Our Statement of Faith
Back to Basics: Christian Living exists to teach the Word of God plainly, so that ordinary believers can understand it and live it. This is what we believe, and what all our teaching is measured against.
The Bible is our final authority
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God — All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [2 Timothy 3:16 KJV]. We teach from the King James Version, and we do not paraphrase, soften, or modernise it to make it easier to swallow. Scripture sits above culture, opinion, tradition and trend. Where the Word and the world disagree, the Word stands. And because it is God's Word and not ours, we handle it with care — rightly dividing the word of truth [2 Timothy 2:15 KJV].
One God, our Heavenly Father
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all [Ephesians 4:6 KJV]. He is not distant, cold, or unknowable. He is our Father, and He wants to be known by His children.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, sinless in His life, crucified for our sins, buried, and raised again the third day — how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures [1 Corinthians 15:3,4 KJV]. He is the only way to the Father — no man cometh unto the Father, but by me [John 14:6 KJV] — and He is the Head of the Church, His body [Colossians 1:18 KJV].
The Holy Spirit, our Helper and Comforter
We believe every born-again believer receives the Holy Spirit, promised by the Lord Jesus as another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever [John 14:16 KJV]. We receive one Spirit, and that one Spirit has nine manifestations, given for profit and not for show — But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal [1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV]. Likewise there is one fruit of the Spirit with nine manifestations — love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance [Galatians 5:22,23 KJV]. The manifestations serve the body; the fruit shapes the believer.
Salvation by grace, through faith
We believe salvation is God's gift, never man's achievement — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast [Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV]. It comes by confession and belief [Romans 10:9 KJV], and there is no other name by which we can be saved [Acts 4:12 KJV]. Not ritual. Not religion. Not good intentions. Christ alone.
Born again, and made new
We believe a person must be born again — Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again [John 3:7 KJV]. That new birth is real and it changes everything — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new [2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV]. Born-again believers are the sons of God, and the Spirit bears witness of it [Romans 8:16 KJV].
Prayer, and how we come to God
We believe we pray to God our Father, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit — For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father [Ephesians 2:18 KJV]. Prayer is not a last resort for emergencies. It is the daily habit of a child talking to a Father who listens.
The Church, the body of Christ
We believe the Church is not a building, a denomination, or a brand. It is the body of Christ, and every born-again believer is a member of it — Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular [1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV]. Christ is the Head, and the church is called to gather, to teach sound doctrine, to encourage, and to hold one another up [Hebrews 10:25 KJV].
The Old and the New
We believe all Scripture is God's Word, and that it must be read as it was written. The Old Testament was written for our learning — For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning [Romans 15:4 KJV] — while the New Testament is addressed directly to us as sons of God, under the Headship of Jesus Christ. God does not change, but He does not deal with the body of Christ as He dealt with Israel. Read the promises and the commandments where they were given, to whom they were given, and much of the confusion in the church today falls away.
The walk and the warfare
We believe the Christian life is a daily walk and a daily fight. A walk, because we are called to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work [Colossians 1:10 KJV]. A fight, because we have a real enemy and are told to Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [Ephesians 6:11 KJV]. Obedience, repentance and holiness are not extras for the keen ones. They are the normal Christian life.
The blessed hope
We believe in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ — Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ [Titus 2:13 KJV]. We live in that expectation, and we tell others while there is still time [Matthew 28:19 KJV].
What we will not teach
We will not water down Scripture to keep anyone comfortable. We will not preach a prosperity gospel that turns God into a means to money. We will not swap obedience for a feeling, or doctrine for entertainment, or the Word of God for the opinions of men. And we will not mix worldly spirituality of any kind into the teaching of Christ.
Where all of this lands
Doctrine that never reaches your Monday morning has not finished its work. That is why everything we teach comes back to one command — But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves [James 1:22 KJV]. Hear it, believe it, and build your life on it, because the house that stands is the one built on the Rock [Matthew 7:24 KJV].