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What We Believe
The detail of what we believe is given below.
But there are a lot of words - so to summarise:
We’re aiming to be a Christ-centred
people, committed to His Church, concerned for His World,
seeking to build a Biblical Community that honours Him.
Our Core Values
The Detail -
please scroll down
As a church we are committed to the truths of
historic, Biblical Christianity.
This is described in the FIEC basis of
faith:
GOD
There is one God, who exists
eternally in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in His holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He
is the almighty Creator, Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things
according to His sovereign will for His own glory.
THE BIBLE
God has revealed Himself in
the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was
inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is
in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and
doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient
for all matters of belief and practice.
THE HUMAN
RACE
All men and women, being
created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their
greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. As a result of the fall of
our first parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men
and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every
person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born
again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is
fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin,
and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority
and all His words are true. On the cross He died in the place of sinners,
bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by His blood. He rose
from the dead and in His resurrection body ascended into heaven where He is
exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for His people in the presence of the
Father.
SALVATION
Salvation is entirely a work
of God's grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by
the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in His love
forgives sinners whom He calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who
believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God
and receive eternal life.
THE HOLY
SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent
from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts
sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the
Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and
produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers
its members for worship, service and mission.
THE CHURCH
The universal Church is the
body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is
made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are
committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the
administering of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for pastoral care and
discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed
within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True
fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the
gospel.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S
SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel.
Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not
impart spiritual life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's
sacrifice offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine.
All its blessings are received by faith.
THE FUTURE
The Lord Jesus Christ will
return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness.
The wicked will be sent to eternal punishment and the righteous will be
welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all
things new and will be glorified forever.
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