What we believe
"In essentials-unity; in nonessentials-freedom; in all things-love" Martin Luther
This is by no means a comprehensive description of what we believe. Also, we don't have perfect uniformity in what we believe about secondary issues. These are the essentials of what we believe that gives us a basis of fellowship. Please know that we have good relationships with those in other denominations who express their faith with slightly different terminology. But the following is what we believe to be the core of Biblical Christianity.
- There is one God — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who exist in unity and as three distinct persons.
- God (the Father) has spoken (the Word) to the prophets who wrote under the Old Testament under Divine inspiration (Holy Spirit). After God had spoken through inspiration inthe Old Testament, His Word became flesh (Jesus) to fully reveal the glory, character, intention and love of God. The New Testament is the record of Jesus' life and works, and the witness to the establishing of His church.
- Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative, eternal Word of God. It is God’s self-revelation recorded by men under supernatural leadership. It is the only source of faith and practice for His church. The supervision of the Holy Spirit is necessary for correct interpretation.
- Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man: born of a virgin to complete God’s plan of redemption, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of mankind, was buried, rose again, ascended in Heaven and who will return to Earth one day as Judge.
- The Holy Spirit works to reveal Christ, convict people of their sins and lead them to repentance, give comfort and guide believers. He is "the other Jesus" to be Jesus’ abiding presence in our lives and in our church. The Spirit is as active in our day as He was in the biblical times.
- God made all things good and He made people in His image and called us very good. One aspect of bearing the image of God is responsibility; people are responsible for their thoughts and deeds.
- Because of Adam’s sin, people are sinners and need salvation. Jesus is the only one who ever merited salvation because He was tempted in all ways as we are, but was without sin.
- Salvation is a gift from God through faith and cannot be earned. There is no other means of salvation except through faith in the finished work of Jesus. Everyone who accepts the gift of salvation through Jesus’ sacrificial death is born again by the Spirit and will spend eternity in Heaven. Everyone who rejects it will spend eternity in Hell.
- Baptism by immersion after salvation is done in obedience to Jesus’ command and is a symbolic portrayal of leaving the old life behind and living a new life in a faith relationship with Christ.
- The evidence for this new relationship (being born again) is seen in a changed, and changing, life. God is working all things together in the lives of believers so that through living life in faith, they are more and more Christlike. Those who are truly redeemed, though occasionally sinning, will continue in faith and repentance throughout their lives.
- All believers have personal access to God through Jesus. Believers have no need for a priest or departed saint to intercede on their behalf; Jesus is the personal intercessor of all believers.
- The church is a local body of believers with Jesus as its head. The church is the continuing presence of Christ in the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus, through whom all things were made, has been made the Judge of all things by the Father. He will return to earth to judge all mankind. Those who have trusted in Jesus for salvation will receive their eternal glorified bodies at His return. Those who have refused to respond to God's free gift of salvation and followed in faith will be separated eternally from the joys of fellowship with Him. They will be condemned along with the Devil and his angels.
What does it mean to be saved?
Follow this link and watch a short presentation that explains salvation - http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/
