The following summary Statement of Faith indicates the distinctive beliefs that all who would be church members would subscribe to. Statements of Faith like this are primarily brief documents that can be adequately understood by most believers without theological training, typically to be found posted on a church noticeboard for all visitors to see.
1.0 Statement of Faith
The Church has as its basis of faith the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. All who come into membership of the Church assent to the following summary of our belief.
We believe in:
1.1 The full and verbal inspiration of all the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures as originally given, and these alone, being in themselves the complete Word of God, without error, and wholly reliable in both fact and doctrine. Their final authority and perpetual sufficiency in all matters of faith, church order and personal and social conduct.
1.2 The one true and living God, inexpressibly glorious and infinite in all his attributes and worthy of all honour, love and obedience. The unity of the Godhead and divine co-equality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit eternally. The Sovereignty of God in creation, providence and redemption.
1.3 The true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His real and perfect manhood, the authority of His teaching and the infallibility of all His utterances. His substitutionary death on the cross as being the full, sufficient and only atonement for sins. His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven and His present priestly intercession for His people. His personal return in glory.
1.4 The work of the Holy Spirit as essential for a true understanding of the Scriptures and for regeneration and conversion of the sinner, by leading an individual to repentance towards God and saving faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Also, the work of the Holy Spirit for the sanctification of those regenerated and converted (the redeemed).
1.5 The total depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall of man from the original state of perfection in which he was created. By this fall all mankind is in a state of condemnation and separation from God. Deliverance is only by the divine work of regeneration and conversion.
1.6 The sovereign grace of God, by which we mean His free and unmerited favour. That by His sole choice, certain sinners (the elect) have been predestinated to salvation.
1.7 The salvation of the elect not by their own free will and power but as a result of the irresistible grace of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
1.8 The justification of the sinner solely by faith, through the atoning merits and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1.9 The final perseverance of all those who are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, so that not one of them shall ever perish but shall have everlasting life.
1.10 The resurrection of the body. The judgement of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. The eternal blessedness of the redeemed. The conscious eternal punishment of the impenitent.
1.11 The sole authority and prerogative of Christ, through the Holy Spirit speaking in His inspired Scriptures, in all matters pertaining to the government of the local church.
1.12 The observance of the ordinance of baptism of believers by immersion, as being instituted by Christ, in loving obedience and as an act of witness, but not as conveying any regenerating grace.
1.13 The observance of the Lord's Supper as a commemoration of our Lord's death but not as being a sacrifice for sin nor involving any change in the substance of the bread and wine.