Deprecated: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in /home/reca4093/public_html/modules/mod_roknavmenu/lib/renderers/RokNavMenu1XRenderer.php on line 264
Wat glo ons/What we believe
Belydenis Grondslag van die Gereformeerde Evangeliese Kerk van Australië
Die Gereformeerde Evangeliese Kerk van Australie staan binne die breë Gereformeerde tradisie en onderskryf daarom die klassieke Gereformeerde belydenisse nl die Heidelbergse Kategismus, die dordtse Leërreëls en die Nederlandse Geloofsbelydenis asook die Westminister Confession. Ons het ook 'n "Statement of Faith" aanvaar wat in kort die kern van ons belydenis aandui en kan dit besigtig word deur op "Publikasies" hierbo te kliek. Ons identifiseer verder ook met die kernwaardes en oortuigings van die wêreldwye Evangeliese beweging. Hierdie waardes kan as volg opgesom word:
Die Bybel – Ons staan baie sterk op die gesag van die Bybel as die geïnspireerde Woord van God. Dit beteken dat ons 'n baie hoë premie plaas op die Bybel as gids vir hoe om te leef en wat om te glo. Dit beteken verder dat ons denkrigtings verwerp wat die gesag van die Bybel ondermyn.
Die Kruis – Ons glo dat die plaasvervangende dood van Jesus Christus aan die Kruis die middelpunt van die geskiedenis en die sentrale boodskap van die Bybel is. Ons bely op grond hiervan dat verlossing nie uit onsself kom nie maar dat ons ontvangers is van God se genade op grond van Jesus se soendood.
Verandering – Ons hou daaraan vas dat die Evangelie nie net op intellektuele vlak waar is nie, maar dat dit elke aspek van 'n mens se lewe moet aanraak en verander. Hierdie verandering begin by die oorgee van 'n mens se lewe aan die verlossing en Koningskap van Christus en kring van daar af uit na elke aspek van ons bestaan.
Die Wêreld – Ons is oortuig dat die boodskap van die Evangelie aan elke mens in die wêreld verkondig moet word en dat die beginsels wat daarin vervat is die potensiaal het om nie net individue nie, maar ook hele samelewings, te verander. Dit is dus ons strewe om die Evangelie nie net in ons eie kring uit te leef nie maar om ook alles in ons vermoë te doen om te verseker dat dit van ons af verder gaan.
Hierdie sentrale Evangeliese waarhede is natuurlik geensins in stryd met ons Gereformeerde karakter nie. Ons kan trouens ons Evangeliese oortuigings as ons breë identiteit en ons Gereformeerde karakter as die spesifieke toepassing daarvan sien. Deur onsself as beide Evangelies en Gereformeerd te identifiseer, assosieer ons onsself dus beide met miljoene Evangeliese Christene wat die Here en Sy Woord liefhet en ook met dié wat ons Gereformeerde oortuigings deel.
The Foundations for the Beliefs of the Reformed Evangelical Church of Australia
The Reformed Evangelical Church of Australia stems from the broad Reformed tradition and is therefore undergirded by the classical Reformed Confessions of Faith. These include the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dordt, the Belgic Confession, and the Westminster Confessions of Faith. We have compliled a document titled “Statement of Faith” that briefly summarises the core of our beliefs, and this document can be viewed by accessing the “Publications” link above.
We also identify with the core beliefs of the worldwide Evangelical movement. These beliefs can be briefly summarised as follows:
The Bible – We believe that the Bible is authoritative and that it is the inspired Word of God. This means that we highly regard the Bible as instructive in guiding how we live our lives and also in forming our beliefs. We also reject wordlviews that undermine the authority of the Bible.
The Cross – We believe that the substitutional death of Jesus Christ on the Cross is the centrepiece of human history, and that it is also the primary message of the Bible. Therefore we confess that salvation does not originate from within humanity, but that it is received as a free gift from God based on the grace provided by the reconciling death of Jesus.
Transformation – We believe that the Gospel message is true at an intelectual level. But the message also affects every part of our human experience and has the power to transform our lives. This transformation commences once a person surrenders their entire life to the rulership of Christ and the salvation that He offers. Following this act of trust, the impact of the Gospel message spreads to affect every aspect of their life.
The World – We believe that the Gospel message is to be communicated to every person in the world. We believe that the message not only has the potential to transform individuals, but also to transform entire communities. It is therefore our desire to not only live out the truth of the Gospel message in our own communities, but also to endeavour to communicate the message to those living far away from us.
It is important to note that these Evangelical beliefs are in no way in conflict with our Reformed character. In fact we see our Evangelical beliefs as revealing our identity while being Reformed in character allows us to express that identity in a very specific way. We therefore identify ourselves as both Evangelical and Reformed, thereby associating with millions of Evangelical Christians who are loved by God, and also with those who share our Reformed beliefs.