We at the United Church of Tonga believe that the key doctrines/teachings of the church do not belong on a bookshelf, but it is to permeate the Church’s’ faith and practice. At this point I would like to say, the United Church of Tonga is fully aware that there exists several interpretive variants in the area of doctrinal hermeneutics, but we consider these differences to be non-essential, as the variations are due to individual denominations attempting to reinforce their particular emphasis, furthermore, what’s crucial here, is that they do not affect the core doctrines found in the Bible. Considering this the United Church of Tonga has a threefold purpose in this doctrinal declaration. Firstly, The United Church of Tonga believes that it is important to clarify the doctrines of the Bible to serve its core function of inviting its congregation to gain a true and intimate knowledge of God. Secondly, we at the United Church of Tonga believe that this will aid us to provide effective pastoral/spiritual care for its members with the hope of attaining its ultimate vision that all its member will become members of the Kingdom of God. Finally, The United Church of Tonga believes that there are seven essential Biblical doctrines which are the central unchanging truths of the Bible and this is to be reflected in all Church practices.
Our Church Motto: Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.” This also serves as the main framework that defines our teaching and practice. We believe through Gods providence and care this will empower us to nurture people’s lives so that they may be fruitful and realise their God given gifts, but ultimately the objective is to become part of the Lords flock in eternity.
Logo - Meaning:
The embracing hand of God and Cross of Christ symbolize the all-encompassing loving hand of God caring, nurturing, and guiding His church. The cross also reflects Jesus as the centre and the head of the church. The circle represents completeness, belonging, and wholeness which flows from God's care as the good shepherd (Psalm 23:1). The circular image of God's right arm holding the cross reflects our oneness and unity in Christ as captured in His prayer in John 17:21, " that they might be one". Equipped with this sword and shield, the United Church of Tonga stands united to share God's love and care with all people in the World. The Manulua (traditional Tongan pattern) or Tongan kupesi represents our ties to our, culture, Pacific heritage and home and to cherish our freedom to worship God in our unique Tongan way.
Church Vision: Building lives for the Kingdom of God.
Here is a summary of our doctrinal stance (for the full doctrinal statement please refer to pg. 4)
The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, without error and infallible in its original form and the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. It is God’s divine revelation to the Church; it is the full and final authority (ultimate truth of God). The Bible is the rule of Faith (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17)
The Trinity
We believe that there is one God, that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each God, and that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each a distinct person. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; see also 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4).
Jesus Christ
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, fulfil prophecy, and redeem sinful man. We believe He accomplished our redemption through His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross and became the ransom for our sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection. We believe our redemption and salvation are guaranteed when one accepts Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour, He is the only means of salvation. (John 1:1; 14; 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, and the Head of the church. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God where, as High Priest to His people, He serves as our Advocate and intercedes for us. (Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Holy Spirit
We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts’ men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He dwells in all who believe in Jesus. From the moment of accepting and believing in the Son, the Spirit baptizes believers into the body, seals them for salvation, regenerates them to new life, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and is fully present to continually fill (control and guide) His own. (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 13; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Man
We believe man was created innocent and, in the image, and likeness of God, but that man sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity (Genesis 1:27, 2:17, 3:19), can do nothing to merit God’s favour and as such is in need of salvation. (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23) We believe that mankind’s sinful nature is rebellious toward God, and His good design for life and worship. (Romans 1:20-24; Ephesians 2:1-3) Mankind’s rebellion causes confusion about good and evil, and harm to people ultimately ending in judgment, despair and death. (Genesis 1:31; Galatians 5:16-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; James 1:13-15)
We believe God created mankind in His image, forming each person in the womb from conception (Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:2, 49:5; Jeremiah 1:4-5) thus we do not believe in abortion as it is an abomination to Gods divine commission for humanity to flourish and grow (Genesis. 1:26-28), it is Gods will that man live until the point of death when they breathe their last breath, therefore we do not believe in Euthanasia as God is giver of life and ultimately, he will take it. (Job 1:21, Genesis 25:8; Luke 23:46) and assigning gender to His people, male (man) and female (woman), as He created them sexually and biologically different, but with equal personal dignity and value. (Genesis 1:26-28)
We believe that God ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:31-33). Those who accept and live within God’s design for sex, biological gender and marriage experience the blessing of His good design (Psalm 1:1-3, 128:1-4), and decisions to change, alter or modify God’s will in marriage, sex or gender are part of man’s brokenness and lead to despair. (Romans 1:21-22; James 1:13-15)
We believe that God loves and pursues mankind despite our rebellion (Romans 5:8). He offers forgiveness, healing and abundant life to anyone who turns to Him in humility. (John 3:17, 10:10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7)
Salvation by Faith
We believe salvation is a sovereign gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe man is justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:4-5 & 2:8-10) We believe that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation and that no one is saved apart from a conscious and personal decision to trust in Christ as his or her one and only Saviour. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10) We believe all true believers elect of God, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (Romans 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; John 10:27-30)
The Second Coming
We believe in the future, visible, and bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth, commonly called the Second Coming, to rule the nations and establish His kingdom on earth. (Philippians 3:20; Matthew 24:15-31; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-21)
Psalm 23: “The lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.”
Saame 23:1, “Ko hoku tauhi ‘a Sihova ‘e ‘ikai teu masiva.”)
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, without error and infallible in its original form and the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice. It is God’s divine revelation to the Church; it is the full and final authority (ultimate truth of God). The Bible the rule of Faith (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17)
SECTION 2: THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one God, that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each God, and that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are each a distinct person. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; see also 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4)
SECTION 3: JESUS CHRIST
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, fulfill prophecy, and redeem sinful man. We believe He accomplished our redemption through His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, His burial, and His bodily resurrection. We believe our redemption and salvation are guaranteed by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is the only means of salvation. (John 1:1; 14; 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, and the Head of the church. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God where, as High Priest to His people, He serves as our Advocate and intercedes for us. (Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2)
SECTION 4: THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts’ men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He dwells in all who believe in Jesus. From the moment of belief in the Son, the Spirit baptizes believers into the body, seals them for salvation, regenerates them to new life, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and is fully present to continually fill (control and guide) His own. (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Some gifts of the Holy Spirit, however, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of miraculous healing, were given to certain individuals as authenticating signs for the early church (Acts 8:14; 10:44-48; 11:15-18; 19:1-6) and not as final evidence of God’s presence in a believer’s life nor as confirmations of a “second blessing” or subsequent filling of the Spirit. Furthermore, we believe the gift of tongues in the New Testament always presents itself as a known language (Acts 2:6-13) and not as a private prayer language.
SECTION 5: ANGELS, FALLEN AND UNFALLEN
We believe angels are spiritual beings who were created as sinless personalities and that they occupy different orders and ranks. They presently exist in both fallen and unfallen states, the former including Satan and his angels. (Hebrews 1:13-14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:12)
We believe Satan, by his own choice the enemy of God and His people, is the originator of sin, that led our first parents into sin and now rules as "the god of this world." We believe he was judged at the cross and that he will be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:1-19; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10)
SECTION 6: MAN
We believe man was created innocent and, in the image, and likeness of God, but that man sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity. (Genesis 1:27; 2:17; 3:19) Man can do nothing to merit God’s favor, and as such, is in need of salvation. (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23) We believe that mankind’s sinful nature is rebellious toward God and His good design for life and worship. (Romans 1:20-24; Ephesians 2:1-3) Mankind’s rebellion causes confusion about good and evil, and harm to people, ultimately ending in judgment, despair and death. (Genesis 1:31; Galatians 5:16-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; James 1:13-15)
We believe God created mankind in His image, intricately forming man in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:2, 49:5; Jeremiah 1:4-5) thus we believe abortion is wrong as it breaks the sacredness of Gods intended design for the pro creation of mankind (Genesis 1:26-28), life should be enjoyed and cherished and should be lived until the point of death when they breathe their last, therefore, we do not believe in Euthanasia as God is giver and ultimately it is His will when to end, it is not a human decision to make (Job 1:21, Genesis 25:8; Luke 23:46); and assigning gender to His people, male (man) and female (woman), as He created them sexually and biologically different, but with equal personal dignity and value. (Genesis 1:26-28)
We believe that God ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:31-33) Those who accept and live within God’s design for sex, biological gender, and marriage experience the blessing of His good design (Psalm 1:1-3; 128:1-4), and decisions to change, alter, or modify God’s will in marriage, sex, or gender are part of man’s brokenness and lead to despair. (Romans 1:21-22; James 1:13-15) We don’t believe in same sex marriage
We believe that God loves and pursues mankind despite our rebellion. (Romans 5:8) He offers forgiveness, healing and abundant life to anyone who turns to Him in humility. (John 3:17; 10:10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7)
SECTION 7: SALVATION
We believe salvation is a sovereign gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe man is justified by grace through faith apart from works. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10) We believe that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation and that no one is saved apart from a conscious and personal decision to trust in Christ as his or her one and only Savior. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10) We believe all true believers elect of God, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (Romans 8:1; 29-30; 38-39; John 10:27-30)
SECTION 8: SANCTIFICATION
We believe sanctification, which is a setting apart unto God, is positional, progressive, and ultimate. Positionally, it is already complete since the believer is in Christ and is set apart unto God as Christ is set apart unto God. Since the Christian retains his sinful nature, however, there is need for progressive sanctification whereby he grows in grace by the power of the Spirit. Ultimately, the child of God will be set apart from sin in his practice (as he is now in his position in Christ) when he is taken to be with Christ and shall be like Him. (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10; 14)
SECTION 9: THE CHURCH
We believe the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We believe the Church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the Church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Church is distinct from Israel. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 10:32)
We believe the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purposes of worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian fellowship, equipping for and practice of Kingdom service, specifically stewarding our lives for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20)
SECTION 10: THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which are to be observed by believers until He returns. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe by water baptism a believer publicly identifies with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We believe in infant baptism, where He / She is dedicated to the Lord and inducted to the body of Christ.
We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death and an expression of our faith in His future coming that is to be continually practiced by all believers. We believe every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord's Supper, but that participation must always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
SECTION 11: THE END TIMES
We believe in the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Church. This event, commonly called the rapture, will be followed by great tribulation on earth and will culminate in the visible and bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth, commonly called the Second Coming, to rule the nations and establish His millennial kingdom. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20; Matthew 24:15-31; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6)
SECTION 12: THE ETERNAL STATE
We believe the souls of believers in Jesus Christ do, at death, immediately pass into His presence, and there remain with Him until the resurrection of our earthly bodies at His coming for the Church, when our souls and imperishable bodies shall be with Him forever in glory. We believe the souls of unbelievers remain after death in constant misery in Hades until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord. (Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15)
1. The Trinity
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Bible
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments consisting of 39 and 27 books respectively in their original writing as fully inspired of God and accept them as the supreme and final authority for our faith and life.
3. God Sovereignty Over All Things
We believe in the sovereignty of God through the Creation, Providence, Revelation, Atonement and Judgement.
4. Mankind
We believe God created man in His own image. That man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of death, physical and spiritual which has separated him from God. That all human beings inherit a sinful nature and falls short of the glory of God.
5. Sin
We believe that the Sin and guilt of all human beings first started from the fall of Adam and Eve in the beginning and God has been regal from that very first day to all mankind.
6. Death of Jesus – Our Redemption
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins; a substitutionary sacrifice according to the Scriptures and that all who believe in Him are justified because of the blood He shed for us.
7. Repentance and Faith
We believe that the proper and just response of mankind to the grace and unconditional love of God is to repent and believe. The authority and power which governs faith and repentance are of God; but it is up to man to take it upon himself and act on it.
Repentance comes from the Holy Spirit to each individual who has sinned to turn their lives to the truth which is God. To believe is for those who want to die for God and to seek his image, and accept the mind and heart of the truly blessed soul of the gospel and to let go and give your all to God and lean on his understanding and his healing.
8. Repentance, Renewal and Adoption
We believe that the moment we repent from our sins and truly believe in Jesus Christ, the believer is simultaneously receiving his justification, renewal, rebirth, and adoption to the family of God. He also receives his Salvation, which is confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
Justification is when God, through His grace, forgives the sins of those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and count them as sanctified because of His death.
We believe that the Renewal or Rebirth is the deed of the Holy Spirit, when Life is given to someone who has repented and believe in Christ Jesus. They resist the forces of sin, and give them the power to live in the Sipirt, power to believe, love and obey.
We believe that Adoption is the work of God when he commissions the justified and believer as a child of God.
9. Sanctification
We believe in Sanctification, which is an act of God in the believer, starting at the point of Renewal or Justification and continues on for the rest of their life. It is a spiritual renewal process, where the Holy Spirit instils within the believer the nature to be upright, holy, empowered, and the life of Jesus Christ. The life of such an individual gradually grows to replicate the holy image of Jesus Christ.
10. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ appointed two ordinances – Baptism in water and the Lord’s Supper – to be observed as acts of obedience and as perpetual witnesses to the cardinal facts of the Christian faith; that Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water as a confession of identification with Christ in burial and resurrection and that the Lord’s Super is the partaking of the emblems as symbolical of the Saviour’s broken body and shed blood, in remembrance of His sacrificial death, till He comes.
11. In-Dwelling by the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit dwells and works in everyone who truly believes, to build up their individual lives and that of the Church of Christ.
12. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe in the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. And after 40 days of appearing on earth, He ascended into heaven, and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding as our defender.
13. The Resurrection of the Dead
We believe that both the righteous and unrighteous will be resurrected from the dead. And that the righteous will live eternally in Heaven, while the unrighteous will be eternally damned in Hell. The resurrection of the righteous will occur first during the Rapture. The unrighteous will be risen at a later time.
14. Judgement of the World
We believe, as the Bible states, that God is the Judge of all mankind. His Judgement will be just and righteous, because it will be based on His omniscience and his eternal justice. The Great Judgement will occur in His presence, where he will pass reward or judgement on everyone according to their deeds during life.
15. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe and await the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to claim His Church. We do not know the time and the hour of His Return, but we are guided in the Bible, to live in reverence because His time is near.
16. The Church
We believe the Church is the gathering place for those who have been reborn in faith of Christ. They have been bonded by the Spirit as one body, of which Christ is the head. He has commissioned His Church to go out into the world and preach the Gospel, and to make all people His disciples