1:15-16) as they respond in obedience to God’s Word (Acts 20:32; Col. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:22), walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-25), and participate in their local church (Eph. 4:15-16; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24-25). Although never achieving perfection in this life, Christians are to pursue spiritual growth, realising in practice what God has provided in position (Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Thess. 4:1-8).

We believe that supernaturally God created the world in six successive 24-hour days through the mediation of Jesus Christ and the operation of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1- 31; John 1:1-3). Man is the direct creation of God, not in any sense the product of evolution, but made in the divine image (Gen. 1:26-27). We believe that the Genesis account is the trustworthy, historical record of creation (2 Tim. 3:16).

We believe all human beings are made in the image of God (Gen.1:26-27), but due to the fall of humanity are sinful in nature and action (Rom. 5:12), marring but not destroying the original image (Gen. 9:6; Jam. 3:9).

We believe that the Church is composed of all those who are joined to Jesus Christ through saving faith and are His body (1 Cor. 12:12-13). We believe that the local church is a gathering of professing Christians who commit themselves to one another to fulfill God’s purposes under God-ordained and biblically qualified leadership (1 Tim. 3:1-7; 8-13; Tit. 1:5-9), and practice the ordinances of believer’s baptism (Matt. 28:19-20) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

We believe that marriage, as ordained by God and commanded in the Scriptures, is a life-long covenant between one man and one woman at the exclusion of all others. We do not recognize any other union as marriage (Gen 2:23-25; Heb. 13:4). Marriage is symbolic of the covenant between Christ and the church (Eph. 5:25-32).

We believe that genuine believers are sustained by the grace and power of God and preserved by Him from the onslaughts of sin and Satan so that all will inherit eternal life (John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:31-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:4), persevering in the faith despite the reality of some sinful behaviour (Heb.10:35-39).

We believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the unique mark of the New Covenant (John 1:33, 7:37-39) and that his power is displayed both in transforming our characters (Gal. 5:16) and in giving us effective power for ministry and mission (Rom. 12:6a; Acts 1:8). We believe that spiritual gifts are divinely given and sovereignly distributed by the Holy Spirit to every member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:4-6, 11). We believe that every believer who has trusted in Christ is baptized, sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:11; 1 Cor. 12:12), but do not believe that the Spirit’s baptism is a result of a second blessing experience evidenced by speaking in tongues. We believe that God the Holy Spirit does lead, guide and work in the heart of believers, but that the canon of Scripture is closed and that it is our final, sure and sufficient source of special revelation from God (Heb. 1:1-2; Eph. 2:20). We believe that God can and still does work miracles according to his sovereign will and purpose, but do not believe that Christians can claim these from God as their right. We believe that as a church we must pursue love and eagerly desire the exercise of spiritual gifts so that we may grow and glorify Christ (1 Cor. 14:1).

We believe that both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ (Gen. 1:26-27; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). Men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond (1 Cor. 12:4- 6). Therefore, women are to be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to utilize their gifting in ministry, in service to the body of Christ, and through teaching in ways that are consistent with the Word of God. Both husbands and wives are responsible to God for spiritual nurture and vitality in the home, but God has given to the man primary responsibility to lead his wife and family in accordance with the servantleadership and sacrificial love characterised by Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19). This principle of male headship should not be confused with, nor give any hint of, domineering control. Rather, it is to be the loving, tender and nurturing care of a godly man who is himself under the kind and gentle authority of Jesus Christ. The Elders/Pastors of each local church have been granted authority under the headship of Jesus Christ to provide oversight and to teach/preach the Word of God in corporate assembly for the building up of the body (1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). We believe therefore that the office of Elder/Pastor is to be fulfilled by men (1 Tim. 2:12- 15).

We believe that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9) and will one day return physically to the earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:11-21, 20:4-6).

We believe that the next event in the prophetic plan of God is the coming of Jesus Christ to rapture the Church (1 Thess. 4:17). During the following seven-year tribulation period God will pour out judgments on the unbelieving world (Rev. 6-18; Dan. 9:24-27). The climax of this period of judgment will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great power and glory to establish His literal kingdom over all nations for one thousand years (Rev. 19-20; Matt 24:30; Jude 14). During the millennium, Israel will occupy a place of honour and blessing in fulfilment of the covenant promise made to her in the Old Testament (Isaiah 43:5-7; Jer. 12:15; Ezek. 28:25-26; Amos 9:14-15). Then the wicked dead will be raised bodily, judged at the great white throne, and cast into the lake of fire where they will consciously suffer forever (Rev. 20:11-15). All believers, however, will enjoy the presence of God forever in a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-22:5).