We Believe

Who We Are

If you’re curious and want to know more about what we believe about God, Jesus, the Bible etc then below is some information that might help. If you still have questions then you can visit us, email us or go to Lets Ask Phil to post a specific question.

THE BIBLE

God inspired the Bible. Therefore, as originally given, it is his Word to us.
2 Timothy 3:16

GOD

God, Yahweh, is the Creator of all things. He exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (“The Trinity”) We should see the differences between them, but cannot separate them. Each is fully God.
Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

THE FATHER

The Father is a co-equal person in the Trinity.
He is God.
1 Corinthians 8:6

He is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

The Second person of the Trinity, the Son, is eternally generated by him.
Matthew 3:17; Psalms 2:7

The Son is the only Way to the Father.
Matthew 11:27

He is a good Father.
Matthew 7:11

He was known by Israel as Father.
Deuteronomy 32:6 Isaiah 64:8

Jesus called him Father, as prophesied to David by Nathan.
2 Samuel 7:14 1 Chronicles 17:12-13 2 Corinthians 1:3

He is the Father of all those who believe, and we are his children.
Psalm 103:13 Matthew 6:9; Romans 8:14-17

It is the Father who predestined believers to be like his Son, Jesus.
Romans 8:29

Believers have fellowship with the Father and the Son.
1 John 1:3

He is a Father to all people, even if they do not recognise or experience that.
Malachi 2:10

US

Through disobedience, the whole human race has fallen away from the obedience that God intended. This is sin. This has separated us from him.
By our own efforts we cannot restore the relationship with him or lose the guilt and eternal consequences of our sin.

SALVATION

We can be saved from the guilt and eternal consequences of our sin by repentance and trust in the sacrifice which Jesus made for us in dying on the cross.

This is by the undeserved loving-kindness of God, not by our own doing. We are made new (regenerated, ‘born again”) by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then we possess eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9  Hebrews 9:12-22  Romans 5:11  John 5:24  John 3:16

JESUS

Jesus the Messiah is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, come to earth. Fully God, he was born also fully human, one of us. He died to take the penalty which we should have suffered for our sinful state. He rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to many people.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Romans 4:25

At his bodily ascension back into heaven, Jesus took up again his rightful place in the glory of the Trinity. He will return to take his church and will rule all that exists.
John 14:2-3 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a co-equal person in the Trinity. He interacts with us by coming into us, by filling us, by coming upon us. He then lives within us, leading us to fulfil the life which God has for us.

He comes into us as we turn to God in repentance and faith, and gives life to our dead spirit (regeneration, being “born-again”). He then dwells permanently within us, bringing into us the fulness of God.
Romans 8:11 2 Corinthians 6:16 Galatians 3:14

At appropriate times and occasions, he can sovereignly fill us with his presence, showing the nature of the character of God through us, so that we can better serve God’s purpose for that moment.
Acts 4:31 Gal 5:23 Ephesians 5:18

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a single real experience: the Holy Spirit comes upon us and releases his gifts of power within us. These abilities surpass those mankind usually has. They did not cease after the Bible times. They continue as seen in the Biblical accounts of the early Church and in the Old Testament accounts when the Spirit of God is said to be “on” his people. This experience can coincide with conversion, or come some time after.
Acts 2:1-4 Acts 4:30 Acts 8:14-17 Acts 10:44-46 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 James 5:14–15

In addition the Holy Spirit sanctifies us.
Galatians 5:16-25

He teaches and guides us.
Matthew 10:19 John 14:25-26 John 16:12-13a Acts 16:6

THE CHURCH

The church (Greek “Ecclesia” – “the called-out-ones”) consists of all who believe and who have believed in the past. The whole church is under the headship of Jesus.
The church on earth is composed of true believers in many smaller groups in many localities. Under the headship of Jesus, it is responsible for the worship of God and spreading the good news of Jesus.
Acts 15:22 Matthew 16:18 18:15-20

AS BELIEVERS

It is important to remember the sacrifice of Jesus by taking communion (bread and wine) together.
1 Corinthians 11:28-32 Matthew 26:26-28

ISRAEL

The nation of Israel was chosen by God’s covenant at the time of Abraham to be God’s representatives on earth. This covenant was God’s alone and did not hinge upon Israel’s success or failure in this task. While this does not confer salvation on them, God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants regarding the People and the Land are unchanged and will be fulfilled.

Jesus was the promised “Offspring”, but the promises to the people of Israel did not end at his first coming. Indeed, the fulfilment of God’s promises to Israel will play a significant role in his second coming.

The church has inherited the task of representing God on earth, but must be careful not to presume to be superior on this count. We are a branch, grafted onto the root of God’s promises to Israel.
Genesis 15:17-18 Deuteronomy 7:6 Romans 9:4-5 & 22 & 24