We believe that the following articles are biblically sound and within the scope of orthodox Christianity. While we accept many Christians have different theological views, these articles are consistently taught at Gospel Covenant Church and those who are visiting or seeking to become long-term members in the church must acknowledge these fundamental doctrinal points.

 

1. The Holy Bible

 

1.1. The Bible, in its original documents, is the inspired Word of God and God’s written revelation to mankind, the sixty-six books of the Bible that compose the canon of scripture have been given to us by the work of the Holy Spirit and each book is an equally inspired work of God. The Bible is a written record of God’s supernatural revelation of himself to man, has absolute authority and is complete in its revelation. We teach that the bible is the inerrant and that the canon has been finalised. 

 

2 Tim 2:15, Exo 24:12, Exo 32:16, Exo 34:27, Prov 30:5-6, Jer 30:1-2, Mat 5:18, Luke 1:68-70, Luke 24:25-27, John 10:35.

 

2. God

 

2.1 There is one God who is eternally existent, who created Heaven and Earth. God is manifested in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

2 Cor 13:14, 1 Tim 3:16, Gen 1:26, Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 1:2.

 

2.2. The Lord Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man and dwelt on Earth. He was sinlessly perfect and gave Himself up as a substitutionary sacrifice for us by the shedding of His blood and dying on the cross. The Lord died, was buried, and raised to life on the third day, this sequence of events was necessary to pay for the sins (past, present and future) of all mankind, but is only in effect for those who believe. 

 

John 1:1-4, John 1:10-14, 1 Tim 4:10.

 

3. Man

 

3.1. God is completely sovereign over all and in his sovereignty has chosen to give mankind free will to accept or reject the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. It is God’s will that all would be saved and that none would perish, however God permits man’s eternity to be subject to the choice of man

 

John 3:16-18, Mat 23:37, Rom 2:11.

 

3.2. All mankind is fallen, sinful and lost and therefore necessitates regeneration by the Holy Spirit as a condition for the salvation of man. The moment a person believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they are immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the believer is sealed until the day of redemption 

John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5, 2 Cor 5:17,  Eph 1:13, 1 Cor 12:13, Rom 8:9, Gal 3:1-3. 

3.3. Man is saved by grace (undeserved mercy) through faith alone and nothing of man merits his salvation. God’s grace is a free gift and Man’s efforts regardless of intention or performance before or after salvation have nothing to do with it. Salvation has been accomplished by the final atoning work of Christ on the cross and nothing can be removed or added to his finished work.

 

John 19:30, Rom 11:6, Gal 2:16, Eph 2:8-9, Col 2:13, Titus 3:5.

 

3.4. Those who believe in the atoning work of Christ possess eternal life and are justified by faith and sanctified by God. Once sealed with the Holy Spirit the believer is safe and eternally secure and cannot lose his salvation. Despite this, the flesh of man can cause the believer to sin which makes man prone to loss of joy, power, testimony, and reward and incur chastisement of the Father. The relationship between Man and God is eternal and is established by the spiritual birth. Discipleship, however, is dependent on obedience

 

John 6:36-39, John 10:28, John 5:24, 1 Pet 1:4-5.

 

3.5. A true believer has two births; a natural, physical, and outward birth; the other a supernatural, spiritual, and inward birth. Ultimately this leaves the believer with two natures (flesh and spirit). The nature of the flesh is neither good nor righteous and desires sins, however the spiritual nature is born of God and does not commit sin. Inherently this results in warfare between the flesh and the spirit, which persists until physical death or the return of the Lord. The flesh cannot be fully removed but can be subdued by the spirit and kept under control

 

John 3:3-7, Rom 8:8, Isa 64:6, Eph 2:3, 1 Pet 1:23, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 3:9, Rom 7:15-25, Col 2:6-7, Gal 5:16-23.

 

4. Baptism of Water & The Holy Spirit

4.1. The Church began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and all believers are engrafted into the Church. By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the Body of Christ, while water baptism is not essential for salvation it is a testimony to the world and water baptism is to be done by immersion to convey the death, burial, and resurrection.

We teach that the day of Pentecost can be experienced by the church, by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the new birth, allowing for the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The manifestation of the gifts are permitted in our services, but must be done discerningly.

 

Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-13, Eph 1:13-14, Acts 8:35-39, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, 1 Corinthians 12,

 

5. Angels & Demons

5.1. Angels have been created by God to worship him and execute his sovereign will. On the other hand, Satan is a real spiritual entity who is the author of sin and his angels (demons) will be eternally punished

 

Ezek 28:15,17, Isa 14:12-15, 1 Pet 5:8, Eph 6:10-13, John 8:44, Gen 3:1-4, Mat 25:41, Rev 20:7-10.