Statement of Faith
GOD
We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. More details on God here
BIBLE
The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years by more than 40 authors in three languages, on three continents. When you write a letter, who actually writes it - you or the pen? You write it; the pen is simply the instrument you use. God did the writing and He simply used men as instruments to communicate His thoughts to humanity. Rather than contradicting one another, the writers maintained 100 percent historical, moral, prophetical, and theological accuracy, writing with harmony and continuity from Genesis to Revelation. In other words, God was the author and men were His writing instruments. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavour should be judged. We believe the Bible is the final authority in every area it addresses for every individual Christian, as well as for the church collectively. We believe in the literal, historical and grammatical interpretation of the bible, therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. We strongly believe in 2 Timothy 2:15: study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. And 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. See more on the deception of ear tickling in the church here
MAN
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender (only male and female) is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherits a sin nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfil the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus, Israel’s promised Messiah, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. We believe the Holy Spirit regenerate, indwells and seals believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He empowers them to live as His witnesses. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. So we believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Scripture are available to and active in His church today. See more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit here
THE CHURCH
Experience the inspiring essence of a New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This dynamic and independent local assembly of believers is united by a covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. Our congregation faithfully observes Christ's two ordinances: (1) water baptism and (2) the Lord’s Supper. Both ordinances powerfully symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the new life His disciples have in Him. We actively utilize the gifts, rights, and privileges granted by His Word, all with the mission of spreading the gospel globally. We firmly believe that the church serves as a sanctuary for believers, not for unbelievers or seekers, as our gatherings aim to: 1) teach biblical doctrine, 2) offer a warm fellowship environment for believers, 3) observe the Lord’s Supper, and 4) engage in prayer to strengthen unity, build up Christian faith and life, and address current issues and situations. Our purpose is discipleship, not entertainment, equipping us to make disciples. United in purpose, believers gather not to question Jesus' commandments or the Bible, but to celebrate them with enthusiasm. Additionally, the church is not a kingdom, but a glorious body and Bride of Christ (Christ paid the ultimate price and purchased us with His precious blood), encompassing all Jewish and Gentile believers from Pentecost to the Rapture of the church. We keep it simple, mark and avoid false theological movements like Dominionism, Word of Faith, New Apostolic Reformation, Seeker Friendly or Emergent Church. We believe that the church, redeemed by Jesus through His precious blood, has a responsibility to remain separate from the world and from apostasy—defined as any errors that undermine the authority of Scripture, the integrity of the gospel, the biblical Jesus, and the essential doctrines of the faith. Many churches in the UK and worldwide have succumbed to apostasy and significant antisemitism, and by staying in or supporting them, it creates a false impression of being salt and light in this world. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 states: "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.'"
STRUCTURE AND ROLES
Agape Simple Church confidently upholds a straightforward yet biblical framework: Jesus → You for personal accountability, and on a group level, Jesus → You → One-to-Another. To see more about accountability check this out here. While elders and deacons are present, the ministry and sharing in the Lord extend beyond them. The life of Jesus is expressed equally through all church members. We firmly believe that from the beginning, God's design for men and women was for them to govern His creation equally and uniquely, working together to achieve His purposes and glorify His name (Genesis 1:26-28). This principle continues in the New Testament, which emphasizes the elevated status of believing men and women as co-heirs of Christ's grace and co-recipients of the Holy Spirit's gifts, intended to serve the church and fulfil the Great Commission. Therefore, all believing men and women are called to Christlike maturity and significant kingdom leadership. We also assert that God has reserved specific roles and functions within the church for mature, believing men, specifically the role of elder and the function of teaching/preaching during church gatherings. Our stance aligns closely with a "Complementarian" interpretation of scripture, where men and women have different but complementary roles in the church and home. See when we meet
ISRAEL
We assert with confidence that God has called a people to Himself, specifically the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel is recognized as the Wife of Jehovah—unfaithful in the past, divorced in the present, yet destined for a future reunion. God established one conditional covenant (the Mosaic covenant, which we believe now inoperative since the Messiah fulfilled the law) and four unconditional covenants (Abrahamic, Land, Davidic, and New) with this chosen nation, which remain unfulfilled. We are certain that God will fulfil all His promises to Israel literally, just as His warnings and judgments were literally fulfilled. Throughout Israel's history of unbelief, a believing remnant has always existed according to the election of grace. A national regeneration of Israel will occur at the end of the Tribulation, fulfilling all provisions of the unconditional covenants, including the seed, land, and blessing aspects, which will be realized in the Millennial Kingdom. The re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 holds profound prophetic significance, as it was foretold by the prophets concerning the last days. We are resolute in our belief that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have been regathered in the land of Israel today, fulfilling Bible prophecy. We clarify that we do not align with Zionism if it means disregarding the rights of Arabs in the Holy Land, believing the Israeli government is beyond criticism, or ignoring genuine breaches of human rights and military overreactions. However, we proudly identify as Zionists if Zionism means supporting the Jewish people as critical friends, after nearly 2000 years of Christian antisemitism (including some within the church), combating antisemitism, and thanking God for restoring them to their historic land after enduring immense suffering, culminating in the Holocaust. We rejoice in God’s faithfulness to them, preserving them for His glory, and firmly believe the Church has neither replaced them nor abandoned them. We believe God has a purpose for them, namely to bring them to faith in Jesus as their Messiah. We critically examine criticisms of Israel to discern their validity, defending when appropriate and condemning Arab terrorism. Therefore, we do not support the false and demonic doctrine of Replacement Theology or Supersessionism as God is not finish with the nation of Israel as we read throughout scriptures including in Romans 9-11. Please see our blog series on Debunking Common Myths and Misconceptions about the Jewish People. For a deeper dive about Israel role in end time please see this website Ezra Foundation.
CHRISTIAN LIVING
Every aspect of faith and conduct must be evaluated against Holy Scripture, our infallible guide (2 Timothy 3:16–17). As the Bible addresses human nature and sexuality, it is essential to understand and convey its teachings accurately. We are committed to the home and family as Scripture defines. We affirm that God has ordained marriage to be exclusively between one man and one woman, with unwavering marital fidelity. Scripture offers two enriching paths for human sexual conduct: (1) the marital “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Both are divine gifts, bestowed according to His will for His glory and the benefit of those who embrace His gift. Celibacy and faithful singleness are respected and encouraged at Agape Simple Church. As a church, we adhere strictly to Scripture; we maintain simplicity and biblical truth—Christians must be truthful because we are new creations in Christ and members of one body. Ephesians 4:22-25: put off your former conduct, the old self corrupted by deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, putting on the new self created by God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, discard falsehood, “Let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. Furthermore, we assert that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, living our faith with care for one another, compassion for the poor, and justice for all. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we must resist the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are called to make disciples of all people, consistently bearing witness to the Gospel in both word and action.
GIVING
The Bible is packed with incredible guidance for Christians regarding their finances, with more than 2,000 verses dedicated to the topic! It consistently ties our financial resources to our commitment and relationship with the Lord. The word "give" means "to make a present of," and one fantastic way to help others is through financial contributions. At Agape Simple Church, we operate as a home fellowship, so we don't have expenses for buildings, rent, or utilities. However, we enthusiastically encourage giving to support events, our community, and individuals. This enables us to passionately uphold our core values of loving God, loving others, and making disciples!
CHRIST’S RETURN
We confidently believe in the pre-tribulational and pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will come in the air to gather the Church to Himself, both the living and the dead. This event is imminent and pre-tribulational, symbolizing the blessed hope of the true Church. Jesus is depicted as the bridegroom, with the Church as His bride. The bride is not destined for the wrath of God (the day of the Lord) and the Lamb, in accordance with John 5:22-23: "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." The timing of Christ's return for the Church is known only to God, compelling us to remain constantly expectant. As our blessed hope, it inspires believers to live godly lives, engage in sacrificial service, and pursue energetic mission. We will continue our work until He comes, and as the world grows darker, our light will shine brighter. This may lead to persecution, which we anticipate for all true followers of Jesus who uphold the Word of God and Jesus. For true believers, while the world may seem to be falling apart, it is actually aligning with the second coming of our true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Please see our timeline of events
RESPONSE AND ETERNAL DESTINY
We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is available to everyone with Jesus' work on the cross. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Jesus says this in John chapter 5:24-30 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. Amen.