WHat we believe

We believe there is one God, the Sovereign Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons in the Godhead – God the Father,  God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  All three persons are equal in power, substance and glory.

As Christians we believe that God has spoken through the Bible, that it is our infallible guide to understanding who God is, what He is like, and how we are to relate to Him. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, to be the inspired Word of God, without error as originally given, and therefore our final authority in all matters of belief and behaviour. This is the reason why at most of our meetings we spend time considering what the Bible says, seeking to be encouraged, guided and fed by God’s Word.

We are Christians because we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord over all of creation. We believe that He has existed for all eternity and that He took on flesh and came to earth where He lived, died and was raised to life, and will one day return to judge all people. We believe that there is only one way for people to have a real and living relationship with God, and that is through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

We are a GRACE Baptist Church.

1. We believe God is in charge of this world but we all, by nature, rebel against His rule. We are totally infected by sin and all deserve to be eternally punished.
   
   

2. We believe that before the foundation of the world God predestined some people to be adopted into His family through Jesus Christ.
   
   

3. We believe that Jesus came into the world to save His people from their sins through His death and resurrection.
   
   

4. We believe we are reconciled to God not because of our attempts to please Him, but because of His irresistible grace.
   
   

5. We believe that those God redeems in this way are kept by Him forever and will never be lost. These beliefs are sometimes called ‘the doctrines of grace’.

   
   

We are a Grace BAPTIST Church because we believe that baptism (immersion in water), as commanded by the Lord Jesus, is a step of obedience that His followers should take. This is why we don’t baptise babies, but only those who themselves have turned to Christ in repentance and faith.  We believe in the necessity of baptism by immersion into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in order to enter into church membership.  The Lord's Supper is a privilege of local church membership and is administered under the discipline and pastoral care of the local church.

We are a Grace Baptist CHURCH, a body of believers from all walks of life and all ages. We believe that the local church is under the authority  of Christ alone.  A local church is administered by the officers (pastors/elders and deacons) of that church.  Under the congregational principle of church order, church members gather to seek the Lord's mind on matters relating to church life and ministry.

We want to exist primarily for three reasons: for God’s pleasure, to equip and edify believers, and to share God’s way of reconciliation with others.

1. So we try to please God by living a holy life, as He works in us by His Holy Spirit.
   
   

2. Although the pastor has the main responsibility for the ministry of the Bible, all members seek to serve by using their God-given gifts for the building-up of the church.
   
   

3. We seek to make the gospel of Christ known to those around us, especially in the village of Downe, and support gospel work in other areas. What's on.
   

As part of The Association of Grace Baptist Churches we hold to their statement of faith.