From the time of the Apostles, Christians have laid out doctrine in brief, definitive statements. As an Anglican church, we affirm the truths as laid out in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. The following statement of faith seeks to set forth in a concise fashion the cornerstone truths of our church, as guided by Scripture – enabling us to show our unity in Christ and guarding the church from error.
About God
We believe that there is one unique, living and true God, the Maker and Supreme ruler of heaven and earth. He eternally exists in a loving relationship of Father, Son and Spirit, one God in three persons. God is sovereign in all things; creation, revelation, redemption, judgement and establishing his kingdom. God is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and is worthy of all glory, honour and praise. Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Humanity
We believe that men and women are created in the image of God, enjoying a unique dignity in creation, a dominion over the created order and a unique relationship with God.
Since the Fall, human nature is universally sinful, positively inclined to evil and totally depraved; we are all guilty before a holy God, we are all under the wrath and just condemnation of God, we are all unable to turn to God ourselves; we are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ. Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-3
About the Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme and final authority for all matters of faith, conduct, experience and opinions. The Scriptures are sufficient both for knowing God and for equipping us with everything we need for life and godliness. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21
About Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; fully God and truly human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. In taking on human flesh, he entered fully into human experience, endured temptation, lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to his Father, yet suffered at the hands of men. We believe the Lord Jesus accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross and as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. We believe he was buried but on the third day God bodily raised him from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, as intercessor, advocate and ruler over all. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. John 1:1-2,14, Romans 3:24, 1 Peter 1:3-5, Acts 1:9-10, 1 John 2:1-2, 1 Peter 4:5, 2 Tim 4:1
About Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift that comes only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not by human merit or good works. There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God, the name “Jesus Christ”. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, our representative and substitute, the guilt, penalty and power of sin can be removed. In this death, God demonstrates his own love for us most perfectly and establishes his victory over Satan. The Holy Spirit enables the sinner to be regenerated or born again and that is to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ – guaranteeing us forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. The proper evidence of regeneration is voluntary obedience to the gospel, the holy fruits of repentance and faith, and newness of life. As saved sinners, we now enjoy the blessing of union with Christ and assurance of right relationship with God, yet we await the final consummation of our hope with the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies and life with him eternally. Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 1:38-39, Titus 2:11-15
About the Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit indwells all true believers and seals them for the day of redemption. He is co-equal with the Father and the Son, yet his role is to bring glory to Jesus Christ, convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. The Spirit works to illuminate believers minds to grasp the truth of Scripture. The Spirit’s ongoing work is to sanctify the believer, transforming us more and more into the image of Christ, especially through the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer. The Spirit produces fruit in the lives of believers, and empowers his people for witness and service. The same Spirit grants gifts to all believers and not for self indulgence or personal satisfaction but for the privilege and responsibility of the building up of God’s church. John 16:8-11, 1 Corinthians 12:7-14, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 4:7-8
About the Church
We believe the universal church, the bride of Christ, is composed of genuine followers of Jesus Christ and exists to worship, serve and glorify God. All members of the universal church are to be vitally committed members of a local gathering of believers. The visible, local church is a community of men and women gathering around God’s word, seeking to use their gifts to build the church in love and to bear witness to Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23, Titus 1:5-11
About the End Times
We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day Jesus Christ will return to the earth, visibly and personally, to establish his kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost and that a solemn separation will take place, the lost will be adjudged to endless punishment and the saved to eternal life with Christ. God will preserve and keep all who truly belong to Christ for that last and great day. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10, Revelation 21-22