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What We Believe
The detail of what we believe is given below.
But there are a lot of words - so to summarise:
We’re aiming
to be a Christ-centred people, committed to His Church, concerned for
His World,
seeking to build a Biblical Community that honours Him.
Our Core Values
The
Detail - please scroll down
As a church we
are committed to the truths of historic, Biblical Christianity.
This is
described in the FIEC basis of faith:
GOD
There is one God, who exists eternally in three distinct but
equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is
unchangeable in His holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the
almighty Creator, Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things
according to His sovereign will for His own glory.
THE BIBLE
God has revealed Himself in the Bible, which consists of the
Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through
human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety
the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine.
The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient
for all matters of belief and practice.
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. As a result of the fall of our first
parents, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men
and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to
God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and
needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know
and please him.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is 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 taught with authority and all His
words are true. On the cross He died 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 to all in the gospel. God in His love forgives sinners
whom He calls, granting them repentance and faith. All who believe in
Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God and
receive eternal life.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ
and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts
spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He
indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces
increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its
members for worship, service and mission.
THE CHURCH
The universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head
and to which all who are saved belong. It 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
administering of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for pastoral care and
discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is
expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and
encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they
are faithful to the gospel.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord's Supper have been given to the churches
by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union
with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual
life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice
offered once for all and involves no change in the bread and wine. All
its blessings are received by faith.
THE FUTURE
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the
dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to
eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of
eternal joy in fellowship with God. God will make all things new and
will be glorified forever.
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