The Peniel Centre is a place for personal encounters with God that lead to changed lives who are passionate about God’s presence, God’s word, God’s people, and on mission for God in the world.
The Peniel Centre is a church for everyone in different seasons and different generations. For everyone who wants to seek the face of God. For those who desire to break away from what is normative in pursuit of a deeper and greater experience with God.
Our Statement of Faith is what we believe as a church.
The Peniel Centre Statement of Faith is created to outline what we believe and practice within our church.
Our Statement of Faith covers the following key areas; the Bible, God the Creator, God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Holy Spirit, salvation, sin, water baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit, the Church, man and resurrection.
As a church we believe that the Bible is the Holy Scriptures and God’s revelation of himself to humanity. That the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God, therefore are inerrant, infallible and the absolute authority for faith and life.
[Deut.4:1-2; Psalms 19:7-11; 119:89,105,160; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet.1:20-21]
We believe that there is one true and living God who is the Creator of all things. That God is one in purpose, agreement, and essence and that He revealed himself distinctly in three persons as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and each person of the Triune God is fully God. That God exists only as Trinity both eternally and in creation and acted only as Trinity in the work of salvation.
[Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Mt. 28:19; Mk.1;9-11; John 14:26; Acts 10:38; 1Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1Pet. 1:2]
As a church we believe that God the Father is the first person of the divine Trinity and of the same essence with the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is eternal, transcendent in wisdom, love, and power, yet personal and caring Father to all who have faith in the Son, Jesus Christ.
[Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 64:8; Jer. 10:10; Mt.6:9; 7:11; 28:19; Mk. 1:9-11; John 5:26; 14:6]
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became human, without ceasing to be fully God. That he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, to reveal God and redeem sinful humanity.
That he lived a perfect human life and died a vicarious death on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We believe that he guaranteed human redemption by his literal physical resurrection from the dead and offers forgiveness and salvation to those who believe in him.
That he ascended into heaven to the exalted position at the right hand of God the Father and that he will come back as judge at the end of the age.
As a church we believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and that he is of the same essence with God the Father and the Son. That he is the supernatural agent of the Triune God in the work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. That the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live for Christ and demonstrate his power in the world.
[Psalms 139:7-8; John 14:26; Acts 5:3-4; Ro. 8:27; 1 Cor. 3:16]
We believe in Salvation by grace alone apart from any human merit or works through faith in Christ alone. That salvation is graciously given by a sovereign God to unworthy person conditioned solely upon faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work on the cross. That the offer of salvation is given freely to all by God but experienced only by those who accept this offer through repentance of sin and personal faith in Christ.
[John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2]
As a church we believe that Sin is rebellion and transgression against God and separates us from God and his purposes. That repentance of sin is a pre-condition for forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. That every sin is offensive to God but will be forgiven by God upon repentance. [Gen. 3:1-19; Exo. 20:1-17; Psalms 14:3; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 Cor. 15;3;1 John 1:8-9]
We believe in Water Baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That it is commanded by Christ after conversion as a public demonstration of a personal faith in Christ.
As a church we believe that Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience of the Holy Spirit empowerment of the believer for living and service. That speaking with new tongues is an evidence, not the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts of service to the believer and that these gifts are operational in the church today.
[Joel 2:28-29; Mt.3:16; Lk. 3:16; 24:49; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8; 2:1- 4; 3:38-39]
We believe that The Church is the body of Christ on earth and the only qualification for membership is personal faith in Jesus Christ. That the New Testament clearly defines the establishment of the local church as the gathered community of God’s people in each place. The primary purpose of the local church is to minister to God and the members and to serve God’s purposes in the world. That Church membership precedes the making of disciples and social action.
[Acts 13:1- 4; 14:27; 20;17, 28-32; Rom. 16:1,4; 1 Cor.12;12-14; Eph. 1:22-23; Titus 1:5-11; James 3:9; 1 Peter 5:1- 4]
As a church we believe that Man is created by God, of his sovereign will, in his own image for his glory. That man was created male and female; therefore, gender is part of the goodness of God’s creation. That the image of God in man is the basis of human personhood and every person regardless of race, colour and dispositions is conferred dignity by God and therefore worthy of acceptance, respect, and Christian love.
[Gen. 1:27-28; 2;7, 18-22; Isaiah 43:7, Acts 17:26-31]
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all persons after death. That those who are saved through faith in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in a literal Heaven and those who reject God and the gospel of Christ in this life will spend eternity in everlasting punishment in a literal Hell.
[Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Mt.6:9; 25:34,41; Mk. 9:48; Lk. 16:28; 1 Thess. 4:15; 1 Peter 3:22; Rev. 14:10-11; 21:2-3]
Summary of our Beliefs
We believe the Bible is the Holy Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant, infallible and the absolute authority for faith and life, therefore the basis of our beliefs and practices as a church. We believe in the Holy Trinity, Salvation by grace, Baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all persons after death and a literal heaven and hell.
Devotion means that you must be profoundly dedicated to God and completely assigned to His purposes. Your service must flow from your complete devotion to God and his cause (Mark 12:30).
Integrity refers to a commitment to moral and ethical principles. It is being sound in character, uprightness, and honesty. We value integrity and require our members to live a life of integrity (Psalms 78:70-72).
Honour refers to having great respect, regard, or esteem on account of one’s person, office, position, or achievements. It is celebrating people for their work or accomplishments. We are committed to honouring one another in Peniel (Matthew 10:40-42 & Rom. 13:7).
We believe that the call to discipleship is a call to a life of sacrifice and self-denial. We believe that your time, life and material possessions must be a sacrifice to God (Mark 10:28 & Phil. 3:7-8).
Service is any act of helpful activity done to benefit God and others. It is being obedient to God’s instructions for your life – a commitment to fulfilling God’s purposes in your life. We believe that discipleship is a call to service and that we should serve with joy and excellence (Col. 3:23-24 & 2 Tim. 4:6-8).
