Constitution of Faith

The purpose of CRBC shall be:

1. To glorify God by providing a place for the corporate worship of God in praise, prayer, and in proclaiming the sixty-six (66) books of the Holy Bible as God's only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
2. To glorify God by proclaiming the holy triune God of the Bible as the eternal, immutable, infinite, all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing creator, and sovereign Lord; and His Son, Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, as the only Saviour of sinners; and the Holy Spirit as the divine person of the Godhead who convicts and convinces men of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three separate Gods, but three persons of the Godhead. There is only one true and living God.
3. To glorify God by building up, strengthening, confirming, and equipping in the faith the saints for good works, which are the fruits and evidence of a true and living faith.
4. To glorify God by earnestly endeavouring to win others to Christ through biblical New Testament evangelism, missions and church planting, bidding sinners, as did our forefathers, to come to the only Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, so that they are included among the children of God to enjoy the freedoms and privileges of being children of God.
5. To glorify God by calling for holiness of life by turning from sin and worldliness; to warn against "another gospel"; to expose and condemn the errors of anything which is contrary to sound doctrine and practice.
6. To glorify God by being exemplary citizens and obeying the laws of Australia and its civil authorities insofar as they are not contrary to the Word of God, the Holy Bible. While we will "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's"; we will "render unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21) by remaining separate from the dictates and domination of the government and state.

Statement of fundamental beliefs, rooted and grounded in the teachings of the Bible:

1. We believe that the Bible, in the original autographs, consisting of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament is the Word of God. We recognise the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, as the most accurate expression of the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. We do not hold this Confession of Faith to be above or equal to the Holy Scriptures. Rather we accept it as assistance in controversy, a confirmation of faith, and an instrument of edification and instruction.
2. We believe that the Bible alone through the work of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for salvation and life, nothing is to be added or subtracted to the Bible.
3. We believe that the Bible is the supreme authority for the Christian and the local church.
4. We believe that God is one. There is no other.
5. We believe in the Holy Trinity. In the unity of the one God there are three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These persons are eternally distinct, but equally God, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided.
6. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them in six 24 hour-days and rested on the seventh day.
7. We believe that God created man upright, but sin and death entered the world through the disobedience of Adam.
8. We believe that all humanity fell in Adam and through his sin, all humans are conceived and born sinners. Communion with God has been completely broken because of Adam's sin.
9. We believe that Christ our Lord is the only mediator between God and man. In His person are united two whole, perfect, and distinct natures: human and divine. He is true God and true man.
10. We believe that Christ paid in full and satisfied the justice of God for His people upon the cross. His perfect life, substitutionary death, victorious resurrection, bodily ascension and coronation as King are the only means for salvation.
11. We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as stated in the Scriptures alone for the glory of God alone.
12. We believe that justification is the result of faith and not works. The redeemed sinner receives the forgiveness of sins and the righteousness of Christ as a complete gift from God, upon faith.
13. We believe that all persons who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, also receive adoption into the household of God.
14. We believe that all who have been justified, adopted, and have been united with the Lord Jesus Christ, also receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit upon salvation, who begins a work of sanctification, with the purpose of mortifying sin, producing holiness, and bringing conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.
15. We believe that the Holy Spirit equips all saints with spiritual gifts for the edification of the church.
16. We believe that all redeemed sinners, whether past, present or future are saved only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
17. We believe that God preserves His people by His power through their faith until the end. All genuine believers are preserved by grace.
18. We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message that brings salvation.
19. We believe that the universal church is comprised only of those who are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
20. We believe that the membership of the local church is only for those who are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
21. We believe that the local church has authority over its members derived only from the Lord and in conformity to the Scriptures.
22. We believe that the local church consists of members, some of them will hold the offices of elders or deacons. All members are one and the same before the Lord. Only their roles vary.
23. We believe that all elders are equal in authority, and they are to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word of God.
24. We believe that baptism does not save; it is a sign of genuine spiritual union with the Lord Jesus Christ.
25. We believe that baptism is only for those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
26. We believe that baptism is to only be administered by full immersion.
27. We believe that the Lord's supper is to be observed every Lord's Day with reverence in the local church.
28. We believe that the Lord's supper is not a sacrifice for the remission of sins. It is a memorial and proclamation of Christ's sacrifice.
29. We believe that there is a future second visible coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world.
30. We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in, outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
31. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, trans-genderism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, polygamy, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex.
32. We believe that God in His wisdom has made each human being either male or female. And what he has made them at conception, is who they are, and is not subject to change. Therefore, God forbids any attempt to act in a way contrary to how one is created at conception. Any attempt to alter one's behaviour or appearance, even with surgery, in order to emulate the opposite sex, is undermining God's wisdom and His decree, and is sin in His eyes.
33. We believe that man was made in the image of God. Human life is therefore sacred, from conception to natural death, and may not be taken unjustly. To intentionally end the life in the womb (abortion), or prematurely cause the death of the sick or dying (assisted suicide or euthanasia), is nothing short of murder and a heinous offence against God.
34. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the one that is instituted by God, through the covenantal joining of one biologically born man with one biologically born woman.
35. We believe that the family is to follow the authority, roles and structure given by God in the Scriptures.

Following the biblical instructions, CRBC will seek to faithfully practice church discipline. Church discipline is one of the marks of a New Testament church. The Word of God is full of instructions concerning the right and duty of the church to implement discipline. The lack of discipline hinders the blessing of God, causes the church to become odious to the unbelieving, cools the affections of the saints toward their brethren and dulls the effect of the gospel in the world. Church discipline should always aim for the glory of God, the welfare and purity of the church, and the restoration and spiritual growth of the offender.

In cases of persons holding false doctrine, or who openly persist in violating biblical separation, or who live in violation of the law; or who walk disorderly; or who persist in disturbing the unity and peace of CRBC, it is the duty of the church to exercise discipline according to the Scriptures.

The following measures may be applied:

• Suspension — the revocation of an unrepentant member's right to commune in the Lord's supper, as well as to decide on congregational matters (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 1:6-10).
• Public admonition — a reproof or rebuke of a sinning member, informing the congregation that the erring member is contrary to the Scripture, in word and/or deed (Galatians 2:14; 1 Timothy 5:20).
• Excommunication — the removal of an unrepentant member from the church, by which they are marked publicly as an unbeliever. Excommunication shall be proposed by the elders and passed by an affirmative majority of the members present (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Persons who have been excommunicated may be restored to membership after satisfactory evidence of genuine repentance.

With the aim of church discipline having been accomplished, the congregation shall have a right to restore the penitent person to full membership by the consensus of all the members present in the absence of any objection.

One special type of fellowship and cooperation with other churches is formal membership in an association of churches. When it is thought desirable and upon the recommendation of the elders, CRBC may join itself to an association(s) of churches, with the expressed consent and approval by majority of the congregation (Acts 15:22; 2 Corinthians 8:19).

The purposes in joining an association of churches are mutual edification, cooperative efforts in spreading the gospel, accountability, providing an avenue whereby grievances may be addressed, and reciprocal counsel. No association shall have any authority or power over CRBC.

Delegates to such associations shall be chosen by the eldership of CRBC, with the elders taking the general oversight of all delegates and business matters.