Christianity is about Jesus Christ, and the gospel is the good news of great joy for all people. It is not advice or rules, but the proclamation of what God has done in the life, death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ.  

GOD’S GOSPEL

The gospel is older than the universe, because it is God’s. Throughout the time of the Old Testament, God made promises through his prophets, that he would undo the evil that ruins our lives, our relationships and our world, and bring healing, forgiveness and justice.

God pursued his rebellious world, with the promise of a new creation, new life and redemption, so that all may return to him with everlasting joy. God revealed his goodness, grace and holiness, preparing the world for the coming of his Son.

Through his people, Israel, God promised blessing for all the families of the earth, to come through a King who was a Servant.  

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

The heart of God’s good news for the world is Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has done for us. Jesus shows that God keeps all his promises.

The historical records tell us that Jesus was entirely human and divine. His teaching had astounding authority and humility. His miracles and deeds showed compassion and power. Yet his primary focus was his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day, just as God promised in the Scriptures. Jesus’ death defeated evil and death, brought forgiveness and grace, and reveals who we are and who God is. In Jesus’ death for us, God is willing to accept us fully, not because of any goodness in us, but because of the goodness of Jesus.

This is grace: completely undeserving, Jesus bears the penalty of all that stood between us and God. When God raised him from the dead, he appointed him Lord of all. As Lord, the risen Jesus offers new life, reconciliation with God, forgiveness of our sin and God’s Holy Spirit. He offers us the life of the world to come now.

God has chosen a day when Jesus will come again, to judge the living and the dead, to replace this world with a new heaven and a new earth.  

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

This gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. When we turn to Christ and trust this gospel, God makes us new people, gives us new hearts, a new future, a new spiritual family and a new and living hope. He comes to dwell within us by his Holy Spirit, remaking us, giving us new desires and loves. We become deeply conscious of the strength of his love and the weakness of ours. As members of his family, we learn to serve one another, seeking to bring the blessing of the gospel to others. This transformation is gradual and life-long.  

The great good news which God has revealed in the gospel, is more than merely an initial blessing. It is the wellspring of ongoing renewal.  Through the gospel, the power of God continues to work within us to change us, to sustain us through life and death, and to keep us to the end. 

WORSHIP

Our worship is rooted in the Anglican tradition and we use the authorized texts of the Book of Common Prayer (1962) and the Book of Alternative Services, as well as other authorized texts from the Anglican Church of Canada, and other texts approved by the bishop. Our beliefs are rooted in scripture, the Anglican tradition and reason.

The Anglican Church of Canada does not define its doctrine in a single confession. Our beliefs are articulated in our liturgies, as well as in these selected statements: