A Message from our Senior Leaders
What we believe matters to us here at LIFE. In fact, it ultimately shapes everything we do. These aren’t new ideas – they are timeless truths that followers of Jesus have carried through the ages, and we are committed to doing the same.
Clarity is important, so we want to be clear on these beliefs with those who call LIFE home, or are looking to make LIFE their home. We believe God has revealed Himself through Jesus and Scripture, showing us the truth that is the foundation of the Christian faith, affirmed by His Church across history. We believe God continues to speak to us today through His Word, His Spirit, and His people (the Church).
We also know that we don’t yet see the full picture (1 Corinthians 13:12), so we hold tightly to what is clear in the Bible and stay united around these things. When it comes to areas where there's room for different views, we choose to approach one another with grace, humility, and a desire to grow together.
At LIFE, we believe that God has given everyone free will, meaning we all have the freedom to choose what we believe. This means that our commitment as a church is that everyone can belong here at LIFE: all are welcome.
Our desire is that everyone makes a personal choice to follow Jesus, aligning their life to His Word, His Will, and His Ways. This is why it matters to us that all who call LIFE home would not only belong but also believe in these shared statements of faith. These beliefs, listed below, help bring clarity to who we are and what we uphold here at LIFE.
When we are aligned in our belief, our hope is that we would all build His Kingdom here on earth, together as His Church.
At the right time, please prayerfully consider this and, if needed, seek clarification to help you in your alignment and decision to make LIFE your home. We know that some of these matters will raise concerns for some people in some seasons of life, and we want to acknowledge that alignment and unity of faith is not always easy. However, we also feel the need to provide clarity about what we believe, and that is kinder and more loving than ambiguity. Our intention is to be courageous, clear and kind with our convictions.
Please also know that, no matter what, we want you to feel at home in our church family with no judgement and no condemnation – because as the Scriptures say, we have all fallen short of the way God intended us to live. If in the process of considering these statements, the Holy Spirit prompts you to reconsider your thinking, please first take those matters to our loving God in prayer, seek answers in His Word (the Bible), and also seek wise and Godly counsel from people you trust. Our pastoral team are here to help you if you would like that.
Our faith is reflected in the timeless Apostles’ Creed, written over 1,500 years ago.
At the same time, we believe God is alive and at work today, redeeming those who choose to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. While we cannot change our past, we can choose to receive His Grace and walk in obedience to His ways, ultimately receiving His Freedom.
For a more in-depth look at our beliefs, please read below, along with the Biblical references.
With love,
Ps Luke & Melissa de Jong (Senior Leaders)
& Ps Craig & Nadia Clark (Melbourne Lead Pastors)
What We Believe
The Bible
We believe the traditional canon of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, in all matters of life and doctrine, and therefore, it remains relevant for every person, as God reveals Himself and His heart for humanity through it. It has no equal and is our authority for faith, to be trusted and practised.
Ref: Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
The Triune God
We believe that there is one true God, Creator and rightful king over everything. He is self-existing and eternal. He is revealed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal and yet unique in function. We believe we are made by God, for God.
Ref: Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; John 8:58; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14
The Father
We believe that the Father is the First Person of the Trinity. He is the good and loving initiator of the universe and deserves all glory we can ascribe to him. He is perfect and desires that we would become complete and whole, reflecting His goodness. In love, He sent His Son, Jesus, to lead us to redemption and adoption into His family, and the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us to live according to his way.
Ref: Isaiah 64:8; Matthew 5:16, Matthew 5:48; Matthew 6:8; John 6:40; Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; James 1:17; Revelation 4:11
The Son (Jesus Christ)
We believe Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, fully God, distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit, yet of the same substance. He is of two natures – divine and human – in one person. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who was incarnated as a man, born of a virgin, crucified, laid in a tomb, and resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
Ref: Matthew 1:20; Mark 16:19; John 1:1, 14; John 3:16; John 20:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Hebrews 2:17; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:6-8; 1 Peter 3:22
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and is distinct from the Father and the Son. At salvation, every believer receives the Holy Spirit. He convicts of sin, leads to repentance, and assures the believer of their adoption into God’s family. He reveals and glorifies Jesus in all He does and empowers believers to live lives that honour the Father.
We believe in both the indwelling and the infilling baptism of the Holy Spirit, who gives us spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues. These gifts are to be used for faithful devotion and ministry, to enrich those around us. Being filled with the Holy Spirit should be a continual experience for every believer.
Ref: John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9, Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Hebrews 10:29
Sin
We believe that humanity was created in the image of God, but voluntarily rebelled against God’s rightful Kingship. This has led to a corruption of the human heart, where every person falls short of who God desires us to be. We have wilfully continued in this pattern, which leads to both physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God.
Ref: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6; Psalm 36:1; Psalm 59:12; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3
Salvation
We believe our only hope for reconciliation and redemption is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, we are given opportunity to receive forgiveness for our sin, through repentance and faith in Jesus. This grace received by faith allows us to be made new and adopted into the family of God. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and promised eternal life to come.
Ref: John 3:3; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:10; Romans 8:14-17; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:5-6
The Church
We believe that the Church is the community of believers across the earth and throughout history, also known as the Body of Christ, with Jesus as its head. It is comprised of local churches devoted to worshipping God, communing together, and outworking His mission on earth. God is at work in the Church, leading it to maturity, to be presented to Jesus when He returns. Therefore, participating within a local church community is central for every follower of Jesus.
Ref: Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-17; Ephesians 5:25-27
Water Baptism & Communion
We believe in baptism and communion as sacraments; visible expressions of God’s supernatural work in the life of believers. Baptism by immersion in water is a one-time act in response to salvation, embodying dying to the former way of living and being raised to new life in Christ.
Communion commemorates and celebrates Jesus’ death upon the cross, a repeated practice for the community of Christ, centring us on our hope in Jesus, and His ongoing presence with us.
Ref: Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 26:26-30; Acts 2:38-41, Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; Colossians 2:12
God's Creation & Design
We believe in creation and that God created every individual and knew us before we were formed. We believe we were uniquely and purposefully created by God, for God and in God’s image. We believe God established a pattern for human gender, sex, and sexuality since creation. This involves two separate and distinct genders – male and female – each corresponding to biological sex from birth. We believe God created our bodies intentionally and lovingly, and we find dignity in aligning our identity with God’s design, which, among many other wonderful things, includes our biological sex. The Bible encourages us to honour God with our bodies.
Ref: Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 139:14; Mark 10:6-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Christian Marriage
We believe God has ordained Christian marriage and defined it as a covenant relationship between one man, one woman, and Himself. God created man and woman for each other, and that sexual intimacy is a beautiful gift intended to exist exclusively within the protection and purpose of a lifelong covenant of marriage, as articulated in Scripture.
Ref: Malachi 2:14-16; Mark 10:6-7; Ephesians 5:21-26; Hebrews 13:4
Christ's Return
We believe that God will bring this current world to a culmination at a time only known to God Himself. Jesus will return, leading to the restoration of heaven and earth. All people will stand before Him in judgment, either receiving eternal reward or eternal punishment, based on how they responded to Him during their lives. God promises a new heaven and new earth where sin, sickness, and separation will no longer afflict humanity. His imminent return should inspire faith and faithful living in the lives of believers, assured of our hope in Jesus.
Ref: Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 24:30, 36; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15