Statement
Of Beliefs
saints operates as a part of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC). A movement of over 1100 churches, in voluntary cooperation, consisting of more than 385,000 constituents across Australia.
Although we are a new church, we carry on in the tradition of the early Apostles.
We place the Bible and all it teaches about God and reveals about Jesus and the Holy Spirit at the center of all we are and do.
We affirm the Nicene Creed, a statement of shared beliefs among Christian churches for nearly 2000 years.s
Nicene Creed Background
The Nicene Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian church in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism. These heresies, which disturbed the church during the fourth century, concerned the doctrine of the trinity and of the person of Christ. Both the Greek (Eastern) and the Latin (Western) church held this creed in honour, though with one important difference: the Western church insisted on the inclusion of the phrase “and the Son”; (known as the “filioque”) in the article on the procession of the Holy Spirit; this phrase still is repudiated by the Eastern Orthodox church. In its present form this creed goes back partially to the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) with additions by the Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381). It was accepted in its present form at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
We believe in one God,
The Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
At Saints, we believe the Bible (composed of Old and New Testaments) to be both true and authoritative. We make this claim because we believe God divinely inspired the original authors through the Holy Spirit to pen them. (* 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and 2 Peter 1:21). Whereas we expect God to be present with and in us, always revealing, we do not subscribe to notions that God contradicts what the Scriptures have historically penned for us in practice and belief. God never contradicts Himself. Therefore, Scripture serves not only as inspiration into the life of God, but also as a guardrail for us to know the will of God and test the veracity of all things.
The Gospel story, which spans the full biblical narrative, can be most succinctly summarised in 4 major episodes: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Renewal.
Creation
God’s creation was an uncorrupted place of human flourishing through union with God and one another.
Fall
Humanity rebelled against God, attempting to be our own gods, resulting in the corruption of creation.
Redemption
Beginning with Abraham and Sarah, God began a long story of redemption. Israel is a family line leading to Jesus, who fulfilled the promise of blessing all nations by making a way for all people to be redeemed through his death and resurrection.
Renewal
God’s plan is for the renewal of all creation, and the Scripture ends with heaven and earth restored as one.
Salvation refers to the way an individual encounters the transformative power of the gospel. Eugene Peterson describes it as, “Salvation is God’s way of dealing with what is wrong with the world and with us.”
The scriptures depict salvation as a reality experienced in the past, present, and future. By reading God’s Word, we understand that salvation has happened, is happening, and will happen for those who believe.
Salvation (Past Tense)
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). In this context, salvation is something God accomplished for us in the past, linked to Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross. It is a completed act and a gift from God.
Salvation (Present Tense)
Salvation is also presented as an ongoing process. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Notice the phrase, “being saved.” While past salvation is tied to the cross, present salvation involves the risen Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Bible assures us that God has not abandoned us after Jesus’ ascension. Instead, the Holy Spirit is with us, working in us, cleansing and transforming us into the likeness of Christ.
Salvation (Future Tense)
Salvation is also experienced in another aspect, seen in the words of Jesus’ in the Gospel of Matthew: “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13). The interplay of past, present, and future salvation is one of the gospel’s great and beautiful mysteries. Our salvation is assured when we enter into a genuine relationship with God through faith in Christ. Yet, despite this assurance, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into what we know by faith we are—Sons and daughters of God. Saints! Made righteous, being made righteous and will be made perfectly righteous. As the Apostle Paul says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (1 Cor 4:16).
Ultimately, death has no victory over us because of the Father’s saving work through the death and resurrection of the Son and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us today.