| What we believe Swindon Evangelical
Church is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Churches (FIEC) and adhere to the
following basis of faith:
1. There is one GOD, who exists eternally in three distinct
but equal persons:The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. God is unchangeable in
His holiness, justice, wisdom and love. He is the Almighty Creator, Saviour and
Judge who sustains and governs all things according to His sovereign will for His own
glory.
2. God has revealed Himself in THE BIBLE which consists of
the Old and New Testaments 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.
It is without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks
with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
3. 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 a result of the fall of our first parents, every
aspect of human nature has been corrupted and 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
in order to know and please Him.
4. 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 authority and all His words are true. On the
cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming
them by His blood. 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.
5. SALVATION is entirely a work of God's grace and cannot be
earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered
to all in the gospel. God in His love forgives sinners whom He calls, granting them
repentance and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone,
adopted into the family of God and receive eternal life.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT has been sent from heaven to glorify
Christ and to apply His work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual
life and gives 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.
7. THE CHURCH is the body of which Christ is the head and to
which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches which are
congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the
preaching of the Word, the administration 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 and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship
between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.
8. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER have been given to the
churches by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with
and entry into His Church but does not impart spiritual life. The lord's Supper is a
commemoration of Christ's sacrifice offered once and for all and involves no change in the
bread and wine. All its blessings are received by faith.
9. THE FUTURE will see the return of Christ in glory.
He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will be sent
to eternal punishment and the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in
fellowship with God. God will make all things new and will be glorified for ever. |