OUR ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES
Jesus is the Word of God who became a man. He is wholly and perfectly God, as well as, wholly and perfectly man. He therefore has both divine and human natures. (Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:5-13; John 1:1-3,14).
These are our ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES (in red). They are ones that are standard for any true believer and should remain without compromise. They are established by the Word of God as unshakable and non-negotiable. It is in the essential doctrines that you are judged by God as being a true believer or one that is deceived.
Bible
We believe that the Bible is the written revelation of God. The is doctrinal infallibility of the original manuscripts that make up the Old and New Testaments. The Two testaments alone make up the Bible. It represents the final and absolute authority of our faith. Furthermore, it can be trusted as the plumb line of our faith and life. The bible is fully complete of itself, is self contained and is not reliant on any particular church, council, sect, or creed.
The Bible is the only source of true doctrine.
(2 Peter. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16)
God
There is only one true and eternal God. God is a supreme. There were no gods created before or after him, ever. (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 44:8; 1 Tim. 1:17).
He has always been God and never anything else (Psalm 90:2). He alone is Almighty, Holy, Eternal, Omnipotent (all power), Omnipresent (everywhere), Omniscient (all knowing), Uncreated. (Rev. 4:8; Isaiah 57:15; Jer. 32:17,27; Psalm 139:7; 1 John 3:20)
He is Love, Light, Spirit Truth, Creator, Judge. (1 John 4:8, 16; 1 John 1:5; John 4:24; Psalm 117:2; Isaiah 40:12,22,26)
He alone has the right to be worshiped, served and proclaimed. (Gen. 24:26; Ex. 4:31; 2 Chron. 29:28; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 7:11; Matt. 4:10; 1 Cor. 6:19; Phil. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:14; Matt. 28:19; John 14:15f.; Acts 1:8)
Trinity
God is a Triune God that make up the Trinity. In this trinity there is unity; There is one Person that is the Father; another the Son; and another the Holy Spirit. But God is of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They are not three Gods; but one God.; their Glory is equal and their Majesty co eternal. (Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt. 3:17; 28:19; Luke 9:35; 2 Cor. 13:14).
Jesus
Substitutionary Atonement
Jesus bore our sins on His body on the cross (1 Pet 2:24). He died in our place despite not having broken one Law of God. Thus he was the perfect sacrificial Atonement Lamb. His sacrifice was necessary so that we would be freed from condemnation ourselves (Col 2:14). By his death God was satisfied with this necessary act because we were incapable of atoning for our own sins. Christian believers are released from Eternal Judgement (1 Pet. 3:18; Matt. 1:21; 25:46; Rom. 5; 1 John 2:2) and in so doing can come close to God. (1 Pet 3:18).Resurrection
Three days after his burial (by Jewish reckoning), Jesus rose from the dead . He maintained the same body but in a new, supernatural form. Before he ascended he appeared so select women first, then His disciples and then other groups. (Luk 24:39-43; Mar 16:9, 12, 14; Mat 27:53; Acts 13:31; 1 Co 15:5-8)
Virgin Birth
Jesus was conceived and born miraculously of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:42). Following the birth of Jesus, Mary had other children by natural means (Matt. 1:25, 12:48; Luk 8:19; Joh 7:3; Joh 20:17; Ac 1:14; Mar 6:3; Jude 1:1) so therefore stopped being a virgin
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and is God. He is a person who has a personality that can love (Rom 15:30), grieve (Eph 4:30), instruct (Neh 9:20), create (Gen 1:2, Job 33:4), give life (John 6:63; Rom 8:2) and leads (Gal 5:18). He is not just a power or force, although he gives power to those who are filled by Him.
We believe that that God freely gives gifts of the Holy Spirit to his disciples (followers of Christ, being members of the Church).
These gifts are charismatic gifts that continue to operate in the Church today. The Holy Spirit (working through believers in the messiah - Jesus Christ) empowers true believers in Jesus Christ to edify the Church and in spreading the Gospel. However, these gifts are to be used with a sound mind and used in Love. Extremism, stoic traditionalism or experiential theology is rejected. (Gal 5:22; 1Co 7:5, 9:25, 14:40; 2Tim 1:7; 2Pe 1:6; 1Thes 5:19; Prov 3:5; Col 2:4)
Repentance means to turn away from the life of Sin before and towards a life of following the example laid down by Christ and expounded on by Apostle Paul (1 Jn 1:5-2:17).
Salvation is not feeling sorry for your sins but rather accepting Jesus Christ as your master who has absolute authority in your life.
Salvation
Salvation comes firstly through God's grace and love for us, through repentance and faith in Jesus alone (Jn 3:16; 2 Thess 2:13).Repentance means to turn away from the life of Sin before and towards a life of following the example laid down by Christ and expounded on by Apostle Paul (1 Jn 1:5-2:17).
Salvation is not feeling sorry for your sins but rather accepting Jesus Christ as your master who has absolute authority in your life.
Gospel
We believe that the Gospel message is this: That Christ died on the cross as atonement for our Sins, that he was buried and after three days he rose again and ascended to heaven. (1 Cor 15:1-8, 20; Eph 4:10; Acts 1:9-11). The essence of the message of the Gospel is what leads to salvation.The State of Man
(The term Man is used for brevity. No offence intended)
Man and creation is fallen due to rebellion (disobedience). Thus, Man are spiritually dead. Because Man is dead in this manner, he has no ability to come close to God (atone) under his own compulsion but only if the Father draws him in. (Jn 6:44); Rom 3:10-12).
Man cannot justify himself before the Almighty God by any means - not even by making good works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:1-6).
The consequences of remaining in sin for the sinner is eternal punishment and separation from God (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-3)
This Ministry does not support unity through ecumenism or other non-evangelical forms of Christianity that have different fundamental doctrine regarding God, The Trinity, Bible, Christ.
We believe that the unconditional covenants of God to Israel - specifically Abrahamic (Gen 15:12-21), Land (Ezek 34:25-31; Isa 27:12) Davidic (2 Sam 7:11b-16; Ps 89:3-4, 29, 34-37), and New Covenants prove that Israel is still the chosen people of God.
God has not abandoned Israel or replaced them but they will be regenerated (Jer 31:31-34) They will then will coexist with the Church in the Milennial Kingdom, but in different roles (Israel: Deut 28:1; Isa 14:1-2: Church: Rev 20:4-6)
Works
Man and creation is fallen due to rebellion (disobedience). Thus, Man are spiritually dead. Because Man is dead in this manner, he has no ability to come close to God (atone) under his own compulsion but only if the Father draws him in. (Jn 6:44); Rom 3:10-12).
Man cannot justify himself before the Almighty God by any means - not even by making good works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:1-6).
The consequences of remaining in sin for the sinner is eternal punishment and separation from God (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-3)
OUR OTHER BELIEFS
These Non-essential beliefs are not critical in fulfilling your role as a believer of Jesus Christ, (Simply put, these are doctrines that will wont determine if you go to Heaven or Hell if we have a slightly different view from each other). For example, it is not critical that you or I agree on what form of water baptism we deem as appropriate, so long as we can understand and justify in scripture.Christian Church
Christ calls for unity in His Church. (Rom 15:5 Eph 4:3, 13; Phil 2:1-11) This unity comes only to those who adhere to the standards as laid out in The Bible. There are differences in some non-essential doctrines which is irrelevant to unity (such as ordination of woman pastors or using grape juice instead of wine, what you eat, when you worship, etc) (Col 2:21-23; Heb 13:9).
This Ministry does not support unity through ecumenism or other non-evangelical forms of Christianity that have different fundamental doctrine regarding God, The Trinity, Bible, Christ.
Baptism
The act of Baptism is not necessary for salvation, as it is our faith in God's grace that saves, however the act should be strongly encouraged out of obedience to Christ. (Rom 6:2-4; Rom3:28-31)
We therefore believe that Baptism is an outward expression that signifies identification with Christ. Baptiste means to overwhelm, overcome or submerge in. Being Baptized into Christ means that Christ overwhelms us.
Therefore the outward gesture of that is Baptism by full immersion.
Therefore the outward gesture of that is Baptism by full immersion.
Second Coming
We believe that Christ will come down as he ascended after the final gathering, but immediately after the National repentance of Israel.
Millennium
We believe that Christ will return before the Millennial Kingdom is established. It is at that time that Christ will become King over all the Earth for 1,000 years. (Ps 15:1-5, 24:1-6; Isa 2:2-4, 11:6-9, 65:17-25; Mic 4:1-5; Rev 20)
Replacement
We believe that the Gentiles who truly accept Jesus have replaced the Jews that rejected Him. However, the Church does not replace Israel but that with the death and resurrection of Christ, both true believing Jews and Gentiles can become members of the one Body that is the Church. (See Israel)
Israel
We believe that it is the plan of God to bring back his people. The same people (Israel) that rejected him will one day call out to Yeshua (Jesus) as their messiah. This will come about during a period of regathering. (Isa 11:11-12:6; Isa 43:5-7; Zeph 3:18-20) Christ will not return until Israel as a nation repents and is saved.
We believe that the unconditional covenants of God to Israel - specifically Abrahamic (Gen 15:12-21), Land (Ezek 34:25-31; Isa 27:12) Davidic (2 Sam 7:11b-16; Ps 89:3-4, 29, 34-37), and New Covenants prove that Israel is still the chosen people of God.
God has not abandoned Israel or replaced them but they will be regenerated (Jer 31:31-34) They will then will coexist with the Church in the Milennial Kingdom, but in different roles (Israel: Deut 28:1; Isa 14:1-2: Church: Rev 20:4-6)
Works
Notes
I believe that a Statement of Faith tends to be a work in progress. The reason is that by keeping an open (yet critical) mind we allow the Spirit to lead us into an increasing revelation of God. There are things I know now and can explain better that I could when I first became a Christian. In fact, I know more about the things of God better now than I did last year.
However, you need to know my personal doctrinal beliefs so that you can judge for yourself, and use that when researching information I put in my blogs.
Understand that there are essential and non-essential doctrines that are present in any congregation. I have put essential doctrines in bold. If you disagree with them then I am open to discuss. However, discussion and proof must centre on the Bible. I will leave it to your discretion if you wish to invite me to talk.
There is always a risk of declaring a Statement of Faith. For example, you may believe that sprinkling of babies is acceptable for water baptism and I may believe in full immersion So you may see me as a false teacher because of that one (non-essential) point and refuse to read what I say.
If I am invited to talk at a group who hold a differing non-essential doctrine, then out of love and respect I do not raise that issue unless specifically asked and invited to respond.
Note: I speak of "We" because I speak of the Ministry and any person who works for that Ministry
If I am invited to talk at a group who hold a differing non-essential doctrine, then out of love and respect I do not raise that issue unless specifically asked and invited to respond.
Note: I speak of "We" because I speak of the Ministry and any person who works for that Ministry
