What We Believe | Te Awamutu Bible Chapel

Our DNA (what we believe)

Primary Doctrines:

Doctrines listed in this section we as a church hold as central to the Christian faith, and would hope and expect that all members of TABC would agree with these as well.

God

There is but one God, the maker, preserver and ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all. To God alone all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

(Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor.8:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17)

The Trinity

The Scriptures reveal that the one God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is coequal yet distinct and has a different role within the Trinity, but God is without division of nature, essence, or being.

(Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14)

God the Father

God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is the Creator of all things. As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men, but He is spiritual Father only to believers. In His sovereignty He is neither the author nor approver of sin, nor does He reduce the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures.

(Gen 1:1-31; Psa 103:19; Psa 145:8-9; Hab1:13; John 8:38-47; Rom 8:14; Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 6:18; Eph 4:6; 1 Pet 1:17)

Jesus Christ

Since Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is fully God and fully man, He is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law. He suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He forever lives to make intercession for His people. He will return again visibly and bodily. He is the only Mediator, the Head of the Church, and Sovereign of the universe.

(Isa. 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:13; Col 1:16-18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1-3; 7:25)

The Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the Son. He applies the work of Christ to believers and distributes spiritual gifts to every believer according to His sovereign good pleasure for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation, and the Guarantor of our inheritance in Christ. He indwells all believers and empowers them to live according to His will.

(John 14:16-17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:13-14)

The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (the Bible) were given by inspiration of God. Therefore, all Scripture is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. The Scriptures are the only and completely sufficient rule for faith and practice.

(Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

Providence

God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

(Isa. 46:9-11; Prov. 16:33; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Jas. 1:13-15, Tit. 1:2)

The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Adam's descendants inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law. As a result, they are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors without defence or excuse. In his fallen state, man still bears the image of God, albeit in a marred state, and therefore possesses a unique and special worth amongst the created order.

(Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; 6:5; Rom. 3:9-18; 5:12-19; 8:5-8; Eph. 2:1-3)

Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, the work of the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually to understand the Word of God in order to be saved, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone, and is a precursor to faith in Christ.

(John 3:3-8; Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1)

Faith

Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

(Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-5; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26)

Repentance

Repentance is a grace given by God, where a person, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is made aware of the evil of his sin, humbles himself for it with godly sorrow and detestation of it, and turns from it with a purpose and endeavour to walk before God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so as to please Him in all things.

(Ps. 32:1-5; Isa. 6:5; 55:7; Luke 5:8; 18:9-14; Acts 2:37-38; 11:15-18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11; 2 Tim. 2:25)

Justification

Justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness. It is given, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ. Because of this faith, His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us, which brings us into a state of peace and favour with God.

(Luke 18:9-14; Rom. 3:21-26; 4:4-9, 23-25; 5:1-2, 9, 17-21; 8:28-34; 10:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:7-9; Tit. 3:5-7)

Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is a progressive process empowered by the Holy Spirit, which all true Christians seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in obedience to all Christ's commands.

(Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:27; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:13-25; Eph. 3:14-21; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 3:1-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-11)

The Church

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. Christians are to associate themselves into particular local churches, and to each of these churches he has given authority for administering order, discipline, and worship. The Church is the bride of Christ, whom He loves. The regular offices of a church are Elders (Pastors) and Deacons.

(Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:16; Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 1:22; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17-18; Tit. 1:5-9; Heb. 10:25)

The Adversary

Satan is a real being, the enemy of God and man. He is a created angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to sin who is now completely opposed to God. Sometimes referred to as Lucifer, his arrogance drew him to desire to be on a throne above God. He is an accuser, a tempter and a deceiver, and is the ultimate source behind every false cult and false religion. He is the ruler of this world, and is the prince of the power of the air. Satan's certain destiny is an eternity in the lake of fire, hell.

(Isa 14:12-14; Eze 28:15; 1 Tim 3:6; John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; Rev 12:10; Mat 4:3; Rev 20:3, 20:10)

The Resurrection

The bodies of mankind, after death, return to dust. At death, believers go to be with the Lord and unbelievers enter torment. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

(Gen. 3:19; Luke 16:22-26; 23:43; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:23)

The Final Judgement

God has appointed a day where He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive reward or punishment according to their deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.

(Matt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10)

Secondary Doctrines:

Doctrines listed in this section the church leadership hold to and will teach according to these, but have no issue if anyone holds to a different interpretation of scripture in these areas. We should charitably be able to hold to different positions on these issues and worship together in full unity.

Creation

God created the heavens and the earth by speaking the command for matter to begin existing, which it did from no previous matter (ex-nihilo). God ordered the physical universe for the purpose of man’s habitation in six consecutive 24-hour days. The triune God was the creator of all things that are created, and He continues to uphold the universe by His power.

(Gen 1:1-31; Col 1:17).

Election

God’s surpassing and unfathomable love is demonstrated in the election of the saints. Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but only of His mercy in Christ. The consequence of this election is that they are called, justified, sanctified, and glorified (Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:27-31; Eph. 1:4, 11). Faith is a gift of God and is a result of the Holy Spirit regenerating the heart (Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:3-8). However, a biblical tension exists as election in no way diminishes God’s love for the world, nor negates human responsibility to respond to the gospel. This causes us to proclaim “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!”.

(Rom 10:9;11:33; 2 Pet 3:9)

Perseverance of the Saints

All those whom God has regenerated will never totally or finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end; and although they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, where they grieve the Spirit, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, they will be brought again to repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith to eternal salvation.

(John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:23-24).

Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, which every believer is to go through, by immersion in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his union with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life.

(Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13)

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is a new covenant ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate and proclaim His death.

(Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-34)

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are the specific giftings, given to true believers, for the encouragement and edification of the church. They are in no way to pridefully glorify the individual, but in all ways bring glory to God. All spiritual gifts, with the exception of Apostleship which died with the apostles, are alive and can be used by the church today. All spiritual gifts should be used in line with the guidelines and restrictions in scripture.

(Acts 1:21-26; Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; 1 Cor. 14:1-33; 39-40)

Liberty of Conscience

God alone is the only ultimate authority. Although all legitimate human authority is ordained by God’s decree, it is also limited by God’s ultimate authority. For example, civil magistrates, being ordained by God, should be submitted to by us in the Lord. However, when they call us to disobey God then we must, with a clear conscience, obey God rather than man.

(Matt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7; 14:4; Acts 5:29; Col. 2:20-23)