WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Basis of Faith of The Fellowship of
Independent Evangelical Churches
1. God
There is one God, who exists eternally in
three distinct but equal persons: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is
unchangeable in his holiness, justice,
wisdom and love. He is the almighty
Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains
and governs all things according to his
sovereign will for his own glory.
2. The Bible
God has revealed himself in the Bible,
which consists of the Old and New
Testaments alone. Every word was inspired
by God through human authors, so that the
Bible as originally given is in its entirety the
Word of God, without error and fully reliable
in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks
with final authority and is always sufficient
for all matters of belief and practice.
3. Humanity
All men and women, being created in the
image of God, have inherent and equal
dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is
to obey, worship and love God. God created
us male and female, which is identified by
our biological sex. Marriage is the exclusive
union of one man and one woman and is a
picture of the relationship between Christ
and his bride the church. Sexual intimacy is
a gift from God to be enjoyed only within the
context of marriage.
4. The Fall
As a result of the fall of our first parents,
every aspect of human nature has been
corrupted and all men and women are
without spiritual life, guilty sinners and
hostile to God. Every person is therefore
under the just condemnation of God and
needs to be born again, forgiven and
reconciled to God in order to know and
please him.
5. The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully
man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in
obedience to the Father. He taught with
authority and all his words are true. On the
cross he died in the place of sinners,
bearing God’s punishment for their sin,
redeeming them by his blood. He rose from
the dead and in his resurrection body
ascended into heaven where he is exalted
as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people
in the presence of the Father.
6. Salvation
Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace
and cannot be earned or deserved. It has
been accomplished by the Lord Jesus
Christ and is offered to all in the gospel.
God in his love forgives sinners whom he
calls, granting them repentance and faith.
All who believe in Christ are justified by faith
alone, adopted into the family of God and
receive eternal life.
7. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven
to glorify Christ and to apply his work of
salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts
spiritual life and gives a true understanding
of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers,
brings assurance of salvation and produces
increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up
the Church and empowers its members for
worship, service and mission.
8. The Church
The universal Church is the body of which
Christ is the head and to which all who are
saved belong. It is made visible in local
churches, which are congregations of
believers who are committed to each other
for the worship of God, the preaching of the
Word, the administering of Baptism and the
Lord’s Supper; for pastoral care and
discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of
the body of Christ is expressed within and
between churches by mutual love, care and
encouragement. True fellowship between
churches exists only where they are faithful
to the
gospel.
9. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been
given to the churches by Christ as visible
signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of
union with Christ and entry into his Church
but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s
Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s
sacrifice offered once for all and involves no
change in the bread and wine. All its
blessings are received by faith.
10. The Future
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory.
He will raise the dead and judge the world
in righteousness. The wicked will be sent to
eternal punishment and the righteous will
be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in
fellowship with God. God will make all
things new and will be glorified forever.