What we believe

Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is entirely inerrant in its original manuscripts (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:20-21) and is the unfailing final authority on all matters relating to faith and Christian living (Ps 12:6, Prov. 30:5). It is completely sufficient, containing everything necessary for salvation, spiritual growth, and equipping Believers for every good work (Ps 19:7-8, 2 Tim 3:17, 2 Pet 1:3).

We affirm the Biblical teaching contained in the historic Apostles’ Creed:

Apostles’ Creed

We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (Gen 1:1, Neh 9:6, 1 Cor 8:6)
We believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord (Jn 1:34, 3:16-18, 20:17; Rom 10:9, Heb 1:1-5)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Mtt 1:18-25, Lk 1:34-35)
He suffered under Pontius Pilate (Mk 15:1-15, Jn 18:28-40)
was crucified, died and was buried (Jn 19:31-42, Lk 23:46)
He descended to Sheol/Hades (the realm of the dead) (Mtt 12:40, 1 Pet 3:18-19)
On the third day He rose again from the dead (Lk 24:1-7, Jn 20:19-21)
He ascended into heaven (Lk 24:50-51, Acts 1:3-11)
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty (Rom 8:34, Mk 16:9)
From there He will come to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1)
We believe in the Holy Spirit (Jn 4:24, 14:25-26; 1 Cor 15:45, Rom 8:9, Eph 4:4)
the holy universal Christian Church (Eph 1:22-23, 4:12; Rev 19:7-9)
the communion of saints (1 Jn 1:3, 3:16; Heb 10:25)
the forgiveness of sins (1 Jn 1:9, Rom 5:9, Eph 1:7)
the resurrection of the body (1 Cor 15:35-54, Phil 3:21, Acts 24:15, Jn 5:28-29)
and life everlasting (Jn 3:16, 6:47; Rom 6:23, Mtt 7:13)
Amen.

The Fremantle Customs House at dawn, its stone facade catching early light. — Customs House, Fremantle, at dawn. After a photograph by Nate Biddle.

Salvation

Scripture clearly teaches that salvation is only received by those who put faith in God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord:

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:30-31).

Now this is eternal life - that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (Jn 17:3.)

By this you know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God (1 Jn 4:2,15).

There is salvation in no one else (except Jesus Christ), for no other name under heaven is given by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever keeps on believing in him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16 in Greek ‘believe’ is in continuous present tense).

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 (Rom 10:9).

Gospel Message

An outline of the Gospel message is given below:

The ministry’s own wording for this outline is still to come.

There will be evidence in a person’s life when someone truly receives the Gospel message and accepts Christ as their Lord.

Evidence of a Saving Faith

A disciple of Christ will demonstrate their salvation is real by displaying the following:

a) Confess to their sins (1 Jn 1:6, 1 Pet 3:7, Ps 66:18, Isa 59:2)

b) Repent of their sins: in thought [change of mind regarding how sins are viewed], in word [confession of all known sins] and in deeds [making amends where called to do so] (Mtt 3:2-11, 4:17, Lk 19:8-9, Acts 26:20, 2 Cor7:10, 1 Jn 1:9, Jam 2:14-26)

c) Publicly declare their faith in Christ alone as their Lord (Rom 10:9)

d) Water baptism [by full immersion where possible] (Acts 2:38,41; 22:16, Mk 16:16, Mtt 3:11-17, Lk 23:43)

e) Spirit baptism (Acts 2:38, Eph 1:13-14, Rom 8:9, 15-16, 1 Cor 12:12-14, 2 Cor 1:21-22, 5:5).

f) Produce spiritual fruit / display wilful obedience to Christ’s commands (Jn 3:36, 14:15-31; 1 Jn 3:7-14)

Producing Fruit

By their fruits you will recognize them... every good tree bears good fruit (Mtt 7:16-17)

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (Jn 15:8)

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Lk 3:8)

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22–23)

Obedience and Lifestyle Change

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (Jam 2:17)

We know that we have come to know him if we keep His commands (1 Jn 2:3)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10)

Heart Transformation and Love

By this everyone will know you are My disciples, if you love one another (Jn 13:35)

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other (1 Jn 3:14)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come (2 Cor 5:17)

…as He leads…

Fremantle -