What Flyingbow believes
We hold to the historic teachings of Christianity as articulated in the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. We also subscribe to a recent summary of Christian doctrine and global missions as formulated in the Lausanne Covenant.
AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST, WE AFFIRM THE FOLLOWING KEY STATEMENTS TO BE BASIC HISTORIC CHRISTIAN TRUTHS AND THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH
THE BIBLE
- We believe that the Bible is the uniquely inspired word of God written by people in their own style and settings, as inspired by the Holy Spirit. The word “inspired” means that God directed the writing and the collection of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. We believe the Bible is without error and is the final authority for faith and life in every age.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-11
GOD
- We believe that there is one God who exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three persons possess the same nature, qualities and glory but are distinct in their roles.
- Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 1:13–14, 4:4–6
GOD THE FATHER
- We believe that God is holy, just and merciful, the Creator of all and the Sustainer of life. God the Father reigns with providential care over all life and history, He hears and answers prayer, and initiated salvation by sending His Son. He adopts us as sons and daughters if we accept His Son, Jesus, as Lord and Saviour.
- Isaiah 6:3, 30:18; Genesis 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:17, 4:6; Psalm 103:13; Matthew 3:17; John 1:12,14; 3:16-17; Romans 8:15-17; 1 John 3:1
JESUS CHRIST
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God and that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was completely God and fully human. He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, temptation and the full range of human emotion, but remained sinless. He suffered and died on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sin. He is the only one able to reconcile sinful humanity to God by what He accomplished. He came back to life again on the third day, ascended into Heaven, and sits at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us.
- 1 John 5:20; Luke 1:35, 2:11; Matthew 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 4:25; Hebrews 4:14-16; John 1:1-14
THE HOLY SPIRIT
- We believe the Holy Spirit is God and has all the attributes of God. He is a Person of the Trinity (triune God) with feelings and He can be grieved. He indwells each believer from the moment they welcome Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal and glorify Christ. He convicts the world of sin and empowers believers to follow Christ obediently, guiding and teaching us to become fully devoted followers. He regenerates, sanctifies, strengthens, comforts, equips with spiritual gifts and leads us into a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:9; John 14:16-18, 15:26, 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12
SALVATION
- We believe everyone was created in God’s image and for relationship with Him. Through the original sin of Adam and Eve, we inherited a sinful nature that separates us from God. Jesus alone is able to restore our relationship with God through His death and resurrection. Salvation is an undeserved gift available to all who believe and have faith in Jesus.
- Genesis 1:27; John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 5:12-21, 6:23, 10:13; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9
THE CHURCH
- Flyingbow loves the church! We partner and support the important work of the church. All believers are part of the universal church with Jesus Christ as the head. Each local church is intended to be a visible expression of the universal church reconciled across gender, racial, ethnic and class differences. The local church is a community that meets regularly to worship, be taught the Word of God, be encouraged in prayer and discipleship, participate in communion and baptism, be equipped to serve one another in love, unity, witnessing and making disciples throughout the world.
- Ephesians 1:22-23; Galatians 3:27-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, 12:12-27; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-46; John 17:9-25
THE RETURN OF CHRIST
- We believe in the bodily and glorious return of Jesus Christ and in the resurrection and Divine judgement of believers and unbelievers. Our eternal destination of either heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers will spend eternity in the presence of the Lord. Unbelievers who reject the message of the gospel will be separated for eternity from God.
- John 14:1-6; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20:12-13, 21:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9