Statement of Faith

Our Statement of Faith guides the ministry, teaching and practices of Southdale Bible Chapel.

We believe that the whole Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, without error in the original documents and our flawless, all-sufficient guide for salvation and for the Christian Life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21) 

We believe in one God, the Creator of all, Who eternally exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 28:19, John 1:1-3, John 14:25-26) 

We believe that God the Father is over all and works everything according to His sovereign purpose. God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Saviour of the world and has sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper. He has adopted us as His children and made us to be co-heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:6, Ephesians 1:11, 1 Corinthians 8:6, John 14:16-17,26, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:14, Romans 8:17)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, sinlessly perfect, and that he died for our sins, was buried and rose again in a body from the dead. He has ascended into heaven where he serves as our Great High Priest. (1 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 1:18-25, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 9:24)

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who lives within believers and seals them until the day of redemption and empowers them to live a godly life. (Ephesians 1:13-14, Galatians 5:16, 22-23)

We believe that every person has sinned, is therefore separated from God, and is totally unable to save himself from eternal punishment by his own works. (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5)

We believe that redemption was entirely accomplished by the blood of Christ shed on the cross, that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace received by personal faith in Jesus Christ, and that each believer possesses the security of eternal life. (Ephesians 1:7, John 3:16, John 5:24, John 10:28)

We believe in the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man. Although difficult to grasp, both are equally true. (Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-5, Colossians 1:16-17, John 3:16, John 1:12-13, 1 Timothy 2:4, John 6:37)

We believe in the sufficiency and unlimited sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is available to all people, recognizing that not all receive this salvation. (John 1:29, 1 John 2:2, Titus 2:11, John 3:16, Hebrews 2:9)

We believe that the church, which is the body of Christ, is made up of all believers and Christ Himself is the only head (authority). The local church is made up of a group of believers in a specific locality who gather in Christ’s name for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18, Acts 2:32)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (Revelation 22:1-5, Revelation 20:10-15)

We believe in the personal, imminent and premillennial coming of the Lord in the air to rapture (catch up) the church, followed by the Tribulation and His personal return to earth to judge the world and rule in righteousness. (Matthew 24:14-31, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, Revelation 7:14; 19:11-15, Jeremiah 23:5-6