Who We Are​

As a church we adopt as a summary of our beliefs the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
and the Baptist Affirmation of Faith 1966 which give a concise statement of biblical
doctrine. In no way are these equal to the infallibly authoritative Word of God. A brief
summary of what we believe follows.

The Scriptures
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New
Testaments alone. These Scriptures in their entirety were given by inspiration of
God and are, as originally written, the very Word of God. They are therefore
without error and utterly reliable with regard to fact and teaching. They are thereby
the only infallible and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and
obedience.

Doctrine of God
There is only one God, the maker, sustainer and ruler of all things according to his
sovereign will and for his own glory. He exists eternally in three distinct persons,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are equal and with no division of nature, essence
or being. He is unchangeably perfect in all his attributes. To him all people owe the
highest love, reverence and obedience.
From eternity he decreed all things that happen, and perpetually governs all
creatures and events. However he is in no way the author or approver of sin, nor
does his decree in any way diminish or violate the responsibility of men.

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.
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created by God in perfect innocence. By
disobedience, they lost that innocence and became corrupt. The guilt of Adam’s
first sin is imputed to all. Every person is born in a sinful state and condition, called
original sin. Every aspect of human nature has been corrupted, and all men and
women are naturally without spiritual life, guilty before God and hostile to him.
Every person is therefore born under the just condemnation of God, and needs to
be born again, forgiven, and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.
Although responsible to do so, they are unable of themselves to repent of sin and
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and is both 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 thus perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered, and
died on the cross 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 freely to all in the
gospel. Those who have been predestined to be saved, God in his love and by his
word and Holy Spirit calls into fellowship with his Son. This is on the basis of his
mercy in Christ, not because of foreseen merit or faith in them.

He grants them repentance by which they are convicted of the evil of their sin. He
enlightens their minds and renews their wills and affections, so that, hating their
sin, they humbly seek to walk before God in order to please him in all things.
He grants faith, by which the sinner rests upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
Through faith alone the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the sinner, justifying
him in God’s sight.
All who truly believe in Christ are adopted into the family of God, and enjoy all the
liberties and privileges of the children of God.
Those whom God saves through true faith in Christ will never totally or finally fall
away from the state of grace, but will persevere to the end.

The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been sent by God the Father and God the Son to glorify Christ
and apply his work of salvation. He brings conviction of sin, regenerating and
indwelling all believers, bringing spiritual life and transforming their whole nature.
He brings assurance of salvation, a true understanding of the Scriptures, and
produces an increasing holiness and likeness to Christ. He builds up the church
and empowers its members for worship, service and mission.

The Church
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the universal church, to which all God’s elect
belong. That headship 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 administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for pastoral care
and discipline, and. for evangelism. The unity of the local church is expressed by
mutual love, care and encouragement.
A wider unity in Christ exists between all churches that are faithful to the gospel.

Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ and is obligatory for every
believer. Rightly administered, it involves total immersion in water, in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It does not impart spiritual life, but is a
symbol of union with Christ, in his death, burial and resurrection. It also symbolises
entry into his church, and therefore precedes church membership.

The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper, administered with the unchanging elements of bread and wine,
is a commemoration by a local church of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all, and
should be observed by the church until he returns. All its blessings are received by
faith.

The Future
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory, visibly, personally and bodily. He will
raise the dead, and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to
eternal punishment, and the righteous, with glorified bodies, will live and reign
eternally with Christ. God will make all things new and will be glorified for ever.