Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith

Statement One - The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. It consists of the 66 canonical books, divided into the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). It is without error and can be trusted. Though written by men, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the final authority for all matters of belief and practice, and it clearly reveals the way of salvation. (Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Proverbs 30:5–6; Romans 2:12; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:1.)

Statement Two - One (Triune) God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, who exists eternally as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, equal in every divine perfection, and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. God is the eternal, infinite Creator and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is merciful, just, and loving, and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His glory. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honour, confidence, and love. (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:5; Genesis 1:1–2; James 1:17; Psalms 102:27; 1 Samuel 15:29; John 1:1; Isaiah 6:3; Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 16:27; Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 4:16; Psalms 115:3; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36.)

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• God the Father – The Father begets the Son and is Himself unbegotten. He reigns sovereignly over all things. In union with the Son and the Spirit, He created all things. He is Father to all who become His children through faith in the Son, by the power of the Spirit.

• God the Son – Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father. He died on the cross in the place of sinners, bearing God’s wrath for their sins and redeeming them by His blood. On the third day, He rose from the dead and later ascended into heaven, where He is exalted as Lord of all. He is coming again; until He returns, He is seated gloriously at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His people.

• God the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is divine, co-equal with the Father and the Son. He has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply His work of salvation. The Holy Spirit enables believers to understand the Scriptures and convicts both believers and unbelievers of sin, leading to repentance and regeneration. We believe the Spirit indwells believers at the moment of salvation and continues to work in them, assuring salvation and sanctification.

Statement Three - Man
We believe God created man, He created them male and female, in His image, for the purpose of bringing glory to Himself. As such, men and women are equal in value in the eyes of God. No human being, ethnicity, or human group is inherently of higher or lower worth or purity; all enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus. God displayed His power by creating the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) directly and instantaneously. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply interchangeable but rather complement each other in mutually enriching ways. (Genesis 1:27; 1 Peter 3:7; Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:7–8.)

Statement Four - Marriage
We believe that marriage was designed and executed by God. Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a one-flesh union between one man and one woman. This union establishes the only normative pattern of sexual relations for all human beings. God ordains that within marriage men and women assume distinctive roles which reflect the loving relationship between Christ and the church: the husband exercising headship in a way that displays the caring, sacrificial love of Christ, and the wife submitting to her husband in a way that models the love of the church for her Lord. (Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27; Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 5:22-33.)

Statement Five - The Fall
We believe that through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, all people are now born in sin. As a result, all mankind are sinners and spiritually dead—by nature utterly void of the holiness required by God and completely inclined to evil. Therefore, the human race is unable to turn to God on its own and is under just condemnation to eternal punishment, without defense or excuse. (Genesis 1:27; 3:6–24; Romans 1:20; 3:19; 5:12.)

Statement Six - The Way of Salvation
We believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation and that salvation is a gift made available to all through the gospel. From start to finish, it is the work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or sustained by our works. The work of salvation has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all who repent of their sins against a holy God and put their faith in Jesus. We believe that salvation is an expression of God’s love to sinners, including the forgiveness of sins for all whom He calls, granting them repentance and faith. (Ephesians 2:3–10; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:27; Matthew 11:28; Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 3:28; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:15; John 3:16.)

Statement Seven - Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or "born again." Regeneration is God’s work of giving a holy disposition to the mind and heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, in a manner beyond our full comprehension. This work is carried out in connection with the divine truth of the gospel, so as to secure our willing and joyful obedience to Christ. The evidence of regeneration appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. (Ezekiel 36:26; Matthew 7:20; John 1:13; 3:3, 6–7; Galatians 5:16–23; Ephesians 4:20–24.)

Statement Eight - Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, worked in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation through Christ, we turn to God in sincere repentance, confession, and supplication for mercy. At the same time, we wholeheartedly receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. Having been justified by faith, we are called to joyfully walk by faith and hope in Jesus Christ through the blessings, challenges, and trials of this world. We deny that genuine faith necessarily results in material prosperity or physical health in this life. (Psalms 51; Matthew 10:22; Acts 2:37–38; 11:18; 14:22; Romans 10:12–13; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 4:14.)

Statement Nine - The Church
We believe that the church is the universal body of Christ, made visible in local congregations of baptized believers who gather for the worship of God and the glory of God. When believers gather, they do so under the preaching of God’s Word, the administration of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the exercise of church discipline, all expressed in unity through love, care, and encouragement. The church is led by qualified men, under the headship of Christ. (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22–23; Colossians 4:15; Ephesians 2:19–22; 5:19–21; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Hebrews 10:23–25; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 1:7; Ephesians 3:10.)

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• Chief Shepherd - Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd and the Head of the Church. The Church functions and derives its authority from Him as the final authority.

• Under-Shepherds – Elders (also called overseers or pastors) are qualified men who, under the authority of the Chief Shepherd, lead, teach, and care for the flock.

• Deacons – Deacons serve God by serving the church, assisting the elders in providing ministry support. We believe that the office of deacon is available to both men and women.

• Members – Members are baptised, covenanted believers who have committed to using their gifts to serve and build up one another in a local congregation.

Statement Ten - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the ordinances are a command of Scripture to the church. It is an outward expression of an inward reality—symbolising our union with Christ and that we are alive in Him. At Renewal Church, we hold to believer’s baptism as an act of obedience to Scripture and a sign of our union with Christ through faith. The Lord’s Supper takes place within the assembly of believers, by the sacred use of bread and the cup, together commemorating the dying love of Christ. It is a celebratory commemoration that is often preceded by solemn reflection and self-examination. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.)

Statement Eleven - Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the good order and well-being of human society, and that officials are to be prayed for and conscientiously honoured. Civil government is to be obeyed as it carries out the God-appointed duties of every government: to secure conditions of peace, justice, and liberty in which the church may obey God, serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and preach the gospel. (Daniel 3:15–18; Romans 13:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:1–8; Titus 3:1; Revelation 19:16.)

Statement Twelve - Eternity
We believe that Jesus is coming back again, and that only those who, through faith, are justified in the name of Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of God will spend eternity with Him. On the last day, Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution. A solemn separation will then take place: the wicked will be judged and sentenced to endless, conscious punishment, and the righteous to endless joy. This judgment will fix the final state of all people in heaven or hell, according to God’s perfect righteousness. Those who belong to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and will live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 John 3:2; Mark 13:26; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 21:5.)

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SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Portions of these statements have been adapted with permission from historical confessions and the theological standards of faithful partner ministries, serving to unify our congregation in the historic Christian faith.