Statement of Faith
Hope Community Church believes in the following fundamental truths as taught in the Bible:
God
There is one God who exists eternally in three distinct but equal persons — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God's unchanging, including his holiness, justice, wisdom and love. God is the Creator, Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will for his own glory.
The Bible
Though God has revealed something of himself in creation, he has especially revealed himself through the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testament 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 faith and practice.
The Human Race
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. As the result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted. 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 to know and please him.
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 divine authority and demonstrated his deity with miraculous signs. He died on the cross in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, and triumphing over Satan, sin and death, 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.
Salvation
Salvation is entirely God's work. It cannot be earned and is never deserved. It is by God's grace alone. Salvation has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the preaching of the gospel. God graciously forgives the sinners he calls, granting repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into God's family and receive the gift of eternal life.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts of sin, gives spiritual life and imparts 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.
The Church
The universal church is the body of Christ, of which he is head, and to which all who are saved belong. The universal church is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, for the Preaching of the word, for 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 churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism and the Lord's Supper have been given to the churches by Christ as visible signs of gospel truth. Baptism by immersion is a symbol of identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection and of the believer's entrance into the Church, but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice offered once and for all, but does not involve any change in the bread and wine. All the spiritual blessings so symbolised are received in faith.
The Future
The Lord Jesus will return personally, visibly and gloriously to this earth. He will raise tie dead and judge the world in righteousness. The unbelieving will be condemned to hell, where they will face eternal punishme for their sins. Those whose faith is in Christ will enjoy eternal fell ship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified for ever.
