As a church we subscribe to the Gospel Standard Articles of Faith which are summarized below. These Articles are based on doctrines which are found in the Scripture. The full Articles and Scripture references can be found via the link in the text above and below the summary:
- One God, Three Persons – There is one living and true God in Three Persons. These Three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in nature, power and glory. God is holy and cannot tolerate sin. He has many attributes and is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, faithful, supremely good, merciful and gracious.
- The Inspiration of Holy Scripture – The Holy Bible as originally written in Hebrew and Greek is the primary means that God has chosen for the revelation of Himself, His salvation, and His will to mankind in the present day. This Book was directly authored by God through chosen men becoming instruments of the Holy Spirit. It has since been preserved by God as perfect and pure.
- The Sinfulness of Man – Every man and woman born since the Fall of Adam and Eve is conceived and born a sinner. We are each capable of all kinds of evil against God and each other. The Fall is total and has left us incapable of repentance and any good works by which we might save ourselves from the just punishment of our sins. Unless the Holy Spirit intervenes we will remain unable and unwilling to believe in, repent, glorify, seek after and love God.
- Election, Predestination and Adoption – God with perfect foreknowledge that mankind would fall, in mercy chose a number among them that he would save from their sins. These chosen ones he has adopted becoming their Father through Christ’s finished work. They are predestined to one day be in heaven with Him. The Bible exhorts us to make our calling and election sure assuring us that those that seek him will find him and those that call upon him, he will answer.
- Particular Redemption of the Elect – The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God humbled himself becoming a real Man and being born unto Mary, a woman and a virgin. He lived a pure, holy and sinless life fulfilling God’s Law. He allowed himself to suffer and die at the hands of evil men bearing the full weight of the just wrath of His Father against all the sins of His people. In this way, he secured a full and free pardon for all their sins and created a righteousness that is imputed to them. He rose again and ascended into heaven and now intercedes for his people with the Father.
- Regeneration and Effectual Calling – Being slaves to sin with no power to turn to God, fallen men and women can only be saved through the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts through regeneration. Each of the Elect will be convinced of their sinfulness and their inability to save themselves. They will be brought to see that their only hope for salvation is in Christ and his finished work. They will be brought to faith and to a greater or lesser degree assured that Christ died for them.
- Sanctification and Growth in Grace – The converted Christian has a new heart implanted by the Holy Spirit which desires to be holy and to fulfil God’s will. There will be a separation from the ungodly pursuits that were previously pursued. The old sinful nature will remain with the believer until death and the struggle between old and new will lead to a deeper sense of sin and a growing felt need for and knowledge of Christ. Freed from condemnation by Christ’s work, the motivation of life will no longer be fear of the Law but love for Christ with a resulting desire to keep God’s laws and precepts.
- Baptism and Strict Communion at the Lord’s Supper – There are two ordinances of Christ which believers are commanded to observe in the Scripture. The first is Baptism upon profession of faith in Christ by total immersion in water. Those who are baptised can sit down with other believers at the second ordinance which is the Lord’s Supper.
- Perseverance of the Saints – Although they are tempted by Satan and tried by sin, it is not possible for any of the children of God to fall away completely and perish. Instead, when they fall into sin, God chastises them in love to bring them back to His ways. Every single one of the Elect will be raised in glory completely acquitted and justified at the end of time. The wicked on the other hand shall be resurrected to be condemned at the Judgement seat of God to hell eternally.
Please follow this link for the the full Articles – Gospel Standard Articles of Faith.