2nd Corinthians 13:14: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”.

Matthew 28:19 : Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:23: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” – which means, “God with us.”

John 20:27-29: Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.   Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 4:14-15: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.”

1st Corinthians 15:3-4: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Ephesians 2:1-9: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 we read: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”

Galatians 5:20-25 we read: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19 we read: Jesus said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

1st Thessalonians 4:15-17 we read: “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

John 10:28 we read: Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

John 20:30-31: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Acts 2:22-24 “Listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Acts 2:22-24 “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

We affirm that marriage is the voluntary and loving union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, this union being established by an authorised ceremony.

‘Voluntary’ indicates that the parties freely choose to enter into the marriage.

‘For life’ indicates that The Coast Community Church does not support the idea of trial or temporary marriage.

‘One man and one woman’ means that marriage is possible only between members of opposite sex and ‘to the exclusion of all others’ stresses the fidelity inherent in the marriage bond.

‘Established by an authorised ceremony’ means that The Coast Community Church does not support the cohabitation by unmarried couples where sexual intimacy is involved.

The exclusive nature of marriage leaves no room for sexual infidelity. In marriage spouses express to one another profound feelings of love, mutual respect, inter-dependence and belonging.

We believe that God’s standard concerning marriage is revealed in Scripture. The permanence of the marriage bond provides for security and the development of mutual trust, and is referred to in Scripture as a ‘one flesh’ relationship (Genesis 2:24) which Jesus affirmed: ‘What God has joined together let man not separate’ (Matthew 19:6).

Marriage is a unique reflection of God’s love for all humankind. The relationship of husband and wife reflects both the image of God and the self-giving love between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33).