What we believe concerning:
A. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are inerrant, infallible and God breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life.
B. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man.
C.
The
Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal
grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning
shall be determined by the pastor/s & elders of NBC.
REF: (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
A.
We believe
in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit.
B. Each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.
REF: (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14)
A. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, so that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men.
REF: (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
B.
We believe
that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the
cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our
justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
REF: (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1
Peter 1:3-5)
C.
We believe
that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right
hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfils the ministry of
Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.
REF: (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John
2:1-2)
A. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that all believers must be filled with the Spirit.
REF: (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27)
B. He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them until the day of redemption.
REF: (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
C. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry.
REF: (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)
A. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are inerrant, infallible and God breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life.
B. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man.
C.
The
Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal
grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning
shall be determined by the pastor/s & elders of NBC.
REF: (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)
A.
We believe
that salvation is the gift of God brought to all mankind by race and received
by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on
Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.
B.
We believe
that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable.
REF: (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet.1:18-19; 1 John 1:9)
C.
We believe
that each Christian is to work out his salvation with fear and trembling but
rejoice in the assurance of their salvation, through the testimony of God’s
Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an
occasion to the flesh.
REF: (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
A. We believe that the true church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons, baptised by immersion and the spirit
REF: (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
B.
We believe
that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and
defined in the New Testament Scriptures, baptism by immersion and the Lord’s
Supper are the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church.
REF: (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26,
Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
C.
We believe
in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control
only by the elected active church members and leaders.
REF: (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)
A.
We believe
that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon
their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.
B.
God
commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and
sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest
appearances.
REF: (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2
Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
A.
We believe
in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, who will rapture
His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period.
B.
At the end
of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints,
to establish His Earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of
Israel.
REF: (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess.
1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
A.
We believe
in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the
unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.
REF: (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
B.
We believe
that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present
with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when
spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.
REF: (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess.
4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
C.
We believe
that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and
torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they
shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the
Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious
punishment and torment.
REF: (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess.
1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
A.
We believe
that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man;
B.
Satan is
the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally
punished in the Lake of Fire.
REF: (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
A. We believe that God created the universe in six literal,
24-hour periods.
B. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory and
Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin.
REF: (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
A.
We believe
that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic
institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state; and that every
believer is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities
themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word.
B.
God has
given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those
responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to
infringe upon the other.
C.
The home,
the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective
Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God and thus the church is
not to be identified with the state nor is it, in its faith, practise and
discipline.
REF: (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet.
2:13-14)
A. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual
activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman, and
therefore any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality,
incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s
gift of sex.
B. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt
to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.
REF: (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30;
Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
C.
We believe
that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
REF: (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
A.
We believe
that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human
society; the husband is to be the leader of the home, to love his wife as
Christ loves the church; the wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural
leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ.
REF: (Eph. 5:21-33)
B.
We believe
that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but also that
there are separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the
church.
REF: (Genesis 1:27,1 Cor. 16:19, Rom 16: 1-4, Phil. 4: 2-3,
Rom 16: 7, 1 Cor. 11:11-12, 1Tim 3:11)
C.
Parents
are responsible for teaching their children, who are an inheritance from the
Lord; spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle
example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction.
REF: (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5;
Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14 Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21;
Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
A.
We believe
that God disapproves of divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the
spouses dies.
REF: (Mark 5:32, Mathew 19: 19, Mark 10:11,
B.
Divorce
and remarriage are regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication.
REF: (1 Cor. 7:12, 15, 1 Cor. 7:29)
C.
Although
divorced and remarried persons may hold positions of service in the church and
be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for
the offices of pastor / elder or deacon.
REF: (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2,
12; Titus 1:6)
A.
We believe
that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living
human being.
B. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life
C. Abortion is murder.
REF: (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
A. We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions.
B. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice.
C. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions.
REF: (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
A.
We believe
that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other
Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes.
B.
We believe
the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes
between members.
C.
We do
believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from
another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued in a
spirit of love without malice or slander.
REF: (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32).
A.
We believe
that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all
nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe,
ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
REF: (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
A. We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to financially support his local church.
B. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel.
C. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made.
REF: (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
A. Christ has prescribed that the
local congregations be led by godly men who have been duly appointed to lead
and oversee the church.
REF: (Titus 1:5 –11)
B. Church members submissively follow
the leadership and obey the elders so that the elders may do their work with
joy.
REF: (Hebrews 13:17)
C. Church members have the responsibility to honour their leaders.
REF: (1Tim
5: 17, 1 Cor 9: 13 - 14)
D. We believe that all active church members must respect,
obey & honour their church leaders.
REF: (Heb 13: 17: 1, 1The 5: 12 -13, 1 Tim 5: 17
A. Church leaders must be exemplary.
B. Church leaders, must avoid the spirit of disloyalty as
shown in the following examples:
1. Korah spirit - REF:
Numbers 16: 1-56,
2. Absalom spirit - REF: 2 Sam 15
3. and the Jezebel spirit - REF: 1 Kings: 16, 18, 21
A.
The church
shall follow Biblical church discipline on church matters:
1.
Sorting
matters privately,
2. Then involve a deacon,
3. Deacon refers to the elders,
4.
Elders
inform the Senior pastor.
5.
The Senior
Pastor informs the church members.
REF: Mathew (18: 15 – 17, 1 Tim 5: 19 -21)