what we believe

 
We believe here at The Sanctuary Mississauga that the Bible clearly states we have some things we can agree to disagree about (non-essentials), but the Bible does teach we have some essentials to following Jesus Christ as Lord. To these following essentials we are committed and will never compromise...

The Bible:

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are inspired by God and without error, and that they are our supreme and final authority in faith and life.

God:

We believe in one God, the Creator, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ:

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin Mary -- 100% God and man.

Holy Spirit:

We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and gives spiritual life to all believers, enables them to understand Biblical truth, empowers them for godly living, gives them spiritual gifts and equips them for service and witness.

Human Beings:

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His divine image; that they sinned resulting in the spiritual, physical and emotional fall of humanity. We believe that all people by their own decisions have chosen to sin and thereby stand guilty before God and are in need of a Saviour.

Salvation:

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitution sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood. We believe that all who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

Resurrection:

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

Christ's Return:

We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Eternity:

We believe in the eternal nature of all humanity. The resurrection and enjoyment of the presence of God for all those who receive His Son; and the eternal punishment of the absence of God and His influence for those who reject the gift of His salvation.

The Church:

We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. New Testament churches promote God's work by cooperating together for missions and many other joint efforts. The local church is to be governed independently of outside persons, bodies, groups or authorities.

Ordinances:

We believe that the local church observes two ordinances - baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Saviour and Lord should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; that baptism is by immersion as a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord's Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him as a testimony to His death for our sins until He comes again.