Statement of Faith

CA is committed to the doctrines which are commonly considered as the essentials of historic, biblical orthodoxy. Such doctrines are found in the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. These doctrines are most often labeled as “evangelical” in the language of Western Christianity and are expressed in the Lausanne Covenant.

CA affirms its belief in:

One Living and True God 
God eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- equal in power and glory. He has revealed Himself to be perfect in love, holiness and righteousness. He created all, upholds all and governs all.

The Written Word of God, the Bible 
The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by divine inspiration and are the written Word of God, the final authority for the lives of believers in every culture and age, and the infallible rule for faith and practice. They are to be interpreted according to their context and purpose in reverent obedience to the living Lord who speaks through them in power by his Holy Spirit. The primary purpose of scripture is to lead people to faith in Jesus.

God the Father 
God has revealed Himself as a Father who is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; He hears and answers prayer; and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ 
Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and Who is both true God and true man. He was born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah; performed miracles as evidence of His Messiahship; died a substitutionary, atoning death for our sins; rose bodily from the dead; ascended into heaven; and offers continual intercession for His people.

The Holy Spirit 
The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ and is an abiding Helper, Teacher, Gift-giver, and Guide. The true believer receives the Holy Spirit and is baptised into the Body of Christ at conversion, but the Spirit’s empowering for godly living, ministry and mission must be sought and activated by faith. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we can experience repeated fillings and a progressive liberation from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the world.

God’s Plan to Save Man 
Man was created in God’s image, tempted by the devil and subsequently rebelled against God. Men and women are now fallen in nature and evidence this condition in sinful deeds. Thus, they are sinners under condemnation. God regenerates those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, declares them righteous, forgives them of their sins, adopts them as His children, baptizes them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their future resurrection and inheritance with Christ, incorporates them into His Body and empowers them for His service.

The Believer’s Authority 
The believer possesses great authority through Christ over the powers of spiritual darkness led by Satan, the ruler of this world. We actively exercise this authority as we pray, walk by faith, exercise spiritual gifts and progress toward spiritual maturity in Christ. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit brings a present, though partial, reality of the kingdom of God on earth, as He acts in and through our lives with sovereign, supernatural power.

The Church 
The Church is the living, spiritual Body of Christ of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. The local church is the primary instrument of God for the extension of His kingdom today. The Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We respect the variations of practice of these ordinances and affirm the unity of Christ’s Body.

The Visible, Bodily Return of Christ 
Jesus Christ will return to the earth physically to raise the dead, judge the world, consummate His glorious kingdom, and bestow eternal blessing on the righteous. This is the hope of the church.