Statement of faith

Bathurst Community Church believes:

1. that the Bible is God's Word which His Holy Spirit caused people to write (it is the record of how God created, saved and is restoring the world through His Son Jesus Christ) and, as originally given, is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct;
2. in the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as God;
3. that humankind was created in God’s image to be in relationship with Him;
4. in the universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the fall (this leaves people subject to God’s wrath and condemnation);
5. in the conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit and His birth of the virgin Mary;
6. that redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin, are only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Jesus died as our representative and substitute as the Son of God made man);
7. in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (just as His physical body was raised, we too who have faith in Him will also be raised to live forever in Heaven with Jesus Christ);
8. that salvation is a gift from God (freely given to those whom the Holy Spirit leads to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour);
9. that the Holy Spirit lives and works in the individual believer to make them more like Christ;
10. that Jesus will personally come again at a time unknown to humankind to judge the world and then God will restore His creation to Himself.

Baptism

Baptism is a symbol of the beginning of the Christian life and so at Bathurst Community Church we will baptise those who make a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  We will also baptise the infant children of members of the church, recognising that even as young children they are beginning to grow in the knowledge and love of God, in the context of a Christian household and the church family.  Parents who choose not to have their children baptised as infants may wish to have a ‘thanksgiving and dedication’ for their children.

When someone becomes a Christian, we encourage them to be baptised or to confirm their infant baptism.  We encourage those growing up within the church to consider their personal commitment to Christ and to make a public declaration in baptism or confirmation during their teenage years.

Baptism and confirmation are not just momentary experiences or ends in themselves, but part of our ongoing growth in Christ.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is a concrete reminder of the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night he was betrayed.  At that time Jesus redefined the Jewish Passover celebration in terms of the new Exodus that his death would bring about, and told his disciples to ‘do this in remembrance of me’.  Paul reminds us that in celebrating Communion, we ‘proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.

At BCC we usually celebrate Holy Communion in our Sunday services about every six weeks.  All those who love the Lord Jesus, including children, are invited to participate.  Communion is usually conducted by the service leader.