OUR BELIEFS
ABOUT ESSENTIAL BELIEFS – WE HAVE UNITY
ABOUT NON-ESSENTIAL BELIEFS – WE HAVE LIBERTY
ABOUT ALL OUR BELIEFS – WE SHOW LOVE
SOME ESSENTIALS ON WHICH WE HAVE UNITY
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three (3) persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God.
(Genesis 1:1, 26–27, Genesis 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2)
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again some day to earth to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
(Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:22–23, John 1:1–5, John 10:30, John 14:6–30, Acts 1:9–11, Romans 1:3–4, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Philippians 2:5–11, Colossians 1:15–20, Colossians 2:16–17, 1Timothy 6:14–16, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 4:14–15, 1John 1:1–4, Revelation 1:8)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives believers spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians we are to live under His control daily.
(John 14:16–17, John 16:7–13, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 5:18)
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, the Bible is the truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is primarily God’s revelation to people in written form, which finds its fulfilment in Christ.
(Psalm 12:6, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 5:17-18, 2 Timothy 1:13, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20–21)
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God - called ‘sin’. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
(Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3–6, Isaiah 53:6a, Isaiah 59:1–2, Romans 3:23)
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith and this faith will be evidenced through the believer’s obedient life. Salvation is sustained through the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
(John 1:12, John 14:6, John 10:29, Romans 5:1, Romans 6:23, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:8–10, Titus 3:5-7, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:10–14, 1Peter 1:3-5)
PEOPLE WERE CREATED TO EXIST FOREVER
We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in unison with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
(Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41–46, John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1John 2:25, 1John 5:11–13, Revelation 20:15)
OUR CENTRE IS CHRIST; OUR BOOK IS THE BIBLE
The centrality of Christ is fundamental to Christian faith and doctrine. The Bible is primarily God’s revelation to us in written form, which finds its fulfilment in Christ. Christ is God’s ultimate revelation to humanity and our Christian faith is all about our relationship with God through Christ. (John 14:6, Acts 4:13, Philippians 2, Colossians 1:15-20, 2:16-17, 1 John 1:1-4, Revelation 1:8).
CHRISTIANS ONLY BUT NOT THE ONLY CHRISTIANS
We are committed to being known simply as Christians like the early followers of Christ (Acts 11:26).
We recognise though that we are just a part of the universal church of Jesus Christ that He loved and gave Himself for (Ephesians 5:25b). It is our desire to commit ourselves to the unity of God’s people as Jesus prayed and longed for (John 17:13-23).
OUR ASSOCIATION
Lifestreams Christian Church Karawara Inc is a Member of Churches of Christ in WA (COCWA). COCWA is an Association of 64+ independent but interdependent local churches. The Association exists to provide support to its Members over a wide range of matters relating to church structure, management, training and policy issues. It also functions in representing the movement of Churches of Christ in WA. For more information, please visit www.cocwa.com.au.
