What We Believe
ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES
We believe all sixty-six books of the Bible are Holy Scripture. We believe all scripture is inspired by God and is God’s authoritative Word for the Christian life. We believe the Bible provides the guidance to live healthy, transformed lives that reflect Kingdom values. II Timothy 3:16
ABOUT GOD
We believe in one God in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—who created all things visible and invisible, and out of chaos created order. We believe God is fully revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born to the virgin Mary and lived on earth as both fully human and fully divine. We believe the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, convicts us of sin, leads us to and incorporates us into Christ, and empowers us for Christian witness. Genesis 1, John 1:1-14, John 16:5-16
ABOUT HUMANITY
We believe all have sinned, fallen short of the glory of God and are in need of a Saviour. We believe through his life, death, and resurrection Jesus Christ is the only sufficient atonement for our sins. Therefore, it is only through Jesus Christ that we can experience eternal life. Romans 3:23, John 14:6, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8
ABOUT SALVATION
We believe God’s work of salvation is by grace and not by our merits. We believe we receive this salvation when by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit we respond in faith by repenting of our sin and believing in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. We believe that God has given every person the capacity to respond in faith, but not every person will choose to respond in faith. We believe that faith in Christ is not a momentary event but an ongoing reality that allows us to walk securely in our salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 2:36-39, Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians. 15:1-2, Col. 1:21-23, Rom 11:17-21
ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe God calls us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God for the sake of God’s mission in the world. We believe the life of holiness is a wholehearted love for God and neighbour and not a legalistic list of “do’s and don’ts.” We believe it is only through the power of God and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit that we can love God and neighbour in this way. We believe when we fail, God is always willing to forgive and restore. Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:22-26
ABOUT THE CHURCH
We believe God calls all people to respond in faith to the Gospel of Jesus Christ whereby they become members of God’s one church. We believe each local congregation is a visible expression of this one body of Christ and that it is God’s will for each believer to be a committed member of a local congregation. Acts 2:47, John 17:20-23
ABOUT MINISTRY
We believe God calls every Christian to minister within the Body of Christ according to the spiritual gifts He has given them. We believe God distributes the gifts within the Body as He determines and He does so without regard to race or gender. Therefore, no limitations are placed on leadership and ministry in the church based on race or gender. 1 Corinthians. 12, Ephesians. 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11
ABOUT THE ORDINANCES
We believe baptism is for believers who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We baptize believers by immersion as an outward sign of death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper as participation in and proclamation of the death and resurrection of our Lord until he comes. Anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ is invited to participate. We believe foot washing is a beautiful reminder of the servant lifestyle to which Christ has called His followers. Acts 16:25-34, Rom. 6, I Corinthians 11:23, John 13:1-17
ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
We believe the Kingdom of God is both a present reality as well as a future hope. We believe Jesus lived and proclaimed the present reign of God. We believe God comes alongside the vulnerable and oppressed, and stands against every form of evil and calls us as citizens of His Kingdom to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. We anticipate the future consummation of the reign of God, at the time of the one and only return of our Lord. Luke 17:20-21, Matthew 25:34-46
ABOUT THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe Christ will come again at a time of God’s appointing and He will come in judgment. Those who are in Christ will dwell with God forever in heaven, and those who are not in Christ will be separated from God forever in hell. We believe the period between Christ’s first coming and His second coming constitute the “last days.” Therefore, we are living in the last days, just as the first century Christians were. And just as they lived in the expectation of the imminent return of Christ, so should we. I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:31-46, Hebrews 1:2, 1 Peter 1:20