Statement of faith

Sparrows College is an interdenominational ministry training college, primarily serving the Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal Christian traditions.

We believe that God is Triune – existing in three eternal persons (Father, Son, and Spirit); each of the persons is distinct from and united with the other persons.

We believe that the Father is Creator of heaven and earth, and sovereign over all.

We believe that Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, incarnate in human flesh. He is both fully God and fully human. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, making atonement for sin, rose victoriously and bodily from the dead on the third day, and was exalted to the right hand of the Father, where He is now seated, awaiting the last day when He will return to judge the living and the dead.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, being fully divine. We believe that He is active to produce repentance from sin, faith in Christ, conformity to the image of Christ and empowering for service.

Regarding the latter, we believe that all spiritual gifts identified in the Bible are operational today and that God’s will is that believers walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We believe that humanity was created in the image of God but that, through disobedience, fell from that high calling. 
We believe that the choice to reject God and attempt to live without Him ultimately leads to eternal separation from Him

We believe that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. 
We believe that we are redeemed from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin by the atoning work of Christ.
We receive the benefit of this when we come to God in repentance and faith.
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. It is God’s gift to us.

We believe that baptism by immersion in water is an outward sign of an inward work. It is not necessary for salvation but is a personal declaration of faith in Christ and an act of obedience to Christ’s command.

We believe in the symbolic use of bread and the fruit of the vine to commemorate a past event (what Christ has done), to anticipate a future event (His promised return) and to celebrate the life He has provided for believers between those events.

We believe that the Bible (as originally given) is God-inspired, authoritative and applicable to all matters of faith and conduct.

We believe Scripture is the Holy Spirit’s primary instrument for disclosing who God is and God’s mission in the world, and for equipping and empowering God’s people to participate in this mission.

We believe that the Church is Christ’s holy redeemed community, called into fellowship with the triune God and with one another and commissioned to participate in God’s mission in the world.

We believe the universal church, consisting of Christ-believers throughout the world and throughout history, is expressed through the regular gathering, worship, fellowship, and mission of the local church.

We believe in the personal and imminent second coming of Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead, and the final judgement.