If you would like to know more of what we believe you could
e-mail us at
info@akemanstreet.org
If
you would like a printer-friendly version of The Outline Of
Faith, please click on the link below
Outline Of Faith. Printer-friendly
version.
1, We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments were originally "God-breathed". We acknowledge
the Sole authority of 'the scriptures in all matters of
faith and practice.
(Refs. Ex.4: 11-12, 2 Sam.23: 1-2, Ps.119: 1 (6; Jer l: 9,
John 17: 17, Rom.15: 4, 2 Tim.3: 15-27, Heb.4: 12, 2 Pet.1:
21).
2.
The Scriptures teach that God is Spirit. There are three
persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, who are equal in nature, power and glory. God is
the creator and sustainer of all things, bringing them to
their appointed
end. We reverence, worship and serve God.
(Refs.
Gen l & 2, Dt.6:4, Eccl.12:13, Matt.3:16-17,Matt.28:19,
Luke 12:10; John 1: 14,18, John 14: 10,John 17: 5,10, John
20: 28, Acts 17:28, 2 Cor.13:14,Eph.4: 30, Phil.2' 5-11,
John 4:24).
3. We believe that God created man in his own image,
creative, thoughtful, responsible and holy. Man possessed
an inner knowledge of the will of God and enjoyed unbroken
fellowship with God However, Adam the first man, the father
and representative of the human race, chose to rebel
against God.
The
sentence that God passed on him was passed on to all
mankind, his relationship with God was broken, his nature
corrupted, his environment spoiled, his body became subject
to death whilst his spirit was in danger of eternal
judgement. While he continues to be a responsible being,
because of his sinful nature man is both unwilling and
unable to submit to god who alone can save him.
(Refs.Gen.1-3, Rom.2:14-15, Rom.3;10-18,
Rom.5:12-21,Rom.6:23, Rom.8:7, Eph.2:1-5, Eph.4:18,
Heb.9:27,28).
4. In eternity God determined to give eternal life to a
great number of people. God did not choose these people
because they were not any better than others, or because of
anything they had done, "but because of his own purpose and
grace".
(Refs. Gen.12:1-3, (cp. Gal.3:6-14, 29), Jer.31:31-34, John
6:37,39, John 17:2,9,14, Rom. 8:29,30, Eph.l:4-5,
Eph.2:3-5, 1 Thes l: 4-5, 2 Tim l:9-10).
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is both fully God
and fully man. Because He was without sin He died as a
substitute for His people, paying the full penalty for
their sin and reconciling them to God for ever. His
resurrection and ascension assure believers of their
resurrection and acceptance in heaven.
(Refs. Is.53, Is.59:2, Matt.1:21, John 1:29-34, Rom.4:25, 1
Cor.15:1-4, 2 Cor.5:18-21, 1 Tim. 2:5, 1 Pet.3: 18).
6. We believe that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ
was specifically for His own people. Jesus, addressing His
Father in prayer before the crucifixion said, "Father the
time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify
you. For you granted him authority over all people that he
might give eternal life to all those you have given him".
(John 17:2). The children of God can talk of "The Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". (Gal. 2:20).
(Refs. Is.53:10-11, John 10:11,15, John 17:2, Gal.2:20,
Eph.5:25, 1 Tim.4:10, Heb.2:14-17, 1 Pet.2:24, Rev.5:9).
7. The salvation which has been secured by the work of the
Lord Jesus Christ is applied to the children of God by the
Holy Spirit. By His powerful and mysterious work, dead
souls are awakened into spiritual life and given the desire
arid ability to repent of sin and believe in Christ as
their Savior and Lord. Awakened by the Spirit, sinners are
justified by faith alike and adopted into the family of
God.
(Refs. Ezek.36:26-27, John 3:5-8, John 6:63, Acts 16:14,
Rom.5:1-5, Rom.8:15-16,1 Cor.2:14, 2 Cor.4:1-6, Gal.4:6,
col.2:13-14, 1 Thes.l:4-6, Titus 3:5-7).
8. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in the children of God,
creates within them a new nature, so that they desire to be
like Christ. Yet in this life they are never completely
free from the corruption of sin, and their old nature
constantly wars against their new nature. Christians, as
responsible people, are to work with the Spirit of God,
striving to live a life
that displays practical holiness and good works.
(Refs.Rom.7:18-25, Rom.8:13-14, 2 Cor.3:18, 2 Cor.7:1,
Gal.5:17, Gal.3:5, Titus 2:11, 1 Pet.2:11, 1 John 3i2)
9. It is possible for a true believer to be overcome by
temptation and to seriously backslide, but the saving grace
of God cannot ultimately be frustrated. However, Christians
are to "work out' their "salvation with fear and
trembling", knowing that a mark of a true believer is that
they "Stand firm to the end".
(Refs.Ps.125:1-2, Matt.10:22, Matt.24:24, John 6:39-40,
John 10:25-29, Rom.8:37-39, 1 Cor.3:10-15, Gal.6:1,
Phil.1:6, Phil.2:12, 1 John 2:18-19).
10. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to
the earth in glory, His coming will herald the resurrection
of the dead and the final Judgment. The ungodly will hear
the dreadful sentence of the Righteous Judge that banishes
them from His presence forever, while the redeemed will be
called to take their place in the new heaven and new earth
and enjoy God's glory forever.
Footnote. We believe that the spirits of believers, at
death, go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. The
spirits of unbelievers are reserved in hell to the day of
judgement. At the resurrection bodies and spirits are
reunited.
(Refs. Dan 12:2, Matt.25:31-46, Acts 17:31, Acts 24:25, 1
Cor.15:47-49, 1 Thes.4:13-18, 2 Thes.l:7-10, 2 Tim.4:1,
Heb.9:27-28, 1 Pet.1:3-5, 2 Pet.3:13, 1 John 3:2).
11. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are the
only church ordinances appointed by Jesus Christ, in the
New Testament, to be continued until His second coming.
In Baptism a person shows that they are identified with the
Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection,
that their sins have been washed away, and that having come
to the end of their old way of life they are setting out on
a new way, following Christ. As baptism speaks of the
beginning of the Christian life it was naturally the first
step of obedience for a Christian in the New Testament and
preceded entrance into the local church. Baptism is rightly
administered by the total immersion of the believer in
water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. We believe that this mode alone is scriptural
and clearly demonstrates burial and resurrection and
washing.
While baptism is initiatory, the Lord's Supper is a
continuing ordinance, where we remember the sacrificial
death of our Lord Jesus Christ. When our Lord instituted
this Supper He broke bread to symbolize His broken body and
poured out wine to symbolize His shed blood, instructing
his followers to do the same until He returns. As this
Supper expresses the unity of the church as one body in
Christ, each member of the local Church should aim to be
present.
(Refs. Baptism. Matt.28:19, Mark 1:5, 9-10, Acts 2: - ,
Acts 8:12, 36-38, Acts 10: 47-48, Acts 22:16, Rom.6: 1-4,
Gal.3:27, Eph.4:5,Col.2:12, Lord's Super. Matt.26:26-30,
Luke 22:19-20, Acts : - , 1 Cor.10:16, 1 Cor.ll:17-34).
12. We believe that Christians in a particular locality
should join together to form a local church. The local
church should meet regularly for worship and prayer, for
the preaching of the Word of God and to proclaim the
gospel.
Each member of the Church is required to give them selves
to the Lord and to one another, seeking the well being of
the other members as opportunities arise. The fellowship
should be characterized by humility and brotherly love as
the members use the gifts God has given them to build one
another up in the faith, to spur one another to love and
good works, to carry one another's burdens, and to correct
and rebuke one another.
(Refs. Acts 2:42,44, Rom.12:1-10, 15-16, 1 Cor. (especially
1 Car.1:10, 1 Cor.14:26-40), Eph.4:1-3,'32, Eph.5:19,
Eph.6:18, Phil.1:27, Phil.2:1-11, Col.3: 12 S 16, 1
Thes.5:14, Heb.10:24-25, Jes 5: 13-16).
13. We believe that God gives elders and deacons for the
administration of the local church. According to the
scriptures an elder must be a man of unquestionable
godliness, sound in faith and able to exercise leadership
in the church. The work of the eldership includes the
ministry of the Word, pastoral care, enforcement, of
discipline, and the' promotion of evangelism. It is
desirable to have at least one elder set aside for full
time service.
The Scriptures require the same spiritual qualifications in
a deacon as in an elder. The deacons are responsible for
the business and secular affairs of the church. The
scriptures, however, do not maintain fixed boundaries
between the two. There is a measure of overlapping.
(Refs. Acts 6:1-7,cp.Acts 7),Acts 13:1-4, Acts 14:23,
Gal.1:1-9, Gal.6:6, Eph.4:7-12, 1 Tim.3:1-13, 1 Tim.4:14, 1
Tim.5:17-22, Titus 1;5-9, Heb.13:7, 17).
14. We believe that members who bring dishonor to God and
His Church by persisting in the denial of fundamental
doctrine or by their ungodly conduct ought to be
disciplined. In matters of personal disputes the guidelines
that our Lord gave in
Matthew 18: 15-20 should be followed. All discipline in the
church should be exercised with love and patience, and the
end in view must always be the repentance and
reconciliation of the offender, and the purity and blessing
of the church.
(Refs. Matt.18:15-20, 1 Cor. 6:1-7, 2 Cor:2: 5-11, Gal.6:1,
1 Thes. 5:14, 2 Thes. 3: 6-15).
15. We believe that like-minded churches within a
geographical area should see fellowship together. In the
scriptures we find examples Of churches conferring with one
another in matters of doctrine, discipline, social concern
and worldwide evangelism.
(Refs. John 10:16, Acts 15:1-31, Acts 16: 1-5, Acts 20:
28-31, Rom.15:26, Rom. 16:17, 1 Cor.16:1-4, 2 Cor. 6:14-16,
2 Cor.8, 2 Cor.9, 2 Thes.3:6, 14-15, 2 John 10).
These matters are expanded with scripture references in "We
Believe the Strict Baptist Affirmation of Faith 1966" and
in "We Believe A Guide to Church Fellowship", currently
issued by the Grace Baptist Assembly. We commend these
publications.
