The Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
There is one living and true God, who exists eternally in three persons. They are equal in divine perfection, and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption:
- God, the Father is an infinite, personal spirit who is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that the Father concerns Himself mercifully with the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
- God, the Son is the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, eternally existent with the Father and Holy Spirit. In His incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. We believe in His sinless life, miracles and teachings, as well as His substitutionary atoning death on the cross, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven. We believe that He perpetually intercedes for His people, and will return – personally and visually – to set up His kingdom on earth.
- God, the Holy Spirit comes forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
Salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It cannot be acquired by law-keeping or good works. All those who hear and understand the gospel, repent of their sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Savior enter into salvation.
“Indeed… without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” – Hebrews 9:22
The universal church is made up of all believers in the Lord Jesus from Pentecost to the Rapture.
The local assembly is made up of believers in the Lord Jesus who have been baptized following their conversion and who meet together for teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer. Christ is the head of each assembly, and He entrusts leadership to the elders: men who are recognized as Christ’s under-shepherds. Each assembly should also have deacons to serve the practical needs of the believers.
A Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of their fellow man, in order for their conduct to be blameless before the world. He or she should be a faithful steward of their possessions, and should seek to realize for his or herself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
There are two Christian ordinances:
- Baptism by immersion in water signifies that the believer has died with Christ, has been buried with Him, and has risen to walk in newness of life with Him. The New Testament pattern is for all new believers to be baptized subsequent to their conversion.
- The Lord’s Supper in a memorial feast wherein believers commemorate Jesus’ death and resurrection by eating bread that symbolizes His bodily sacrifice, and drinking wine that symbolizes the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. In accordance with the early church, this is celebrated on the first day of the week (Sunday), and is accompanied by corporate worship through song, prayer, and reading of Scripture.
Spiritual Gifts are given by Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to each believer at conversion in order to equip him or her to serve the Lord and edify other believers. Gifts are given by a sovereign act of God’s Spirit and not in response to the desires or prayers of men. We believe that miraculous gifts – such as healings and tongues – were given as a sign to the Jews during the transition to the church age, and that these gifts are not evident today.
Dispensations – also known as stewardships – are periods of history differentiated by distinct God-given rules for the governance of life and relationship with Him. In every dispensation the way of salvation is by faith alone. The present dispensation is the age of grace, wherein God is withholding judgement for sin to allow for the spread of the Gospel. The church did not exist prior to this age, and does not take the place of Israel in the prophecies of scripture. The personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus to rapture the church will signal the end of this dispensation, and will be followed by the tribulation, Christ’s thousand year reign on earth, and judgement of all people resulting in the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and blessing for the believer.
Newton Christian Assembly 