Statement of Faith - Short Form

Humanity, created by God in His image, was free of sin, with intelligence, free will, and moral responsibility, designed for communion with God and one another. However, the fall occurred when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, introducing sin, death, and a corrupted nature to all humanity. This separation from God fractured relationships with Him, others, and creation, bringing suffering and toil. Despite humanity's sinful state, God's plan of redemption through Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life with God, to those who believe in Him as Lord and His redemptive work and repent, making salvation entirely dependent on
God’s grace.

There is but one living and true God, an infinite, all-knowing Spirit, eternally existent in three Persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Each are equally deserving of worship and obedience.

Jesus Christ (the Son) is divine. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and voluntarily gave Himself as a substitutionary, vicarious, and atoning sacrifice through His shed blood. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will personally return in power and glory. While on earth incarnate, He was fully God and fully man.

For salvation, regeneration by The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God, so as to secure voluntary obedience to the gospel. Genuine regeneration is manifested by repentance, faith, and righteous living.

The Holy Spirit indwells and unites believers, empowers service, gives spiritual gifts, guides in truth, provides comfort, transforms lives, and equips for evangelism, sustaining the church until Jesus Christ's return.

Jesus Christ, with supreme authority, judges all, rewards the faithful, and punishes the wicked. He will rapture His Church, return to establish His kingdom, and reign with eternal justice.

There is spiritual unity of those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ who follow and teach the doctrine of Him found in the Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. Scripture is profitable for the person of God to be complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work. We believe the study and following of Scripture alone is sufficient for freedom from addiction. That although eradication of sin is not possible in this life, that The Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin.

The Statement of Faith – Short Form is Copyright - Gospel Recovery Trust

Registered New Zealand Charity – CC63094

Statement of Faith - Long Form

Humanity

Humanity was created by God in His image. Humans were created free of sin, with rationality, moral responsibility, intelligence, and free will. Humans were designed for communion with God and one another, however, the fall occurred when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This separated humans from God, and introduced sin and death into the world. This original sin corrupted human nature, transmitting (imputing) to all people (except Jesus Christ), and making humans inherently sinful with a total inability to restore themselves without God’s grace. The fall also fractured relationships—with God, others, and creation—resulting in suffering and toil. Despite humanity’s fallen state and falling under God’s wrath, God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ restores those who believe in Him as Lord and His redemptive work and repent, offering forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life with God. Humans are totally dependent on God’s grace for salvation and renewal.

Genesis 2:7

Genesis 2:15-25

James 3:9

Isaiah 43:7

Colossians 1:16

Revelation 4:11

Genesis 2:16-17

Genesis 3:1-19

John 3:36

Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23

1 Corinthians 2:14

Ephesians 2:1-3

1 Timothy 2:13-14

1 John 1:8

Psalm 14:1-3

Jeremiah 17:9

Romans 3:9-18

Romans 5:10-12

God

There is but one living and true God, an infinite, all-knowing Spirit. He is perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, and eternally existing in three Persons – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Each are equally deserving of obedience and worship.

Deuteronomy 6:4

Isaiah 45:5-7

1 Corinthians 8:4

John 4:24

Matthew 28:19

2 Corinthians 13:14

God The Father

God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, is the eternal, sovereign Creator and sustainer of all things, full of mercy, grace, and compassion. He is holy and pure, ruling with righteousness and justice over His creation. As the source of all life and purpose, He works all things according to His will and for His glory. God the Father lovingly adopts believers as His children, offering them guidance, discipline, and an intimate relationship marked by His perfect love. He calls His people to reflect His holiness and live in accordance with His divine plan, securing their place in His family as His children through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 145:8-9

1 Corinthians 8:6

Genesis 1:1-31

Ephesians 3:9

Romans 8:14

2 Corinthians 6:18

Ephesians 4:6

Psalm 103:19

Romans 11:36

1 Chronicles 29:11

Ephesians 1:11

Habakkuk 1:13

John 8:38-47

1 Peter 1:17

Ephesians 1:4-6

John 1:12

Romans 8:15

Galatians 4:5

Hebrews 12:5-9

God The Son – Incarnate

Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, is the eternal Word of God. He is coequal, con substantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, sharing in the divine nature and authority. In His incarnation, He willingly took on human form, humbling Himself to serve and save mankind as 100% God and 100% human. As the Creator, He has authority over all things, and His presence reveals God's glory and power. His life, death, and resurrection are central to the salvation of humanity, as He is both the perfect sacrifice and the eternal intercessor, exalted and given universal authority. Through Him, all things hold together, and through His incarnation, God’s presence among humanity is both revealed and
accessible.

John 10:30

John 1:3

John 17:5

Colossians 1:15-17

Hebrews 1:2

Philippians 2:5-8

Colossians 2:9

Micah 5:2

John 14:9-10

John 5:23

Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:23

Matthew 1:25

Luke 1:26-35

John 1:1

John 1:14

Psalm 2:7-9

Isaiah 9:6

John 1:29

Philippians 2:9-11

Hebrews 7:25-26

1 Peter 1:18-19

God The Son – Redeemer

Jesus Christ is the divine Saviour who, through His voluntary death, and resurrection, accomplished the redemption of humanity. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, taking on the sins of the world, and by doing so, He reconciled humanity with God. His
sacrificial act on the cross, which was substitutionary and propitiatory, was
not only for forgiveness but also for victory over sin and death, offering
eternal life with God to all who believe in Him as Lord and His redemptive work
and repent. After His resurrection, He triumphed over death, securing the
promise of new life for His followers, and now intercedes on their behalf
before the Father. His life, death, and resurrection assure believers of
forgiveness, transformation, and eternal union with God.

John 10:15

Romans 3:24-25

Romans 5:8

1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 3:18

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Matthew 28:6

Luke 24:38-39

Acts 2:30-31

Romans 4:25

Romans 8:34

Hebrews 7:25

Hebrews 9:24

1 John 2:1

John 5:26-29

John 14:19

Romans 1:4

Romans 6:5-10

1 Corinthians 15:20

1 Corinthians 15:23

God The Son – Judge

Jesus Christ embodies authority and power, entrusted by the Father to bring justice to the living and the dead. He is the appointed ruler of all creation, with dominion over both heaven and earth. He will return and rapture His Church, followed by returning with his church to establish His millennial kingdom on earth. In His role as Judge, He evaluates the deeds of individuals, rewarding the faithful and punishing the wicked. His judgment is both just and final, occurring at the appointed time, when He will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. As the one who holds the ultimate measure of truth, He administers justice in perfect alignment with God's will. His reign is marked by an everlasting kingdom, where His authority is supreme, and His decisions bring both
reconciliation and eternal consequences for all.

Acts 1:9-11

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Revelation 20

John 5:22-23

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

2 Corinthians 5:10

Matthew 25:31-46

Revelation 20:11-15

1 Timothy 2:5

Ephesians 1:22

Ephesians 5:23

Colossians 1:18

Isaiah 9:6

Luke 1:31-33

Matthew 25:14-46

Acts 17:30-31

God The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is eternal, and possesses all the attributes of the Godhead. He plays a crucial role in guiding, empowering, and transforming believers. He is coequal, con substantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is intimately involved in the lives of individuals, teaching, convicting, and comforting them. He is the source of spiritual renewal, enabling believers to experience true freedom and growth in Christ. He also serves as a seal of God's promises, ensuring the believer's security and relationship with God. Through His presence, the Holy Spirit brings wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge of God's will, leading to deeper communion
with Him.

John 16:13

Ephesians 4:30

Isaiah 40:13-14

Hebrews 9:14

1 Corinthians 2:10-13

Romans 15:13

Psalm 139:7-10

1 Corinthians 12:11

Matthew 28:19

Acts 5:3-4

Acts 28:25-26

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

2 Corinthians 13:14

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 10:15-17

Genesis 1:2

Matthew 1:18

2 Peter 1:20-21

John 3:5-7

John 14:16-17

John 15:26

1 Corinthians 12:13

John 16:7-9

Acts 1:5

Acts 2:4

Romans 8:29

2 Corinthians 3:18

Ephesians 2:22

Holy Spirit and The Church

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial and active role in the life of the church, and uniting believers into one body and empowering them for service and spiritual growth. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation. He is the source of spiritual gifts, distributed according to His will, enabling the church to fulfil its mission. The Spirit also acts as a teacher, guiding the church into all truth and revealing God's will, while providing comfort and strength to believers. Through the Holy Spirit, Christians
experience personal transformation, growing in holiness, and reflecting Jesus
Christ's image. He also equips believers with boldness and power for witness
and evangelism, ensuring that the church remains anchored in truth and filled with divine presence, sustaining it until the return of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13

Romans 8:9

2 Corinthians 3:6

Ephesians 1:13

John 16:13

Ephesians 5:18

2 Peter 1:19-21

1 John 2:20, 27

1 Corinthians 12:11

John 16:13-14

Acts 1:8

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

2 Corinthians 3:18

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Corinthians 13:8-10

2 Corinthians 12:12

Ephesians 4:7-12

Hebrews 2:1-4

Salvation

Salvation is entirely of God by grace, through the redemption brought by Jesus Christ and the merit of His shed blood, and is not based on human merit or works

John 1:12;

Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 2:8-10

1 Peter 1:18-19

Regeneration

Regeneration is a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit that imparts divine nature and life, transforming the believer, and bringing spiritual renewal and new life. It
occurs instantaneously by the Holy Spirit’s power, through the Word of God.
Regeneration involves being born again, where the believer moves from spiritual death to life, receiving the capacity to live according to God’s will. Genuine
regeneration is evidenced by repentance, faith, and righteous living, where one’s desires and actions begin to reflect the nature of Christ. Believers are called to grow in holiness and to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, cultivating spiritual fruit and fulfilling God's purposes. This process of sanctification continues as believers mature, with the promise of ultimate transformation in the likeness of Christ at His return.

John 3:3-7

John 5:24

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 5:17-21

Philippians 2:12b

Colossians 3:16

2 Peter 1:4-10

2 Corinthians 3:18

Romans 8:17

1 John 3:2-3

Election

Election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom by His grace, He regenerates, saves and sanctifies. It is an act that is grounded in
His eternal will and grace rather than human effort or merit. This election is
not based on any foreseen good in the person but solely on God's purpose and
love. Despite this, humans are still responsible for responding to God's call
with repentance and trust in Christ, and those who do not choose Him face judgment.

Romans 8:28-30

Ephesians 1:4-11

2 Thessalonians 2:13

2 Timothy 2:10

1 Peter 1:1-2

Ezekiel 18:23, 32

Ezekiel 33:11

John 3:18-19, 36

John 5:40

Romans 9:22-23

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Revelation 22:17

John 6:37-40, 44

Acts 13:48

James 4:8

Titus 3:4-7

Matthew 11:25-28

2 Timothy 1:9

Romans 9:11-21

Justification

Justification centers on the belief that through God's grace and the work of Jesus Christ, individuals are declared righteous before God, not by their own merit, but through faith. Justification is an act of God, wherein a sinner, through repentance and faith, is forgiven and reconciled with God, turning from sin and aligning with God's will. Genuine faith is active and completed by works, demonstrating its reality through a life transformed by God’s grace. It emphasizes that no human effort can earn salvation, and that faith in Christ as Lord and Saviour is the key to being justified. This righteousness is a gift that believers receive through faith, establishing a right relationship with God. It is made possible by the imputation of our sins to Jesus Christ, and the imputation of Jesus Christ’s righteousness to us.

Romans 8:33

Luke 13:3

Acts 2:38

Acts 3:19

Acts 11:18

Romans 2:4

2 Corinthians 7:10

Isaiah 55:6-7

Romans 10:9-10

1 Corinthians 12:3

2 Corinthians 4:5

Philippians 2:11

Romans 3:20

Romans 4:6

Colossians 2:14

1 Peter 2:24

1 Corinthians 1:30

2 Corinthians 5:21

Romans 3:26

James 2:14-26

Sanctification

The doctrine of sanctification emphasizes the transformative work of God's grace in a believer’s life, where they are progressively set apart for holiness and God's purposes. Sanctification begins with the believer's union with Christ, where Jesus becomes the source of righteousness and holiness. Sanctification is both a positional reality that is immediate, as believers are declared holy in Christ, and a progressive journey, marked by a continuous renewal of the mind
and a growing conformity to the image of Christ. It involves the active work of
the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to overcome sin, live in obedience to
God’s commands, and reflect the character of Christ. This process is empowered by the Holy Spirit, requiring believers to actively choose to walk in the Spirit and pursue moral purity. Ultimately, sanctification is not completed in this life but continues until the believer is fully transformed in the likeness of Christ at His return. Though complete eradication of sin is not possible in this life, the indwelling Holy Spirit in believers provides power for victory in the daily battle with sin.

Acts 20:32

1 Corinthians 1:2

1 Corinthians 1:30

1 Corinthians 6:11

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Hebrews 2:11

Hebrews 3:1

Hebrews 10:10

Hebrews 10:14

Hebrews 13:12

1 Peter 1:2

John 17:17

John 17:19

Romans 6:1-22

2 Corinthians 3:18

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Galatians 5:16-25

Ephesians 4:22-24

Philippians 3:12

Colossians 3:9-10

1 Peter 1:14-16

1 John 3:5-9

Separation from sin

The Bible emphasizes the believer's call to live distinct and holy lives, separate from the corruption and sinful influences of the world. Christians are urged to avoid compromising associations, worldly desires, and sinful behaviours that undermine their relationship with God. This separation is not about physical isolation but about rejecting the values and practices that oppose God’s will. Believers are called to live in a way that reflects the transformation brought about by God's grace, pursuing holiness, and aligning their minds with God's righteous standards. They are to embody Christ-like qualities, resist worldly temptations, and seek purity in all aspects of life, striving to reflect their identity as children of God and heirs of His promises.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Romans 12:1-2

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

1 John 2:15-17

2 John 9-11

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Hebrews 12:1-2

Matthew 5:2-12

Titus 2:11-14

1 John 3:1-10

The Holy Scriptures

The Bible, comprised of sixty-six books, is divinely inspired and is the infallible and inerrant Word of God. It reveals God's wisdom and truth to humanity. The writings are not of human origin but are communicated through humans by the Holy Spirit, guiding believers in understanding God's will and plan for salvation. The Scriptures serve as a reliable foundation for faith, offering teachings that are meant to lead to righteousness and to equip individuals for every good work. The Bible, while containing both the Old and New Testaments, is unified in its purpose to reveal the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. Every part of it is seen as relevant, true, and enduring, standing firm through time and culture. The Bible is presented as a living, powerful tool that penetrates the heart, offering wisdom for life and spiritual growth. It is also emphasized that a true understanding of the Scriptures comes through a submission to God’s will, as the Holy Spirit guides those who seek His truth. While Scripture may have multiple applications or multiple levels of God’s message, it has one true interpretation, discovered by diligently applying the literal, grammatical-historical method, enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Believers are responsible for discerning its true meaning. 

2 Peter 1:20-21

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Matthew 5:18

Matthew 24:35

John 10:35

John 17:17

1 Corinthians 2:13

2 Timothy 3:15-17

Hebrews 4:12

Genesis 1:31

Exodus 31:17

John 7:17

John 16:12-15

1 Corinthians 2:7-15

1 John 2:20 

The Statement of Faith – Long Form is Copyright - Gospel Recovery Trust

Registered New Zealand Charity – CC63094