Church@109 Statement of Faith
We recognise that Church@109 is a diverse group of Christians from different backgrounds all seeking to worship and serve God together within a common bounds.
We believe the statement below captures the Goodness of God, that it is theologically correct for our church, and that it is understandable to those who read it, both believer and non-believer.
The Trinity
We believe there is only one true God who is loving and merciful, holy and just and is the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all things. God exists eternally in three persons who are in perfect union with each other, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, all being co-equal in deity and glory.
Isaiah 45:5, Deuteronomy 6:4, Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:18-19.
The Father
We believe the Father is the centre, the cause, the controller of all things, the giver of freewill to every person. Through the Son, He is the Creator of heaven and the universe, both visible and invisible. Everything He does is in keeping with His great mercy, steadfast love and faithfulness. He is patient encouraging the good and punishing evil. He is sovereignly in control of all history, both across the world and personally, past, present and future. He lovingly provides all we need for our good, whether we acknowledge Him or not.
1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 1:11, Genesis 1:1, Mark 13:19, Hebrews 1:2, Exodus 34:6,7, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 6:26, Psalm 139:1-4, Psalm 139:13-16, Philippians 4:19, James 1:17.
The Son
We believe that The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s only Son who was sent to reveal God, to proclaim the reign of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and to accomplish God’s saving purposes. To His perfect deity was added sinless humanity so that He possesses the full nature of man and the full nature of God.
We believe He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross in our place. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to Heaven where He reigns in glory, representing believers before the Father.
Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14; John 8:58, Hebrews 4:15,Matthew 1:18, 23-25, Colossians 2:9, Philippians 2:8, Mark 16:1-6, Hebrews 10:12-14, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 8:33-34.
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is personal and active in every believer’s life, calling, restoring and progressively transforming people to be more like Jesus and empowering them to serve God. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and their need for Jesus Christ, and performs the miracle of the new birth at conversion. At that moment, the Holy Spirit permanently resides in each new believer, and baptises them into the body of Christ, the Church. The Holy Spirit is continually communicating, guiding and revealing God’s purpose for our lives.
Romans 8:9-17, John 16:7-11, Galatians 5:16-26, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s gift to humanity to reveal His character and His plan to restore all things to Himself. The sixty six books in the Bible were written by human authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit and are therefore without error. The Bible is our complete authority for faith and life and is therefore the basis for all teaching. The Bible is the unchallenged guide as to the ministry of the Holy Spirit amongst us.
Romans 15:4, Peter 1:20-21. 2 Timothy 3:16,17, Matthew 5:17-18, 1 Timothy 4:13.
Humanity
We believe God created people as objects of His affection and reflectors of His glory. He made us different from the rest of creation by making us in His image and likeness, both male and female, and entrusted us with the care of the earth. However, people rejected God’s authority and rebelled against Him so that sin and death entered the world. Because of this original rebellion all people are born separated from God. Known as sin, this also brings brokenness to human relationships and affects all of creation. Without God’s intervention the consequences of this rebellion will result in permanent, eternal separation from God in a hopeless and terrifying place called Hell.
Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 3:1-19, Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:6, Luke 12:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Revelation 20:11-15.
Salvation
We believe that the greatest news for all the world is that through the generous grace of God alone we can be saved from the consequences of sin. It is not achieved by human effort or good works because there is nothing people can do to get themselves right with God. Only by responding in faith to His gracious call, confessing our sin, and trusting in Jesus alone can we be forgiven for our rebellion and have a restored relationship with God. As soon as we trust in Christ we are declared righteous by God, adopted as His child, and our eternal life begins. Our salvation is based on the work of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross which is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our salvation gives us direct access to God through Jesus Christ without any other go-between.
Ephesians 2:4-9, Ephesians 1:4-8; Romans 3:21-26, Galatians 2:15-16, Acts 2:38 Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:8-9, Romans 10:9-11, Romans 8:1,
1 Peter 1:3-5. Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 4:14-16
The Church
We believe the Church, described, among other images, as the body of Christ, includes all those who have received God’s salvation through grace. Every believer is an essential part of the body, seeking to reflect God’s unconditional love and holiness, yet still a work in progress through the Holy Spirit. God established the Church to worship Him, to build up and care for other believers and to declare the message of God’s gift of salvation to the broken world through speaking God’s message and showing God’s goodness.
There is only one true Church in the world. The Church exists in each place with its own distinctive culture including the Church in New Zealand, and Taupo and Church@109.
John 17:20-23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 3:21, Acts 1:8, Galatians 1:2.
Our Church
We believe that our church should be governed under Christ, fulfilling our specific purpose in Taupo, New Zealand and the World. We gather together every week, on Sunday, to praise and worship God, to encourage and care for one another, to pray together, to share communion, to present the good news of salvation and to receive instruction from God through the teaching of His Word, the clear message of the Bible.
Our privilege and responsibility is to share God’s message of salvation both locally, nationally and around the world.
We believe that baptism in water is an outward sign of our belief in and commitment to follow Jesus, and that any person who confesses Jesus as their Lord and Saviour should be baptised. We believe Communion was instituted by Jesus to remind us as believers of His work of salvation through His death and resurrection.
We desire to see our people grow through the Sunday morning messages, small group studies, children’s programs, youth groups, conversations with each other, serving together, prayer, pastoral counselling, and personal Bible study. Every person within Church@109 has a special God given role, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Church @109 is to be prayerfully led with care by a Pastor and the Elders called under the leadership of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 3:12-17, Ephesians 4:11-15, Titus 3:1-9, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17.
Other Created Beings
We believe that God also created spiritual beings known as angels who worship and serve Him. God is at work in the world both through the Church and His angelic servants.
There is also ruthless enemy against us, a real being known as Satan. He came from these created beings leading the first rebellion against God. He is the enemy of God and man, who with and through his army of fallen angels, (demons) opposes God’s work on earth. Christ’s death on the cross defeated and doomed Satan and his demons, who await their final judgement.
Psalm 148:2-5, Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 4:11, Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Hebrews 2:14 Colossians 2:15, 2 Peter 2:4.
The Future
We live with hope and in excitement for Jesus Christ’s return for His people. For those who die before His return we believe and teach that death is not the end for anyone.
When He returns to earth He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to fulfill the second part of His mission, which is to reveal His kingdom in power and glory and to judge the world. All people will be resurrected and judged, with those not having received God’s salvation condemned to Hell for eternity, while those who are saved will enjoy eternal life in a fully restored relationship with God, forever in His glorious new Heavens and a new Earth.
All creation will be renewed and God’s perfect plan will be fully realised.
Philippians 3:20-21, Mark 13:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Rev 17:14, Isaiah 2:2-5, Isaiah 11:4-12, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, Luke 16:19-26, Luke 23:42-43, Philippians 1:21-23, John 14:1-4, Rev 21:1-4
We believe the statement below captures the Goodness of God, that it is theologically correct for our church, and that it is understandable to those who read it, both believer and non-believer.
The Trinity
We believe there is only one true God who is loving and merciful, holy and just and is the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all things. God exists eternally in three persons who are in perfect union with each other, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, all being co-equal in deity and glory.
Isaiah 45:5, Deuteronomy 6:4, Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:18-19.
The Father
We believe the Father is the centre, the cause, the controller of all things, the giver of freewill to every person. Through the Son, He is the Creator of heaven and the universe, both visible and invisible. Everything He does is in keeping with His great mercy, steadfast love and faithfulness. He is patient encouraging the good and punishing evil. He is sovereignly in control of all history, both across the world and personally, past, present and future. He lovingly provides all we need for our good, whether we acknowledge Him or not.
1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 1:11, Genesis 1:1, Mark 13:19, Hebrews 1:2, Exodus 34:6,7, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 6:26, Psalm 139:1-4, Psalm 139:13-16, Philippians 4:19, James 1:17.
The Son
We believe that The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s only Son who was sent to reveal God, to proclaim the reign of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and to accomplish God’s saving purposes. To His perfect deity was added sinless humanity so that He possesses the full nature of man and the full nature of God.
We believe He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross in our place. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to Heaven where He reigns in glory, representing believers before the Father.
Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14; John 8:58, Hebrews 4:15,Matthew 1:18, 23-25, Colossians 2:9, Philippians 2:8, Mark 16:1-6, Hebrews 10:12-14, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 8:33-34.
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is personal and active in every believer’s life, calling, restoring and progressively transforming people to be more like Jesus and empowering them to serve God. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and their need for Jesus Christ, and performs the miracle of the new birth at conversion. At that moment, the Holy Spirit permanently resides in each new believer, and baptises them into the body of Christ, the Church. The Holy Spirit is continually communicating, guiding and revealing God’s purpose for our lives.
Romans 8:9-17, John 16:7-11, Galatians 5:16-26, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s gift to humanity to reveal His character and His plan to restore all things to Himself. The sixty six books in the Bible were written by human authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit and are therefore without error. The Bible is our complete authority for faith and life and is therefore the basis for all teaching. The Bible is the unchallenged guide as to the ministry of the Holy Spirit amongst us.
Romans 15:4, Peter 1:20-21. 2 Timothy 3:16,17, Matthew 5:17-18, 1 Timothy 4:13.
Humanity
We believe God created people as objects of His affection and reflectors of His glory. He made us different from the rest of creation by making us in His image and likeness, both male and female, and entrusted us with the care of the earth. However, people rejected God’s authority and rebelled against Him so that sin and death entered the world. Because of this original rebellion all people are born separated from God. Known as sin, this also brings brokenness to human relationships and affects all of creation. Without God’s intervention the consequences of this rebellion will result in permanent, eternal separation from God in a hopeless and terrifying place called Hell.
Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 3:1-19, Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:6, Luke 12:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Revelation 20:11-15.
Salvation
We believe that the greatest news for all the world is that through the generous grace of God alone we can be saved from the consequences of sin. It is not achieved by human effort or good works because there is nothing people can do to get themselves right with God. Only by responding in faith to His gracious call, confessing our sin, and trusting in Jesus alone can we be forgiven for our rebellion and have a restored relationship with God. As soon as we trust in Christ we are declared righteous by God, adopted as His child, and our eternal life begins. Our salvation is based on the work of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross which is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our salvation gives us direct access to God through Jesus Christ without any other go-between.
Ephesians 2:4-9, Ephesians 1:4-8; Romans 3:21-26, Galatians 2:15-16, Acts 2:38 Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:8-9, Romans 10:9-11, Romans 8:1,
1 Peter 1:3-5. Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 4:14-16
The Church
We believe the Church, described, among other images, as the body of Christ, includes all those who have received God’s salvation through grace. Every believer is an essential part of the body, seeking to reflect God’s unconditional love and holiness, yet still a work in progress through the Holy Spirit. God established the Church to worship Him, to build up and care for other believers and to declare the message of God’s gift of salvation to the broken world through speaking God’s message and showing God’s goodness.
There is only one true Church in the world. The Church exists in each place with its own distinctive culture including the Church in New Zealand, and Taupo and Church@109.
John 17:20-23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 3:21, Acts 1:8, Galatians 1:2.
Our Church
We believe that our church should be governed under Christ, fulfilling our specific purpose in Taupo, New Zealand and the World. We gather together every week, on Sunday, to praise and worship God, to encourage and care for one another, to pray together, to share communion, to present the good news of salvation and to receive instruction from God through the teaching of His Word, the clear message of the Bible.
Our privilege and responsibility is to share God’s message of salvation both locally, nationally and around the world.
We believe that baptism in water is an outward sign of our belief in and commitment to follow Jesus, and that any person who confesses Jesus as their Lord and Saviour should be baptised. We believe Communion was instituted by Jesus to remind us as believers of His work of salvation through His death and resurrection.
We desire to see our people grow through the Sunday morning messages, small group studies, children’s programs, youth groups, conversations with each other, serving together, prayer, pastoral counselling, and personal Bible study. Every person within Church@109 has a special God given role, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Church @109 is to be prayerfully led with care by a Pastor and the Elders called under the leadership of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 3:12-17, Ephesians 4:11-15, Titus 3:1-9, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17.
Other Created Beings
We believe that God also created spiritual beings known as angels who worship and serve Him. God is at work in the world both through the Church and His angelic servants.
There is also ruthless enemy against us, a real being known as Satan. He came from these created beings leading the first rebellion against God. He is the enemy of God and man, who with and through his army of fallen angels, (demons) opposes God’s work on earth. Christ’s death on the cross defeated and doomed Satan and his demons, who await their final judgement.
Psalm 148:2-5, Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 4:11, Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Hebrews 2:14 Colossians 2:15, 2 Peter 2:4.
The Future
We live with hope and in excitement for Jesus Christ’s return for His people. For those who die before His return we believe and teach that death is not the end for anyone.
When He returns to earth He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to fulfill the second part of His mission, which is to reveal His kingdom in power and glory and to judge the world. All people will be resurrected and judged, with those not having received God’s salvation condemned to Hell for eternity, while those who are saved will enjoy eternal life in a fully restored relationship with God, forever in His glorious new Heavens and a new Earth.
All creation will be renewed and God’s perfect plan will be fully realised.
Philippians 3:20-21, Mark 13:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Rev 17:14, Isaiah 2:2-5, Isaiah 11:4-12, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, Luke 16:19-26, Luke 23:42-43, Philippians 1:21-23, John 14:1-4, Rev 21:1-4
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