Beliefs and Practices
Beliefs and Practices
The following is a statement of what is generally held among Christian Brethren.
It is taken from a pamphlet 'Who we are, what we believe' produced by Christian
Brethren Assemblies of Victoria in May, 1995
1. Organisation:
Christian Brethren Assemblies of Victoria (CBAV) are organised on the basis
that each local church or assembly is autonomous under God. An oversight
consisting of godly elders is responsible for the spiritual, pastoral and
possibly the 'business' side of the assembly. However, a group of deacons
may be used for the practical running of affairs.
2. Synopsis of Beliefs:
CBAV are Bible-believing and evangelistic.
3. Doctrines:
3.1 The Divine inspiration, authority and inerrancy of the Holy Bible.
3.2 The Unity and eternal nature of the Godhead, with distinction of persons
in that unity, namely the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to Whom equal honour
is due.
3.3 That:-
a) The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a true, sinless
man on being born of the virgin Mary
b) His death was a sacrifice to God, for man, being the punishment due to
each person for his/her sins.
c) He was raised bodily from the dead.
d) He ascended to the right hand of God and is now the all-sufficient High
Priest of His people
e) He will come again to receive His people unto Himself and to set up His
kingdom
f) In consequence of Adam's sin, humanity became "lost" and at war with
God;
g) Humanity is unable to live a life pleasing to God without God's forgiveness
and strength
3.4 The need of the Holy Spirit to convince people of their sin and need
of forgiveness, and to bring them to God
3.5 We further believe that:-
a) Everyone is a sinner before God and can only be made right in God's sight
by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
b) Everyone so made just and righteous is also born of God into His family
c) Such new birth results in, and is made evident by, holiness of life and
good works.
d) At death, the spirit of humans does not cease to exist or become
unconscious
e) The dead will be raised, either to life and eternal blessedness, or to
condemnation and eternal punishment
4. Practices:
4.1 We practise the ordinances of:
a) believers' baptism by immersion upon personal confession of faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ
b) the commemoration of the Lord's death in the Breaking of Bread (also known
as the Lord's supper or Communion) on the first day of the week, in so far
as circumstances permit.
4.2 We receive to the Lord's table (or Communion) all true believers who
are also godly in life.
4.3 Worship meetings (Communion) are conducted under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit.
4.4 Within the assembly there is opportunity for the exercise of all godly
gifts, for building up the believers, glorifying God and preaching the Gospel
of God's good news of salvation available to all people.
4.5 All activities are subject to the lordshi9p of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4.6 Christ's sacrificial love becomes the model for the Christian's
lifestyle.
The Christian Brethren Co-Ordinating Committee Steering Group.
The Steering Group was established to guide the Assemblies into a network of healthy, growing Churches & ministries who make Christ known, co-operate with one another, serve alongside the wider Christian community and to impact local communities both in Australia & overseas.
The Group gave two recommendations to help achieve these goals:
1) That each local Assembly agrees to commit to functional co-operation and
interaction with Assemblies & ministries under the banner of Christian
Brethren Assemblies Victoria.
2) To have a Steering Group of current leaders in Assemblies and/or ministries,
form an interim group to restructure and re-invigorate the co-operative aspects
of the Christian Brethren Assemblies of Victoria.