SUMMARY OF FAITH

The whole Bible is the only final authority and the final court of appeal on all matters of faith and practice.

The church adopts as a guide the 1689 “LONDON CONFESSION OF FAITH.”

In summary we believe as follows:

THE SCRIPTURES

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God and are the

infallible and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

THE TRIUNE GOD

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of himself

all perfections and being infinite in them all. To him all creatures owe the highest love,

reverence and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with

distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. God created all

things from nothing as recorded in Genesis 1 and 2. God from eternity decreed all things that

come to pass and perpetually governs all creatures and events. However, he is not in any

way the author or approver of sin, nor does he destroy the responsibility of intelligent

creatures.

THE FALL OF MAN

That sinful condition into which man fell consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of that

righteousness in which he was created, and the corruption of his nature whereby he is utterly

indisposed, disabled and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to

all evil, and that continually, which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which all

transgressions proceed. Therefore, although completely responsible to do so, man of himself

is unable to repent of sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

THE MEDIATOR

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed Mediator between God

and man. Having taken upon himself human nature, yet without sin, he perfectly fulfilled the

law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again

the third day and ascended to the Father, at whose right hand he ever lives to make

intercession for his people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the

church, and Sovereign of the universe.

ELECTION

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons to eternal life, not because of foreseen merit

or faith in them, but because of his mercy in Christ. Those who have been predestined to be

saved are called, justified, sanctified and glorified.

REGENERATION AND CALLING

Regeneration is the implanting of a new heart by the Holy Spirit. God calls us into fellowship

with Jesus Christ by his Word and his Holy Spirit, our minds being spiritually enlightened and

our wills and affections being renewed.

REPENTANCE

Repentance is a saving grace. The repentant person, by the Holy Spirit, is convicted of the

evil of his sin and humbles himself for it, with godly sorrow, hatred of it, self-abhorrence, and a

purpose to endeavour to walk before the Lord so as to please him in all things.

FAITH

Faith is a saving grace by which we receive and rest upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation as

he is freely offered to us in the Gospel.

JUSTIFICATION AND ADOPTION

Justification is an act of God’s free grace whereby he pardons our sins and accounts us

righteous. This is not based on anything we have done but only on the righteousness of Christ

imputed to us and received by faith alone. Once justified we are adopted into the family of

God.

SANCTIFICATION

Those who are united to Jesus Christ are renewed in their whole nature after the image of

God. It is a progressive work of the Holy Spirit who dwells in all believers. They are thus

enabled to pursue a life of holiness in obedience to all the commands of Christ, though never

attaining to perfection in this life.

PERSEVERANCE

Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved and sanctified by his Spirit will never totally

nor finally fall away from the state of grace but will persevere to the end.

THE CHURCH

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the church, which is composed of God’s elect in every age.

According to his commandment, Christians are to gather in local churches. To each of these

churches he has given authority for administering order and discipline. The officers of a

church are Elders and Deacons.

BAPTISM

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus obligatory on every believer, in which he is

immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is a sign of his

union with Christ in his death and resurrection, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself

to God to walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church membership.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of

bread and wine, and to be observed by his church until he returns. It is in no sense a sacrifice

or a means of having sins cleansed. Its purpose is to commemorate Christ’s death, to confirm

the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, and a renewal of their communion,

with Christ and their fellow believers.

EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS

It is the duty of every church and of every Christian to extend the Gospel to all men

everywhere. As faith comes by hearing the Word of God, we are to seek by all methods

sanctioned in the Word of God to persuade men to seek Jesus Christ and his salvation.

THE CHRISTIAN AND THE STATE

Civil government is ordained of God and it is the duty of Christians to obey those who have

the rule over them in all matters consistent with the teaching of Scripture. Christians are also

to pray for their rulers.

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe in the visible, personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

RESURRECTION

The bodies of men after death return to dust but their spirits return immediately to God – the

righteous to rest with him, the wicked to be reserved under darkness until the judgement. The

bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

THE JUDGEMENT

God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone

shall receive according to his deeds. The wicked will go on to everlasting punishment in hell

with the devil and his angels. The righteous, with glorified bodies, will live and reign with

Christ forever.