As an Anglican ministry, Arundel House believes:
- That there is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created and sustains all things. He has revealed Himself in His word, the Scriptures, and in His Son, Jesus. There is perfect, loving unity in the Trinity.
- In the divine inspiration and infallibility of Holy Scripture as originally given and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct:
- That the 66 books of the Bible, as accepted by the church, have authority over any human teaching, including any other book which claims to be God’s word.
- That the divine origins and authority of Scripture rightfully demands response from believers consistent with the instructions, ethics and commands entailed therein. Therefore, believers should do those things which it describes as right (such as exercising goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience, love, chastity, hospitality), and abstain from those things the Bible describes as sinful (such as dishonesty, greed, sexual relationships outside of heterosexual marriage, drunkenness and foul language).
- That all humans are created by God, male and female, with dignity and value in the image of God, however, are universally alienated from perfect relationship with God by sin and guilt since the fall. Therefore, all humans justly face condemnation, apart from God’s mercy shown in salvation.
- That all persons, no matter their race, sexuality, economic status or religious beliefs are equal in the sight of God and should be treated with love and respect.
- That alienation from God as a result of sin is evident in broken relationships between people, between people and God and between people and the natural world. God is at work to restore these relationships by healing our alienation from Him.
- That Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became incarnate, fully human and fully divine. He lived in perfect obedience to the heavenly Father, the author and perfector of faith.
- In redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death, as our representative and substitute, of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
- Jesus is the only solution to our alienation from God.
- His death was intentional and willing, not a mere accident of chance but the culmination of God’s plan of salvation.
- People cannot earn their salvation through works, but only through accepting Jesus as their substitute, saviour and Lord.
- In the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
- That Jesus neither simply fainted, nor that His body was stolen, but that His physical resurrection was witnessed bodily by many.
- That if Jesus has not risen bodily from the dead, the hope of the Christian faith is futile and there is no release from sin.
- In the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to make the death of Christ effective in the individual sinner, granting them repentance towards God, and faith in Jesus Christ.
- In the indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
- That the Holy Spirit transforms the mind, attitude and actions of believers to the will of God.
- That this work enables believers to respond rightly to the demands of Scripture as outlined above. For example, in practising hospitality, believers provide a space for right living and generosity; a place of safety, of chastity, free from drunkenness and slander, characterised by truth, grace and equality.
- In the expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Not even death can separate the believer from God’s love.
- Upon Jesus return, all creation will be restored, renewed and resurrected, perfect judgement executed and all will see the glory of God.
This Statement of Belief does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humankind, is the final source of all that we believe. For purposes of our faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney is Arundel House’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.