Statement of Faith

We believe that there is only one God (Hosea 13:4) who is creator (Genesis 1:1) and Lord of heaven and earth (Psalm 115:5). He exists eternally (Isaiah 40:28) as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (John 3:16) fully God (John 1:1) and fully human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18). In taking on human flesh, he entered fully into human experience, endured temptation (Hebrews 4:15), lived a sinless life in perfect obedience (Romans 5:19) to his Father, yet suffered at the hands of men (Matthew 27:26), according to all the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3) had foretold. We believe the Lord Jesus accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross – as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners (1 Peter 2:24).

We believe he was buried but on the third day God raised him from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, as intercessor, advocate, and ruler over all. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5).

The Holy Spirit is one with God the Father and God the Son. He dwells in each born again Christian (1 Corinthians 12:1) as a Helper and Guide and teacher (John 14:26). It is through the word of God and work of the Holy Spirit that a person comes to knowledge of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:1) and conviction of sin (John 16:7-15).

At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). He provides spiritual gifts, power and guidance to every Christian to develop the character of Christ and live every day in God’s will (1 Corinthians 12). Evidence of his work in the Christians’ life is called the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

We believe that salvation is a free gift, that comes only by God’s undeserved grace, through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God, the name ‘Jesus Christ’. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the guilt, penalty and power of sin are removed (Acts 4:12; Isaiah 53:4-9). God demonstrates his own love for us and establishes his victory over Satan through the cross (Romans 5:8).

We respond by putting our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, believing in our hearts and confessing with our lips that He is our Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9). The evidence for our faith in Him is repentance from sin and a desire to worship and serve Him. As saved sinners, we now enjoy the blessing of union with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and assurance of right relationship with God, and we wait with certainty, for the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies and life with him eternally.

All people are born in the image of God and loved by God. People are the supreme act of God’s creation; the first man Adam chose to sin and now every person lives with a sinful nature as stated by Paul in Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” People can only be set free from sin by Jesus. “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Church is God’s spiritual family. It is made up of all those who, have placed their trust and faith in Jesus, and are His followers

The Church is not a building or one particular group of believers. God’s will, is that the Church gather regularly, to worship Him (Hebrews 10:25); to remember His sacrifice on the cross by participating in communion (Luke 22:19); to use its various gifts and abilities to glorify God (1 Peter 4:10-11); to love and encourage those who are in the body; and to work diligently to maintain the unity of the body.

As the members of His Church, we love one another, maintain unity of purpose and love, for which the world around us will recognise that we belong to Jesus (John 13:35).

We believe that every believer is endowed with spiritual gifts, a purpose and are part of the body of Christ.
We believe that every believer gains entrance into the body of Christ, is given Spiritual giftings as God determines upon their confession of Jesus as Lord.

We believe that we should submit to one another, and build one another up into the roles to which each have been called (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:6-8). Some serve in administration, some serve in organising or leading worship, some serve as teachers to children others as teachers to adults, some as deacons and some as elders. The minister’s role is to oversee, administer, and encourage others in the area of teaching, preaching the Scripture, and exhortation (which is to encourage, prepare, care for, and equip the congregation to use their gifts in ministry) (1 Timothy 4:13).

The role of the board of deacons (often referred to as the board) is to oversee the practical matters of the Church (Acts 6).

The deacons are made up of men and women with a call and passion for this work.

The elders are responsible for prayer, spiritual matters, and conflict and consist of men, called and gifted to this position (Titus 1:6-9, James 5:14, Acts 20:28, 1 peter 5:1-4).

All offices of the Church are elected by the congregation, with the understanding that, each member is in prayer and being led by the Holy Spirit in these decisions.

The Bible is the written word of God, breathed out by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by people throughout history (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible ultimately points us to God and our salvation and restoration to himself through Jesus Christ (John 5:39), and the eternal promises that come with that restoration.

The Bible is sufficient for training us in righteousness, that we may be equipped to live a life that is holy and glorifying to God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible begins with the story of God’s creation and ends with his eternal victory in his Revelation to the Apostle John. As per God’s own words, nothing shall be added nor taken away from Scripture (Revelation 22:18-19). All teachings and prophecy shall be judged through the word of God as found in the Bible (2 Peter 1:21).

We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and has been instituted as a way to exemplify God’s love for us through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33).

We believe that men and women have different roles in the Church and family, these differences have been instituted as a witness to God and his love for us through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:11, Titus 2:3-5, Colossians 3:18).

We believe that the role of spiritual authority and preaching, teaching, and eldership have been given to men (1 Timothy 2:12), that men should be the spiritual servants in the household and the Church, and should carry out this ministry in love as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:22-33).

We believe that women, as per the example of Phoebe may hold the office of board member (deacon) (Romans 16:1), practical service and leadership, as well as serving in non-teaching areas of the Church, and as teaching young people and other women.

We also hold that women and men have equal right to membership in the church and may vote as a congregation (Galatians 3:28).

We believe that Spiritual gifts are given as God wills, to every believer upon conversion to faith in Jesus, and that no one spiritual gift is more or less important than any other gift.

We believe that the gift given on the day of Pentecost was the supernatural gift of being able to speak and be understood in different languages, not as an unknown language, but as a language that made it possible for people of different tribes and nations to understand the Gospel that was being preached.

We believe that there are some who are gifted in speaking in languages and interpreting languages as per the example of Acts 1, and some may be edified by using the prayer language of tongues, however, not every believer will have the gift of tongues while recognising that all Spiritual gifts are available to believers as God wills.

We believe that every time believers gather for corporate worship they should break bread together, remembering what Jesus has done for them on the cross. For this reason, we celebrate around the Lord’s table in Communion each week.

We believe that communion is a time where we share in remembrance of Jesus dying on the cross for us. For this reason, we pass the emblems, from one to another, to emphasise that our remembrance is corporate.

We believe that all believers who are able to make a public profession of their faith, by their own choice, should be baptised.
We believe that it is not the water or the act of baptism, but Christ who saves us.

Baptism is a command of Jesus that we be baptised, as an outward testimony of the inward change.

We believe that to disobey the command to be baptised, is to disobey a command given by Christ.

The Church of Christ movement was founded when Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists gathered for a communion service 1801 at Cane, Kentucky. This time of unity was blessed by God and people came in the tens of thousands to this communion service which would later become known as the Cane Ridge Revival. While we may disagree on non-essentials, we will seek unity with all believers who agree on the essentials found in the Bible, and who believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that there is no other name by which we are saved.