We believe in the Verbal-Plenary inspiration of the Bible; that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" and holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of Scripture. We believe this divine inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture; historical, poetical, doctrinal and prophetical; and that all Scripture is without error in the original manuscripts. We also believe the Bible to be infallible in its teachings and principles today and the final authority on all matters of faith and conduct (Mark 12:26, 36; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
We believe Scripture must be understood in a historical, grammatical, literal way except where allegory and symbolism are the obvious intent. We believe Scripture must be interpreted with an understanding of God's dispensational dealings with men and that all Scripture leads to the person of Christ (Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3; 18:28; Ephesians 3:2-4, 9; Colossians 1:25-26).
We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; each having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfection and are therefore worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience. We believe this living being to be an all-wise, providential, and supreme ruler; who is a self-existent, everlasting, personal God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, a just, holy judge and a gracious, loving and merciful Savior, and illuminating and guiding Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, took upon Himself a human form in order that He might redeem a sinful, lost world and reveal God to men. We believe that Christ through substitutionary sacrifice by death on the cross, accomplished eternal redemption for mankind. We believe His bodily resurrection and present position at the right hand of God, where He remains as head of the church, interceding for the saved, is divine testimony that the sin question has been eternally settled (John 1:1-2, 14, 18, 29; 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 1:3; 2:14-15; 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:1).
We believe the Holy Spirit is a personal spirit being, God in every respect, who convicts the world of sin, indwells all born again Christians, baptized them into the Body of Christ, and seals them unto the day of redemption. He also intercedes for, comforts, teaches, empowers, and guides believers in all truth and it is the responsibility of every born again Christian to be filled (more completely controlled) by the Holy Spirit continuously (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).
We believe man was originally created in the 'image and likeness' of God; he fell from God into sin through disobedience incurring both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are hopelessly separated from and at enmity with God and can only come to God and be saved through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:12).
Salvation is provided by God through Christ for all who repent and trust in His "finished work" by faith. These believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, receive the gift of eternal life, are born again Christians and children of God. It is the will of God that all believers be sanctified by continually yielding themselves to God as a 'spiritual service of worship (John 3:16; Romans 3:25-26; 8:14-16; 10:6-13; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 2:8-10).
For more, including our "Minor Distinctives," view The Doctrinal Statement of Rothbury Community Church.