To help us ‘Make Jesus Known in Barlanark and beyond’ we want to be clear on secondary doctrines that we will teach from the bible. We believe these are key to how we go about our mission. You don’t need to agree with any of these to know Jesus or be a member of HCCB, but our members all agree not to cause division over these doctrines.

We, the pastors of Hope Community Church Barlanark, will teach;

i. The Sovereignty of God in Salvation God is sovereign over all things such that there is no aspect of reality outside of His ultimate control. Although God’s sovereign rule extends to all things, it is particularly His sovereignty over the work of salvation that we refer to in this distinctive.

Our sin has affected every part of us so that without Jesus we are utterly and completely lost leaving all humankind dead in sin. God, therefore, in his grace chooses to save his people not because of any good in them but wholly down to his gracious election. To secure this salvation he sent his Son to die on the cross for all their sin. The Son’s death didn’t just make salvation possible but guaranteed their salvation. The Holy Spirit works this grace in the life of God’s people so that they are given new hearts that respond to the Gospel in true faith and repentance. This saving grace lasts so that those that God has saved he will keep and never lose.

(Psalm 115:3, 135:6, Romans 8:26-9:29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-8, Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 1:3-5)

ii. The Complementary Roles of Men and Women Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are different by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. These role distinctions are God’s grace to men and women and not based on perceived ability of either sex but on our calling as a picture of the Gospel. They are to be protected, preserved and practiced for God’s glory and our joy.

In the home, Husbands are to portray Christ with loving and self-sacrificial leadership, whilst wives are to portray the church with loving and voluntary submission. In the church the role of pastor (also known as elder) is limited to qualified males who are to portray Christ through servant leadership whilst the church members are to submit to their leadership in as much as they are acting under Christ’s ultimate headship.

(1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:33-35, Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 3:18-19, 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Titus 2:1-8, 1 Peter 3:1-7)

iii. The Gifts of The Holy Spirit The work of The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for both the salvation and growth of God’s people and so absolutely necessary in the life of the church. The role of the Holy Spirit is to testify to Jesus and so to be Spirit-led is to put Jesus up front and centre in all we say and do. The Holy Spirit, therefore, gives gifts to the Church so that we can Make Jesus Known.

To preserve the unity of the church (which may include people of opposing views on the often called ‘miraculous gifts’) and for the benefit of unbelievers gathering with us, we are careful to ensure nothing distracts us from the centrality of Jesus in what we do. Therefore, out of love for each other, we ask that these ‘miraculous gifts’ are not overtly displayed in our public and gathered worship.

(Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 2 Corinthians 3:17–18, Ephesians 4:1-16)

iv. The Special Creation of Adam and Eve God created the world from nothing and it was ‘good’ with no corruption. The special creation of Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman), and their subsequent fall into sin, is the basis for the necessity of salvation for humankind. Human death (both physical and spiritual) entered into the world subsequent to and as a direct consequence of humankind’s sin.

(Genesis 1-3, Romans 5: 12-21, 6:23, 1 Corinthians 11:8–9, 15:21–22)

v. Membership, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper God does not want his people to attend a local church but be a part (or a member) of a local church. HCCB, therefore, is made up of individual parts (or members) who have committed together to ‘Make Jesus Known in Barlanark and beyond’. In order to show this we have a clear and formal membership process to bring clarity to who exactly is part of HCCB. All members commit to love and care for each other by living out the biblical expectations of life together as summarised in our Church Covenant. Non-members are welcome, indeed encouraged, to be part of our public gatherings and part of our daily lives but only members will be able to formally represent or serve on behalf of HCCB as they have both publicly committed and been publicly authorised to do so by the entire local body who Make Jesus Known together.

Baptism and The Lord’s Supper are the signs (or ordinances) given by God to mark out his people by making visible those who are part of Christ’s body. Baptism is the entrance sign into God’s visible people where the church and the new Christian together declare that this person has repented of sin and trusted in Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is the renewing sign that the Christian continues to be part of God’s visible people. In The Lord’s Supper the church and the Christian together declare afresh their commitment to Jesus and to each other.

We believe the bible gives authority to the local church to both baptise and take The Lord’s Supper. Therefore, to mark out the members of this local body and to display this conviction, all members of HCCB will have been baptised following their profession of faith in Jesus and before they take the Lord’s Supper in our public gathering. We do, however, recognise there is a diversity of opinion on these ordinances within the global body of Christ and that our church is only responsible before Jesus for the specific Christians who have committed to Make Jesus Known together as part of HCCB. We invite visitors to partake in The Lord’s Supper with us if they believe the same gospel and are following the practice of the local church they are a part of regarding Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.

(Matthew 26:26-28, Acts 2:36-47, 8:35-36, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 5, 10:16-17, 11:17-34, 12, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-5)