What we believe
God
God has revealed himself to us in the Bible as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all co-equally and co-eternally God; one God in three persons.
(Mat 3:16-17; John 10:10-11, 30; 1 John 4:7-16)
God is sovereign, ever present, all knowing and all powerful; ruler over and sustainer of, all things, times, places and people; there is no other god.
(Eph 4:6; Is 44:6; Rev 1:8)
Before Almighty God we should bow in reverence and awe; before the holy and righteous Judge of the universe we should stand in fear, but in God as our loving, gracious and merciful Father, we can confidently trust.
(UPCSA Articles of Faith)
Jesus
Jesus’ incarnation, his virgin birth by Mary through the Holy Spirit, his life, ministry, death, burial and bodily resurrection are literal historical truths that where prophesied about in the Old Testament.
(Mat 1:18; Is 9:6-7; Mat 27:32 - 28:7; 1 Cor 15; Phil 2:6-11)
Jesus on earth was both fully man and fully God and came to bring the good news of God’s kingdom of love, mercy and grace. He is now raised up and seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf.
(Phil 2:6-11; Mat 25:31-46; 1 John 2:1; Rev 1:12-16)
In the name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have direct communication with God by prayer and there is no need for any other mediator between humanity and God except Jesus who is our advocate with the Father.
(Eph 1, 3:12; 1 John 2:1; John 14:6, 11; 1 Tim 2:5)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit works in all people to draw them into faith in Jesus by convicting them of sin, revealing God’s word in the scriptures, providing surety of salvation and sanctifying them for God’s glory. He reproves, helps, glorifies, and intercedes.
(John 16:7-13; Rom. 8:26)
The Holy Spirit gifts individuals by the grace of Jesus, so that we can perform acts of service. All the gifts listed in the Bible are given to the church today and the Holy Spirit also produces good fruit in us.
(1 Cor 12:1-11; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11-12; Gal 5:22-26; 1 Cor 14:12)
Trinity
There is only one God, but He consists of three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Mat 17:5; Ex 4:22; Deut 32:6; 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 89:27-28; Rom 1:3-4; Gal 4:4; John 1:1-14; 5:18-25; 10:30-38; Mat 3:16-17; John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 1 Cor 2:10-11; 12:11)
Creation
God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, created everything that is seen and unseen, including the whole of space and time, from nothing . The pinnacle of creation is humankind, into whom God breathed spiritual life. God created angels; heavenly beings, who are His messengers and helpers; Satan was one of these beings who because of his pride, was cast out of heaven, together with all his followers.
(Gen 1; John 1:1-3, Job 38:4; Ps 136:5; Is 40:26; 41:20; 42:5; 43:1, 7; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11; Gen 2:7; Job 26:13; Ps 104:30; Is 14:12-14; Ezek 28:15, 17; Rev 12:7-12; Gen 3; 1 John 4:4; Eph 6:10-17)
Humanity
All people, both male and female are created in God’s image for God’s pleasure and Jesus’ glory and from conception all people have great value in God’s eyes.
(Gen 1:26; 2:18; John 3:16-17; James 1:27)
Marriage is between one man and one woman, for life, to share life’s joys and struggles. Sex is God’s gift for human pleasure within the bounds of marriage and so that humans may have the blessing of children.
(Mat 19:3-9; 1 Thes 4:1-8; Heb 13:4; Prov 2:16-22)
Adam and Eve fell from grace when tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden. Because of this humans are inherently and completely sinful from birth. Sin is our choosing to live life by our own will instead of God’s will and results in us failing to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and loving our neighbour as ourselves. The penalty for sin is judgement by God, resulting in physical and spiritual death.
(Rom 3:23; Rom 5:12; 6:23)
The Bible
The Bible is the true and perfect word of God written through human authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Cor 4:6)
The Bible is God’s full, final and complete revelation of Himself and His plans for us.
(Jer 23:22; Mat 10:20; John 20:30, 31)
The Bible is the source and final rule for all that the church teaches. God may speak to us also through the grandeur of nature, the storms and silences of life, visions and dreams. We need to listen for God’s call and command at all times, wherever we are. But every claimed revelation is to be tested by the normative standard of the Word of God as Scripture bears witness to it.
(1 Cor 4:6, 2 Tim 4:3,4)
The Church
The church is the called and chosen community of born-again people both living and dead and is the body and bride of Christ.
(Eph 3:10; 5:23).
The church is marked by faithful preaching of God’s word, called leadership, discipleship to Christian maturity and the celebration of the sacraments: the physical signs of baptism and communion given by Jesus to his church.
(Eph 5:23; Col 1:18, 24; 1 Cor 11:23-26)
Salvation
Salvation is an act of God’s grace, apart from our goodness or worth, accomplished in sending Jesus to die on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sin of humankind. God accomplishes our salvation by regenerating our hearts and transforming our minds.
(John 3:16, 2 Cor 5:21)
Living faith in Jesus’ death for our sin, repentance, and confession of Christ as Lord, is needed for salvation, and this is a gift from God.
(Is 30:15; Ezek 18:30; Hab 2:4; Mat 9:22; Mark 6:12; Luke 13:3-4; John 6:44; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18, 30; 15:9; Rom 2:4; 3:22, 27-28; 4:5, 16; 10:9-10; 2 Cor 7:9, 10; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8; 2 Pet 3:9; 1 John 1:8-10)
The sign of salvation is the changed heart and life of a believer through the work of the Holy Spirit that is evidenced in the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
(Gal 5:22, 1 Cor 12:4-11, Rom 12:1,2, John 3:3, 8; Mat 25:35-36)
Christian life
The Christian life is one marked by repentance of sin, confession of a Trinitarian faith, baptism, worship, study of the bible, prayer, holy living, community, service, generosity and witness to Jesus in word and action.
(Rom 6:4; Col 2:11,12; Luke 13:3,4; Rom 12:1-8; Gal 2:22; Mat 28:18-19)
Christians live within the culture into which they were born and are there by God’s design to be part of Jesus’ redemptive work. We live in the culture but are not of it, as our heritage and allegiance belong to another Kingdom.
The Future
Jesus will come again in power and glory to judge all people both living and dead.
(Mal 4:1-3; Is 66:15-16; Rev 20:11-15)
All people will be raised in a bodily resurrection and will give an account of their lives. Those who die in faith with be glorified by Jesus for eternity. Those who die outside of Jesus’ lordship are bound for eternal destruction in hell.
(1 Cor 15:35-57; Mat 25:31-46; Rev 20:11-15)
In the end there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where those saved through grace by Jesus will share a glorious eternity with him.
(Is 65:17-25; Rev 21:1-4)
Click here to download the The Protea Valley Church Statement of Faith
as above in pdf format
Click here to download the UPCSA denomination's Confession of Faith