Our Doctrine mirrors the
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT of the
Christian Community Churches
of Australia
Our Doctrine mirrors the
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT of the
Christian Community Churches
of Australia
This Doctrinal Statement
clarifies and more fully explains the application and practice of the Statement of Faith.
1. The Godhead
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut 6:4; Psalm 90:2; 2 Cor 13:14; Matt 28:18-19).
2. The Bible
We believe the 66 books of the Bible as originally given by God, are divinely and inerrantly inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority and sufficient in all matters of Christian doctrine, faith and life (2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Jude 3).
3. The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, was buried and rose bodily from the dead. Further, He ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 1:37; John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 1:9-11; 4:10-12; Rom. 1:4; 3:24-25; 5:8-10; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph 1:7; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 1:3; 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 7:24-25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1-2).
4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. The ministry of the Spirit is to glorify Christ, convict people of sin, righteousness and judgment, regenerate the believing sinner, and at the point of conversion. All those who believe in Jesus are baptised in the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit then indwells, guides, instructs, sovereignly gifts Christians for the common good of the church and empowers the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; Acts 5:3-4; Rom 8:8; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 12:7, 11-13, 18; 2 Cor 13:14; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 1:13-14; 5:18).
5. Angels, Fallen and Unfallen
We believe that God created spirit beings known as Angels. We believe the Bible teaches that Satan is a personal angelic being, the highest of all angelic creatures. Satan sinned through pride and with him other angels known now as demons joined Satan’s rebellion against God. Satan through his revolt became the author of sin. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and humankind and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Gen 3:1-19; Isa 14:12-17; Ezek 28:11-19; Matt 4:2-11; 25:41; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 20:10).
6. Creation and Fall of Humankind
We believe that the heavens and the earth and all things in them were created as the bible records, in 6 days, and that humankind was created in the image and likeness of God. The first man Adam fell into sin, and as a consequence every person is spiritually lost or dead. Each person is born with a sinful nature and needs the miracle of new birth before he/she can enter the Kingdom of God (Gen 1:25-27; John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 10:27-29; Acts 10:43; Tit 3:4-7).
7. Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world. His shed blood and His resurrection provide the only means of eternal salvation, and salvation is freely offered as a gift of God, who is not willing that any should perish, but desires all people to be saved. (1 Tim 2:3,4; 2 Pet 3:9) Only through repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can an individual be forgiven, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and thus become an eternal child of God (Luke 24:47; John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 10:27-29; Acts 10:43; Rom 5:12, 17; Eph 1:7-8; 2:8-9; Tit 3:4-7; 1 Pet 1:3-5, 13-15;).
8. Christian Living
We believe that our faith in Christ is to result in a godly lifestyle, God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and action. (Matt 26:28; Luke 24:47; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-26; Eph 4:25-5:21; 1 Thess 3:12-13; Jam 1:26-27; 1 John 3:14-18).
9. Morality and Marriage
Morality as prescribed in the Bible reflects the goodness of God’s design for humanity for their blessing and fulfillment. Christians are called by their example to help others to live in harmony with that design. As such we are to uphold moral directives and ethical values contained in the Bible as expressed within the context of their personal life, their marriage life (the covenantal relationship of one man and one woman), and their relationships with others; We believe that God only sanctifies heterosexual marriages and condemns adultery, fornication, homosexuality and a wide range of other specific sexual sins (Gen 2:23; Matt 19:3-6; Rom 1:26-28, 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4).
10. Gender
We believe that all human beings are created by God male or female, and that every aspect of who we are in our innermost being is known by God, and shaped as we are knit together in the womb. Identity and gender are therefore innate from birth. (Gen 1: 27; Mt 19:4,5; Mk 10:6,7; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 139:1-5;)
Sadly, no aspects of our human condition, is immune from the brokenness the Fall. Indeed, all creation groans until its ultimate restoration, (Rom 8:20-22) This is also true in relation to gender and sexuality.(Rom 1:18, 24,25; 1:26-28,32) Yet God’s purpose to make all things new in Christ continues to unfold. (2 Cor 5:17) This transformation begins as human hearts are set free by the Truth of Christ Himself. (1 Cor 13:6; Jn 8:32; 14:6; Rom 1:16)
11. The Church
We believe the true universal Church is a spiritual entity composed of all individuals who have genuinely repented of their sin, who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been forgiven, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and are united together in the Body of Christ of which Christ is Head. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
We believe God has called individual Christians to meet together as a local, autonomous congregation. These local churches are to be bases of evangelistic outreach, submit to Christ as Lord and Head of the Church, be guided by a recognized group of elders, acknowledge a gifted ministry, baptize converts, join together for prayer, worship, teaching, exhortation, fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and take up offerings in order to support those who minister the Word of God, preach the Gospel, have financial needs or send relief to Christians with special needs (Acts 2:42-47; 11:27-30; 12:45; 20:7,17-38; 1 Cor 8:1-14; 12:1-28; 2 Cor 8:1-9:15; Rom 12:1-16; Eph 1:22-23; 4:11-16; Phil 1:1; 4:15-18; Tit 1:5; 1 Pet 5:1-4).
We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one scriptural body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies. We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. (Acts 14:23, 27; 15:19-31; 20:17,28; 1 Cor. 5:4-7, 13; 11:18-20;Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; Heb. 10:25).
12. Ordinances of the Church
We believe the Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, the believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Believer's baptism is to follow personal repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Such baptism is an acted parable of a Christian's death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It is an outward sign of an inward divine work (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 35-39; 16:31-33; Rom 6:3-4; 10:9-10; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21).
The Lord's Supper is also called in the Bible, the Breaking of Bread, or the Communion. Communion is a time of worship, a celebration of the redemptive activity of God through Christ. It is a remembrance of Christ, a proclamation of His death, and a meal anticipating of the Return of Christ (Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor 10:16-17; 11:17-33).
13. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and the establishing of His Kingdom on earth. This coming is to be expected at any time and, as our blessed hope, motivates the Christian to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (Dan 9:27; John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-52; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 6:1-19:21; 20:1-3).
14. The Resurrection of the Believer and Unbeliever
We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor 15:12-58; 2 Cor 5:8-10; Phil 1:23; Rev 20:11-15).