Statement of Faith

West Harbour Church holds to the Statement of Faith of the Alliance Churches of New Zealand

A. There is one God,¹ Creator of all things,² who is infinitely perfect,³ and existing eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.⁴

B. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.⁵ He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.⁶ He died upon the cross, the Righteous for the unrighteous, as a substitutionary sacrifice,⁷ and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.⁸ He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.⁹ He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high¹⁰ as our great High Priest.¹¹ He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace.¹²

C. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer for godly living and service, to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.¹³

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D. The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, whose words were inspired by God, are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all people. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.¹⁴

E. People were originally created in the image and likeness of God; they fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death.¹⁵Subsequently all people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through faith in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.¹⁶ The destiny of the unrepentant and unbelieving is everlasting separation from God in conscious torment (Hell); but that of the believer is everlasting joy and blessing in the presence of the Lord (Heaven).¹⁷

F. Salvation has been provided only through Jesus Christ for all people.¹⁸ Those who repent and believe in Him are justified freely by His grace, are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.¹⁹

G. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified thoroughly, thereby being separated from the power of sin and conformity to the world, and being fully dedicated to the will of God, receiving power for holy living and sacrificial and effective service toward the completion of Christ’s commission.²⁰ This is both a distinct encounter and a progressive experience in the life of the believer, subsequent to conversion.²¹

H. Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body.²² Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil as taught in the Scriptures are privileges for the Church in this present age.²³

I. The universal Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. He has commissioned the Church to go to all nations as a witness of the Gospel.²⁴

The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, which includes being built up through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, the observance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the witness of the Gospel locally and globally.²⁵

J. There shall be a bodily resurrection of all people.²⁶For believers a resurrection to life;²⁷ for unbelievers a resurrection to judgement.²⁸

K. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent, and will be personal and visible.²⁹ As the believer’s blessed hope, this vital truth is an incentive to holy living and faithful service toward the completion of Christ’s commission.³⁰

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