Statement of Faith

WE BELIEVE the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the plenary (complete) and verbally (every word) inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original manuscripts, and our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; Mark 12:24).

WE BELIEVE in One true and living God, inexpressibly Holy and perfect in all His attributes: the Creator of all, self-existing in three distinctive persons consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 18; John 17; John 20:22).

WE BELIEVE in the absolute and essential deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, One with the Father; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death; His bodily resurrection; His triumphant ascension; His intercessory ministry; His personal and bodily return (John 3:16; 20:31; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26–38; Isaiah 11:2–5; John 11:49–52; Luke 24:46; Mark 8:31; John 2:19–22; John 1:51; 16:16; Luke 24:1–12, 49–51; John 1:10; Matthew 20:28; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Hebrews 9:13–14; John 14:1–14; and Revelation 22:7, 12–13).

WE BELIEVE in the absolute and essential deity of the Holy Spirit, One with the Father and the Son, who convinces us of sin, righteousness and judgment; who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates, and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour (John 14:15–21; 16:7–15).

WE BELIEVE in the existence and personality of Satan/the devil. Though created perfect in the beginning, through pride, he rebelled against God and was totally depraved of the grace of God; that he now is the personal adversary of God and His children; that he is the originator of sin, and that his final doom is settled in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12–15; 1 John 3:8; John 8:44; Acts 13:10; Luke 13:16; Ephesians 6:12; Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev 12:9; 20:2).

WE BELIEVE that man was created by God in His own image and that by his personal disobedience, became a fallen creature and incurred death. Being dead in trespasses and sins, he is dependant on the mercy of God for his release from the power and penalty of sin, by his personal and willing submission (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3; Deuteronomy 11:26–28; 11:16, 30:19; Joshua 24:15; John 5:40; Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9; John 6:37; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:11; 2 Timothy 2:21; 2 Peter 1:10; John 5:39–40).

WE BELIEVE that salvation is the gift of God, by His grace through our faith and not works.

WE BELIEVE that there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved, other than the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, the only begotten Son of God, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We also believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, this newness of life brings the renewing of the spirit and bearing of the fruits of the Spirit (Isaiah 59:11; Romans 1:16; Acts 4:12; Rom 10:10; Isaiah 44:22; Matthew 1:21; Ephesians 2:5–9; Hebrews 7:25; John 1:14, 16–18).

WE BELIEVE in the personal, bodily and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust to appear before the judgment seat of Christ; and that the judgment shall be the eternal blessedness of the redeemed and the eternal condemnation of the wicked (Matthew 24:36; Revelation 16:15; Luke 17:28–30; John 21:20–22; Mark 8:38; Luke 21:25–32; John 6:39–40; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–16; 1 Corinthians 15:35–56; Acts 17:30–31; John 12:47–48; Romans 14:1–12; Matthew 13:47–49; Matthew 25:32–33; Matthew 13:24–30, 37-42; 2 Peter 3:13–14).

WE BELIEVE that the Lord’s Day is the day of commemoration of His resurrection and that it was the first day of the week, which we accept as Sunday; and we agree that this day shall be set apart exclusively for congregational worship and spiritual exercises (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 21:1).

The Ordinances

WE BELIEVE in the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, not as a means of salvation but as manifestations of identification with Christ and His commandments:

1. Baptism

   The baptism of a believer should be by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; this being a solemn and beautiful symbolic act of inner faith expressed externally in the presence of other believers, to liken to the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord; even so, we should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3–9; John 1:26–34; Matthew 3:13–17; Galatians 2:20; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:18–20).

2. The Lord’s Supper

   The Lord’s Supper is a memorial in which the believers partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine, to symbolize the body and shed blood of Christ, observing this in remembrance of Him, according to His command (Matthew 26:26–30; Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:17–20; 1 Corinthians 11:17–30; Acts 2:42, 46).

WE BELIEVE that the Local Church is a company of professing Christians, voluntarily associated together by reason of ‘like faith,’ and for mutual help, edification, ministry of the Word, the practice and propagation of their faith and observance of ordinances (1 Corinthians 11:3).

1. WE BELIEVE that the Sovereign head of the Local Church is Christ; and that this Emmanuel Baptist Church shall be a sovereign body; self-governing by the duly appointed members as its officers, to carry out its affairs and activities, as approved by the membership (Ephesians 5:23).
2. As we subscribe to the Covenant and Statement of Faith, we also therefore agree to be governed by the rules and regulations constituted herein (Hebrews 13:7).

WE BELIEVE that the Civil Government is for the good interests and order of Society; that its leaders in authority are to be honoured, obeyed and prayed for; but if interfered in matters of freedom of worship and faith, the church shall be at liberty to express its concern and voice its opinion.

WE AFFIRM that God’s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy is between one man and one woman. Homosexuality is not a valid alternative lifestyle. The Bible condemns it as sin. It is not an unforgivable sin. The same gospel is opened to all sinners. Marriage is a gift and was ordained by God for the mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind through legitimate offspring, and the preventing of sexual immorality (Genesis 2:21–24; Ephesians 5:22–33; Colossians 3:18–19; 1 Peter 3:1, 7).