We believe that God is holy. He his entirely set apart, and all his ways are perfect. In order to be in relationship with him, we also must be perfect, even as our heavenly Father is perfect. (Leviticus 11:44, Psalm 99:3-5, Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:14-16)
We believe that people are inherently imperfect. The Bible describes humanity’s history of rebellion against God and explicitly states that no human being can measure up to God’s standard of holiness. The Bible is clear that we cannot be saved by our own good works. (Genesis 3, Malachi 3:7, Romans 3:20, Ephesians 2:8-9)
“… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” – Romans 3:23
We believe that God is love. Since the world’s beginning, God has desired relationship with people because of His love for them and His desire that we should love Him. The Bible tells us that God wants everyone to be saved from His own judgment of their sin so that we can be in relationship with Him. (1 Timothy 2:4, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:10)
However, we also believe that God is just. The Bible tells us that in a future day, God will judge all sin impartially. Though he loves us, He cannot turn a blind eye to the world’s evil and imperfection. This is why our sin is such an urgent problem; it will not be overlooked and needs to be addressed. (Jeremiah 17:10, Romans 2:9, Revelation 20:12)
“… I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 9:24
We believe that God’s love and justice are perfectly reconciled through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He had no sin of His own, Jesus was capable of acting as a substitutionary sacrifice for all those who have sinned. The wrath and death that is the consequence of the sin of all humankind was inflicted on Jesus as He hung on the cross and surrendered Himself to death. (Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Hebrews 10:14) Three days later, He rose from the dead and appeared to hundreds of people before ascending into heaven. By His resurrection we know that God was satisfied with His sacrifice, and also that Christ Jesus lives forever to make intercession for us. (Acts 1:3, Acts 2:32, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, Hebrews 7:25) In this way, God was faithful to judge sin while abounding in love and mercy.
“[Christ] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
We believe that we are restored to relationship with God through repentant faith in Jesus Christ. When an individual accepts and confesses that Jesus’ death and resurrection is sufficient to pay the price of their sin, the Bible tells us that he or she is saved from eternal separation from the Father in Hell, and is instead promised eternal life with God in Heaven. A new Christian is also given the Holy Spirit, who dwells in them and alters their affections so that a Christian can desire the things of God above the things of this world and yield what the Bible calls spiritual “fruit”, which are evidences of salvation. (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Romans 8:11, Galatians 5:22-24)
“… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” – Ephesians 2:13
Newton Christian Assembly 