What we believe

We hold to the historic teachings of Christian orthodoxy as articulated in the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. We also subscribe to the recent summary of Christian doctrine expressed in the Langham Partnership’s statement of faith.

The Gospel

The Gospel is the good news that God our Father, the Creator, out of His great love for us, has come to rescue us from sin and to renew all things in and through the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and to establish His Kingdom through His people, in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is for God’s great glory and our profound joy.

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Langham Partnership

Langham Partnership is committed to the fundamental truths of historic biblical Christianity, in accordance with which we affirm:

1. There is one, eternal God, Creator and Lord of the universe who, in the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, both governs all things according to God’s will and is accomplishing God’s purpose in the world and in the church.

2. The Holy Scripture in its entirety is inspired by God’s Spirit through human authors and constitutes the revelation of God’s truth to humanity. It is wholly true and trustworthy in all that it affirms. Whatever the Bible, rightly interpreted, is found to teach, we are bound to believe and obey. It is our supreme authority in every matter of belief and conduct.

3. All human beings are created in God’s own likeness and therefore have inherent value and equality before God. Human sin and guilt since the fall have rendered us subject to God’s wrath and condemnation and have resulted in our alienation from God’s life, suppression of God’s truth and hostility to God’s law. God’s love desires all to come to repentance and to be reconciled rather than condemned.

4. Salvation from the guilt, penalty and all other consequences of sin has been achieved solely through the work of Jesus Christ – his perfect obedience, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection and exaltation as Lord. Jesus alone is truly God and truly human, the only mediator between God and humanity. There is salvation through no other person, creed, process or power. Each sinner is justified before God and reconciled to God only by divine grace appropriated by faith alone.

5. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity. The Holy Spirit empowers and indwells the church, enabling its constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, ministry, power and mission.

6. There is one, holy, universal and apostolic church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong. The church’s calling is to worship God forever and to serve God in the world.

7. As the Father sent the Son into the world, so the Lord Jesus Christ sends his church to participate in God’s mission by words and works. The church is called: to make Christ known; to proclaim God’s truth and the gospel of God’s grace; to make disciples among all nations; to exhibit God’s character through compassionate care for the needy; to demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom through creative and sacrificial living, the community of love, the quest for righteousness, justice and peace, and the care of God’s creation.

8. As the Lord Jesus ascended to his Father, so he will return personally, visibly and in glory. He will raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to final completion. God will then fully establish his Kingdom and finish the new creation – a new heaven and a new earth from which all evil and evildoers, all suffering and death, will be excluded and in which God will be glorified forever.

What does that mean?

  • KINGDOM OF GOD

    This means that as Christians we choose to view our lives and the world around us through the narrative of God’s story. More specifically, we view our lives through the story that Jesus came, died and rose to save creation from it’s bondage to sin and in it’s place institute a new order of government: The Kingdom of God. This means that though we live in this world, we are not citizens of it, we are people of the Kingdom, called to participate in, witness to and work towards the Kingdom being established. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. The implications are life-altering. It means that we will surely lose this world but we will gain Jesus!

  • FAMILY OF GOD

    This means that as Christians we choose to view ourselves through our new identity as God’s children and God’s family. We no longer regard ourselves or our new family according to our past failures or reputation. In fact, “if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17)! No longer do we live for ourselves, but for the family and community around us.

  • MISSION OF GOD

    This means that as Christians we choose to view our entire life’s purpose through the lens of God’s mission to the world through Jesus. We believe that we are each called to participate in demonstrating and practicing the way Jesus in our neighbourhoods. We have found that while it requires courage, we are uniquely positioned to truly love without thought of cost, serve without need for recognition, accept those who are not accepted and speak confidently to those who have not heard. We live to generously and joyfully express the goodness of Jesus to the whole world.