Our Faith

Downfield Mains is part of the world-wide family of God as both part of the Church of Scotland and the Evangelical Alliance (UK).

Our church is committed to equipping, encouraging and empowering the people of God for their ministry and witness (Ephesians 4). For more on the Church of Scotland: churchofscotland.org.uk or Evangelical Alliance (UK): eauk.org.

We subscribe to the historic creeds of the Church such as the Apostle’s Creed and the Westminster Confession of Faith. A simple breakdown of our faith is below and reflects those beliefs.

The Bible

All scripture is self-attesting and being truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The inerrant, infallible Word of God, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments is the complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. We believe in one God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the living Word who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth (Luke 2:1-7). He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Holy Scriptures (Gal 1:4). On the third day He rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Mediator (Hebrews 7:24-25).

The Holy Spirit

As our helper and guide, Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus Christ and to apply the saving work to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Saviour (John 16:8). Indwelling those in Christ, he gives new life and fills us (Acts 13:52). He imparts gifts to us for service in the church (1 Corinthians 12 | Romans 12). Holy Spirit instructs and guides us into all truth and seals us for the day of redemption (Eph 1:13). At DMC we hold to a continuation position regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Grace

Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace (Ephesians 2:8). God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifying them in His sight (Romans 4:22-25). Only those who are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life (John 3:3).

The Church

The church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly, and bodily – to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

The Great Commission

The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel of His Kingdom throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28: 19-20