Seeking to honour our Reformed heritage, mindful of the need to explain with clarity and precision what God teaches in Holy Scripture, and thankful for the confessions of faith which have done so since the time of the Protestant Reformation, we require our Association members, directors, and staff to affirm the following, which describe our fundamental beliefs, doctrines, and teachings:

Bible

God’s Word is an objective revelation which is the only rule of faith and practice. The 66 books of the Bible are God-breathed and are therefore trustworthy and true. The Bible teaches that the only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ, and it is essential for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (Psalm 19:7-8; Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Trinity

We acknowledge the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God in three persons (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Creation

God created the world and all that is in it. God created all people in his image as male and female, equal but different, having dominion and care over creation (Genesis 1:1-20, 27 - 28, 2:15).

Marriage

Marriage is between one man and one woman, and is a gift from God. New families are established in accordance with God’s purpose, so that children may be born and nurtured in secure loving care, for their wellbeing and instruction, and for the good order of society, to the glory of God. Sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. Marriage points to the relationship between Jesus and the Church (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:23).

Sin

We are all born sinners and have actively rebelled against God. The consequence of our sin is death and judgement, leading to eternal punishment by God (Psalm 51:5; Matthew 25:46; Romans 3:23, 6:23; Revelation 14:10-11).

Jesus Christ

The Father sent his Son Jesus, to save his people from their sin and to rule over all Creation as its eternal King. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary and was without sin. He is fully human and fully God. When he returns, every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Luke 3:22; John 1:18; 20:28; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7; Philippians 2:9-11).

The Cross

God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. He took the punishment for sin that we deserve. Jesus rose from the dead defeating death and proving that sin has been paid for (Romans 4:25, 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Salvation

By God’s grace alone, all who repent and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are forgiven for their sin, made acceptable in God’s sight, and receive eternal life. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, that we are saved, not by our works. We are God’s handiwork, created in Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10).

Predestination

When we turn to God in faith, it is because he has first chosen us, and enabled us to respond to his call by his Holy Spirit. God’s grace is irresistible, and our faith is a gift from him (John 6:37, 39; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4, 2:1-5, Galatians 1:15).

Holy Spirit

The Father and the Son have given us the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement, to point us to Jesus, to glorify him and to change us to be more like him. The Spirit gives us new life, dwells within us, and continues to give his gifts to God’s people today. During the apostolic age, speaking in tongues and the working of signs and miracles testified to the apostles as revealers of divine truth. These particular gifts of the Spirit are not typical in the lives of believers; however, the fruit of the Spirit being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will be. (John 3:5-7, 14:16, 16:7,8; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22; Hebrews 2:1-4; Galatians 5:22,23).

Obedience and the Law

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfil it. We are commanded by Jesus to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:29-31).

Second coming

Jesus will come again in glory, power and judgment. On that great day the dead will be raised, and all people will be rewarded or punished according to their response to Jesus in this life (Hebrews 9:27-28; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; John 3:18, 36).

Gender

God wonderfully and unchangeably creates each person as male or female at conception. Any effort to change or reject our biological sex at birth is a rejection of God’s purposes. (Genesis 1:27-28, 5:2; Psalm 139:13-14).

The Church

Christ has established a holy and universal church, which is his body, of which he is the head, and to which all true believers belong. The church is called by the power of the Holy Spirit, under the authority of the Bible, to preach the gospel of Christ, administer the sacraments, and build up Christ’s disciples who are called to be members of local congregations (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20, 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22, 4:12; Colossians 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 10:25).

Parents

It is a parent’s God-given authority, obligation and privilege to teach and instruct their children, raising them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 1:8; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-9).