STATEMENT OF BELIEFS

The Statement of Beliefs of Melrose Christian Fellowship

 

THE BIBLE

The Bible is accurate. We believe that the 66 books (as written originally in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) and known as The Bible, are the authoritative Word of God. The Bible written in English is a translation of those scriptures.

We believe the Bible is God's highest written authority. It is the final guide for what we believe and how we live, and the Church's authority always comes under the Bible's authority.

We believe that the Bible is revelation given by God.

We believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the Scriptures, assuring believers of the truthfulness of the Bible.

We affirm that the text of the Bible is to be interpreted on the basis that Scripture is to interpret Scripture.

We believe that a confession of the full authority of the Bible is vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith.

 

THE ONE TRUE GOD

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

 

THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

1. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
2. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
3. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
4. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
5. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)

 

THE FALL OF MAN

Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)

 

THE SALVATION OF MAN

Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

(a) Conditions to Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance (a change of mind) toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit, being justified (made right in God’s sight) by grace through faith, a person becomes an heir of God according to the hope and assurance of eternal life.

(Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).

(b) The Evidences of Salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16, Eph 2:13). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

 

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
Ordinances are practices that are commanded by The Lord Jesus, practiced in the book of Acts by Christian believers and affirmed in the New Testament letters to the church and as a result we believe are necessary to continue in.

(a) Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptised in water. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in the newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).

(b) Holy Communion

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second

coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”

 

BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that all believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of those in the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1Corinthians 12:1-31).

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With baptism with the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

 

THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that baptism with the Holy Spirit is most commonly witnessed by the initial physical sign of a Christian believer speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10,28), but different in purpose and use.

 

THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION

The Church is the body  and bride of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with the call to fulfill the Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23) Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, and to demonstrate His love and compassion for all the world, the priority, reason-for-being of the people of God as part of the Church is:

10. To be an agency of God for sharing the Gospel to the world and making disciples of all nations. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
11. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
12. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
13. To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for all the world (Psalms 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).
    

THE MINISTRY

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in:
(1) evangelisation of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) worship of God (John 4:23,24), (3) building a Body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11,16), and (4) Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion (Psalms 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).

 

MARRIAGE

We believe marriage to be the permanent (until death), exclusive, comprehensive, “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. In this culture of increasing single parenthood, living together outside of marriage, general promiscuity and gender confusion, the God-given design of marriage between one man and one woman is ever more important.

Jesus was asked a question about divorce and he then quoted from Genesis “Have you not read that from the beginning God made them male and female and said for this reason shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be united (by covenant) and the two shall become one” Wherefore what God has joined together let no man separate. (Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:9) 

He went on to talk about singleness. Jesus therefore covered the whole issue of singleness and marriage. Although we hold to these views as God’s ultimate standard and the standard we follow and teach, we want to make it clear that we do not exclude anyone from attending Melrose or participating in the life of our church, though we may have limitations on who can participate in particular leadership/ministry roles in the church in accordance with scripture.

 

DIVINE HEALING

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).

 

THE BLESSED HOPE

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

 

THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).

This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).

 

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever’s name is not in the book of life will be sent to the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20: 15)

 

THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22).