The Holy Scriptures

We believe inspiration to be defined as God superintending human authors so that using their own individual
personalities they composed and recorded His revelation to man without error in words of the original manuscripts
(Mark 13: 11; John 5: 39; Acts 1: 2, 16; 26: 22-23; 28: 23; Romans 15: 4; 1 Corinthians 2: 13, 10: 11; 2 Timothy 3: 16,
2 Peter 1: 21).

We believe this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the Bible's writings- historical, poetical,
doctrinal, and prophetically - as appeared in the original manuscripts (Mark 12: 26, 36; Luke 24: 27, 44; John 5: 39;
Acts 34: 2, 3; 18: 28; 26: 22-23; 28: 23).

We believe the only true interpreter of Scripture is the man who has trusted the person and finished work of Christ for
his salvation and as a result receives knowledge of the things of God by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit (1
Corinthians 2: 1-16; John 14: 34, 26; 16:13, 1 John 2: 27).

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We believe the Bible was written in an historical framework and is not properly understood until the historical
background is first considered.

We believe all Scripture is inspired of God; that the Bible ought to be considered from a grammatical point of
view, that is, understanding the language in which the books of the Bible were written thereby being able to discern
the intent of the author as he wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We believe that any passage in the Bible, to be correctly interpreted, must come under the scrutiny of the immediate
and wider contexts of the passage under study.

We believe that the Bible is in harmony with itself and the interpretation of all Scripture ought to include the
comparing of Scripture to Scripture.

We believe that the dispensations are stewardships or responsibilities given to man by God by which He administers
His purposes on the earth. We believe that the sequence in the dispensational dealings of God with man is:

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(1) A God-given responsibility or stewardship to man;

(2) A failure on the part of man to be obedient to the given responsibility;

(3) A change of stewardship because of disobedience to the former responsibility.

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We believe an example of this sequence may be observed in the dispensation or stewardship or responsibility of the Mosaic

Law: The God-given responsibility of keeping the Law was given to the children of Israel (Exodus 19: 3 ff); the nation Israel
was not obedient to the Law Deuteronomy 9: 7-29; Judges 2: 11-13; 3: 5-7; 6: 1, 7-10; et. al.; 1 Kings 6: 11-13; 9: 3-
9; 13: 33-34; 14: 7-9; et. al.); they followed their own righteousness and forsook the righteousness of God (as a
comparison of Romans 10: 2-4 and Galatians 3: 24-25 would show); therefore God removed the nation Israel as a
steward and established a new dispensation or stewardship or responsibility, the Church of the New Testament
(Romans 9-11; Ephesians 2: 11-22; 3: 6; Galatians 6). This sequence is found throughout Biblical History and is the key to
understanding God's dealings with men throughout history. We believe also that the basis of salvation in every
dispensation is the death of Christ; the requirement for salvation in every age is faith; and the content of faith changes
in the various dispensations. For example: Abraham believed the promises of God and it was accounted to him for
righteousness (Genesis 15: 6; Romans 4: 3) but it is certain that he did not understand the Death of Messiah as
clearly as the New Testament believer. Therefore, the content of faith between those two dispensations is different...
Abraham believed specific promises from God and we believe specific promises from God, but they are different
promises therefore having different content. Abraham and the Believer come into a relationship with God by Faith but
the content of that faith differs with each stewardship or dispensation. We believe that God has always been gracious,
regardless of the ruling dispensation, but that man has not at all times been under a stewardship of grace as is true in
the present dispensation (1 Corinthians 9: 34, Ephesians 3: 2, 3, 9, Romans 6:14, John 1: 34).

We believe all the Scriptures were designed for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3: 16-34).

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The Nature of God-The Godhead or the Trinity

We believe that God is eternal (Psalm 90: 1-4), immutable (Psalm 102: 26, 27), the creator of all things, and that
nothing exists apart from Him (Psalm 8: 3, 102: 25, John 1: 3). He is omnipotent (Psalm 135: 6), omnipresent (Psalm
139: 3-12, Jeremiah 23: 24), omniscient (Isaiah 46: 10, Colossians 2: 3), and inscrutable (Isaiah 55: 8, 9). Being
infinite in all His attributes and with perfect foreknowledge, He will not change His mind or repent Numbers
23: 19), but will accomplish His eternal purpose (Isaiah 46: 10, 11; 55: 11).
We believe that there is only one God, Deuteronomy 6: 4) but in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal and
co-equal persons, the same in essence but distinct in function.
We believe that the Scriptures substantiate the above definition: the Father is God (John 6: 27; Ephesians 4: 6); Jesus Christ

is God (John 8: 58; Hebrews 1: 8); the Spirit is God (Acts 5: 3-4); and all three are associated equally as one

(Matthew 28: 19; 2 Corinthians 13: 14).

The Angels

We believe that the angels were originally created Holy (Jude 6) by Jesus Christ (Colossians1: 16), before the foundation of

the world (Job 38: 6-7).
We believe that the angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1: 14); that they are without power to reproduce after their kind
(Mark 12: 25); that they do not die (Luke 20: 36); that they are distinct from human beings (Psalms 8: 4-5); and that
they have great power (2 Peter 2: 11).
We believe that although the angels were created holy, some left that holy estate because of sin (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:
4). We believe because of sin, these fallen angels are commonly referred to throughout Scripture as demons
(Matthew 12: 24; 25: 41; Ephesians 6: 11-12).
 

Satan

We believe that originally Satan was among the creation of angels (Colossians 1: 16) and was esteemed highly in the
eyes of God, (Ezekiel 28: 11-15); however, when he tried to exalt himself over God he was deposed by God along
with a host of angels that followed him in the same rebellion (Isaiah 14: 12-20: 2 Peter 2: 4; Jude 6).
We believe in the person and personality of Satan, not as some nebulous designation for evil or for evil influence, but
as a created being who is the author of sin and the cause of the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy
of God; that he is currently the ruler of all spiritual wickedness and counterfeiting of Christianity; and that he will
ultimately be cast into the lake of fire along with his angels and all men who have rejected Jesus Christ as their
Saviour (Genesis 3: 1-5; Job 1: 6-7; Isaiah 14: 12-34; Ezekiel 28: 11-19; Matthew 4: 2-11; 25:
41; 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15; Revelation 20: 10).

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Man

We believe that God originally created man, in the image and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1: 26; 2: 7).
We also believe that man fell through sin, and as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in
trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of Satan. We also believe that this spiritual death, or
total depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire race of man, the Man Christ Jesus alone being
excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark
of divine life, but from God's point of view is essentially and unchangeably bad apart from divine grace (Genesis 3: 1-
24; 6: 5; Psalms 14: 1-3; 51: 5; Jeremiah 34: 9; John 3: 6; 5: 40; 6: 53; Romans 3: 10-19; 5: 12-21; 8: 6-7; Ephesians 2: 1-3;

1 Timothy 5: 6; 1 John 3: 8).

The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ eternally existed with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit prior to His
incarnation (John 1: 1, 2, 14; 6: 33, 38, 41, 50, 51, 58, 62; 8: 58; 34:5).
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1: 16, 18, 20; Luke
1: 34-35) and was born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1: 18, 22-23; Luke 1: 24, 34-35). In this He took upon Himself the
likeness of man (Philippians 2: 6-11) while retaining His divinity, so that being wholly man and wholly God, He was
tempted in every way and yet without sin (Hebrews 4: 15). Being sinless He bore our sins on the cross allowing God
to be just and also the justifier of those who believe Romans 3: 26; 2 Corinthians 5: 21).
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Jesus Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father (John 6: 38), to glorify God the Father (Philippians 2: 11),
and to be highly exalted (Philippians 2: 9). He also came in order that He might reveal God (John 5: 19-30), redeem
sinful mankind (John 12: 27, Matthew 1: 21, Romans 3: 23-24, 2 Corinthians 5: 21, Ephesians 1: 7), provide an
example for Christian Living (1 Peter 2: 21), destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3: 8), be merciful High Priest
(Hebrews 5: 1-2), and fulfil the Abrahamic (Galatians 3: 8, 14), Davidic, and New (1Corinthians 11: 25), Covenants
(Luke 1: 31-33).

We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a vicarious,
substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead
Romans 3: 24-25; 4: 25; 2 Corinthians 5: 21; Ephesians1: 20; 1 Corinthians 15).

We believe that Jesus Christ has ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where,
as our High Priest, He fulfils the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1: 9-11; Ephesians 1: 20;
Hebrews 9: 24; 1 Timothy 2: 5; 1John 2: 1, 2).

We believe that His Transfer of the Church, Second Coming, Millennial Reign, and Eternal state.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity.
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in relation to Salvation, is the Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment; and is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ,
indwelling and sealing them unto the day of complete redemption; and sovereignty bestowing spiritual gifts upon all
believers (John 1: 13; 3: 3-6; 16: 8-11; Romans 8: 9,14; Titus 3: 5; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14; 6:
19-20; 2 Corinthians 3: 6; Ephesians 1: 13-14; 4: 30; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11).

Salvation

We believe that man is universally and totally depraved. We believe this does not mean that man is as bad as he
could be but simply means that man is tainted with sin in every facet of his personality and cannot, apart from saving
Grace through Faith, come to knowledge of the righteousness of God and enter into the kingdom of God. We believe
that this means that no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture
however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step
toward heaven apart from a new nature imparted from above. This is a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through
the Word, which is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are sons of God (Isaiah 64: 6;
Jeremiah 34:9; Romans 1: 21-32; 3: 10-18, 23; 5: 12; Ephesians 2: 1-3, 8, 9; Romans 10: 13-34;
Philippians 3: 4-9; John 3: 5, 18; 1 Peter 1: 23; James 1: 18). It is impossible for anyone to come to Christ unless the
Father draws him (John 6: 44), yet all whom the Father calls will come to him (John 6: 37).

The Father's choice is referred to as election. (Romans 9: 11: 11: 5, 7, 28) or predestination (Romans 8: 29-30,
Ephesians 1: 5. God also desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2: 4, 2
Peter 3: 9). Christ died for the whole world (1 John 2: 2), and whoever calls up on the name of the LORD will be
saved (Romans 10: 13). This doctrine is a great mystery, but must be viewed from the juxtaposition of God's
sovereignty as seen in Romans 9 and man's responsibility as found in Romans 10. It is no more mysterious than the
fact that the God who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46: 10), and does not change (Malachi 3:
6), can accomplish His will in response to our prayers (1 Timothy 2: 1, 2, James 5: 16). This doctrine of election is a
great comfort to those who believe, since what God predestines cannot be set aside by man or anything else
(Romans 8: 35-39).

We believe that the death of Jesus Christ provided the necessary payment for the price of sin and that our Salvation
is based upon our trust in His Person and His finished work upon the cross (Leviticus 34: 11; Matthew 1: 21; Luke 1:
35; Ephesians 1: 7; Romans 3: 23-25;
Galatians 3: 23; 1 Corinthians 15: 3; 2 Corinthians 5: 19, 21; Hebrews 10: 4, 10-12; 1 John
2:2; 4: 10)

We believe that a new birth of a believer comes only by grace through faith in the person and finished work of Christ
and that repentance (that is, to change one's mind about the person and finished work of Christ) is a vital part of
believing, and is no way, in itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts such as
baptism, or faithful service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation. We believe that faith or belief is
based upon the knowledge of the Word of God, (John 3: 15-18; Acts 13: 39; 16: 31;
Romans 4: 5; 10: 13-34; Ephesians 2: 5, 8, 9; 1 John 2: 6).

We believe that since our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, no feeling,
no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no commitment, no amount of subsequent good works, no submission to the
rules and regulations of any Church, nor all the Churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles, can add in
the very least degree to the value of the blood of Christ, or to the merit of the finished work wrought for us by Him
who united in His person true deity with perfect and sinless humanity (Romans 3: 10-18, 23; Ephesians 2: 5, 8, 9;
Galatians 2: 16; 3: 2, 11; John 1: 1-2,
14; 2 Corinthians 5: 21).

We believe it is the privilege not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as
revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Him to be their Saviour from
the ultimate judgment of sin; and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own
worthiness or fitness, but wholly upon the testimony of God and His written Word, exciting within His children filial
love, gratitude, and obedience (Luke 10: 20; 21: 32; Romans 12: 1-2; 2 Corinthians 5: 1; 6-
8; 2 Timothy 1: 12; Hebrews 10: 22; 1 John 5: 13).

We believe that
(1) because of the eternal purpose of God toward the objects of His love;
(2) because of His freedom to exercise grace toward the meritless, on the ground of the propitiatory blood of Christ;
(3) because of the very nature of the divine gift of eternal life;
(4) because of the present and unending intercession and advocacy of Christ in heaven; (5) because of the
immutability of the covenants of God;
(6) because of the regenerating, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who are saved, we and all true
believers everywhere, once saved shall be kept saved forever, John 5: 24; 10: 28; 13: 1; 14:
16-34; 34: 11; Romans 3: 24-25; 8: 29; 9: 6; 1 Corinthians 6: 19; Ephesians 1: 4, 13-14; 2: 4, 5, 8, 9; 1 Timothy 2: 5; 1
John 2: 1-2; 5: 13).

We believe that God is a holy and righteous Father and since He cannot overlook the sin of His children will chasten
them and correct them in infinite love if they persistently sin. We believe, in keeping with our eternal security, God the
Father has undertaken to save His children and keep them forever, apart from all human merit and since He cannot
fail will present every believer faultless before the presence of His glory and conformed to the image of His Son (1
Corinthians 11: 27-32; Hebrews 12: 5-11; Galatians 4: 6-7; Ephesians 5: 27;
Colossians 1: 22; Jude 24).

The Church

We believe that the Universal Church, which is the body and the espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism
made up of all born-again persons of this present Age of Grace, irrespective of their individual organizational
affiliation (Ephesians 1: 22-23; 5: 24-27, 30, 32; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14; 2 Corinthians 11: 2).

We believe that the Universal Church (the Body of Christ) is to have its primary expression in local assemblies (or
Churches) whose membership is made up of professing Christians and whose governments are to be autonomous
and independent of any denominational association except for the purposes of participation in God-honouring,
cooperative efforts and Spirit-guided fellowship, always recognizing the headship of Christ in every aspect of the life
of the Church. We further believe that the government of the local Church is made up of God-ordained leaders to
carry on the responsibilities as they are listed below Revelation 1: 4; 1 Corinthians 1: 2; 2 Corinthians 1: 1; Acts 11:
22; 13: 1; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Ephesians 1: 22; Colossians 1: 18).

We believe the responsibilities of this local Church are
(1) to stand unequivocally for the fundamentals of the faith (1 Timothy 3: 15; 2 Timothy 3: 14-34; 4: 1-2);

(2) to teach the Holy Scripture for the maturing and edifying of the saints for the work of the ministry (Acts
20: 27; Romans 15: 1-2; 1 Corinthians 14: 12; 2 Corinthians 1: 4; Galatians 6: 1-2;
Ephesians 4: 11-16; 2 Timothy 2: 2; Titus 2: 1-3; 3: 8, Hebrews 10: 24-25);
(3) to evangelize the world, namely, giving the world an opportunity to hear the Word of God and the claims of Jesus
Christ (Luke 24: 46-48; Matthew 28: 18-20; Acts 1: 8; Romans 10: 13-34);
(4) to glorify Jesus Christ, namely, to do all things in the name of and for the honour and glory of our Saviour, the King
of Kings, Lord of Lords, even Jesus Christ (Philippians 2: 10-11;
Galatians 6: 14; 1 Corinthians 10: 31; Revelation 19: 16);
(5) to administer the ordinances of Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper; (6) to realize the Scriptural injunctions
namely to do all things decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14: 40), with love (1 Corinthians 16: 14), for edification (1
Corinthians 14: 26), and in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3: 34). We hereby believe the local Church has
the authority to administer discipline to any of its members for immorality (1 Corinthians 5: 1-13), for false doctrine (1
Timothy 6: 3-5; 1 Timothy 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 2: 16-18), for a disorderly walk
(2 Thessalonians 3: 6, 14), for divisive tendencies (Romans 16: 34-18), and unrepentant attitude toward sin (Matthew
18: 15-34).

Future Things

We believe that the next great event in the fulfilment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord Jesus in the air to
receive to Himself the dead in Christ and the believers that are alive at His coming, otherwise known as the rapture (1
Corinthians 15: 51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:
13-18; Titus 2: 11-14).

We believe that this present age of grace will be followed by a period of tribulation for the world, which will be
consummated by the literal, bodily, second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth (Matthew 24: 25; Revelation
6: 34; 19: 11-16; Joel 2: 3; Zechariah 14; Acts 1: 11; etc.)

We believe that, following and dependent upon the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, God in His sovereign
control of history will faithfully keep His covenants with Israel to restore them to and bless them in their promised
land under the dominion of the perfect son of David, Jesus Christ, in a heavenly kingdom rule (commonly known as
the millennium). which will likewise bring blessing to the whole earth (Genesis 12: 1-7; 15: 34-21; 34: 1-8;

Deuteronomy 30: 1-5; 2 Samuel 7: 12-16; Psalm 87: 105; Isaiah 9; Micah 4: 5; Joel 3; Amos 9; Zephaniah 3; Romans 11: 26-29

;Revelation 20).

We believe that at the death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation
pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body
when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and body shall be associated with Him forever in glory; but the
spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final
judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast unto the
lake of fire, not be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power (Luke16: 19-31; 23: 42, 43; 2 Corinthians 5: 8; Philippians 1: 23; 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9; Jude 6, 7;
Revelation 20: 11-15).

The Ordinances

We believe that baptism by immersion is but a symbolic representation of a spiritual transformation within and has no
saving power. It is the logical conclusion to the New Birth; Acts 2: 38; 10: 47; 16: 31-33; 1 Corinthians 1: 13-18;
Ephesians 2: 8, 9; Matthew 3:13-34; etc.).

We believe that fellowship among all true members of the Body of Christ should be encouraged, and that such
fellowship includes participation in the Lord's Supper, the elements of which are but symbolic representations of the
sacrificed body and blood of Christ, a memorial service to Christ's death (Luke 22: 19, 20; 1 Corinthians 10: 16; 11:
23-26).

The Responsibility of Believers

We believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of all Christians to live a Christ-centred life. We believe that
normal expression of this kind of life is individual ministry according to each believer's gifts) and attitudes, which edify
the entire Body of Christ, not bringing reproach upon the Name of Jesus Christ. We believe any Christian who is not
so living is subject to the chastening hand of the Father and the discipline of the local Church Romans
12: 1-21; 1 Corinthians 11: 28-32; 2 Corinthians 6: 14-34; 7: 1; 5: 10; Galatians 5: 16, 25;
Ephesians 6: 10-18; Colossians 2: 6-7; Hebrews 12: 1-15)

We believe that it is the obligation and privilege of every Christian to remember the work of the Lord in prayer, and to
support this work with their means as the Lord has prospered them (1 Corinthians 16: 2; Ephesians 6: 18; 1
Thessalonians 5: 34; Galatians 6: 6; 2
Corinthians 9: 7).

We believe that it is the obligation and privilege of every Christian to witness by life and by word to the truth of the
Holy Scriptures according to their spiritual gifts) (Acts 1: 8;
Matthew 28: 19-20; 2 Timothy 2: 2; Romans 12: 1-21).