Biblical
Ballylinney Presbyterian Church has been meeting as a church on its current site, a mile outside Ballyclare, since 1835. However, our beliefs are not from the Regency Era or even the Reformation Era, what we believe goes all the way back to the Bible. We believe that ‘the Word of God as set forth in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and the supreme standard of the Church.’ That means that our authority as a church resides in the Bible in which God has spoken and through which he still speaks (2 Timothy 3v16, 2 Peter 1v20-21; 3v15-16). It is this conviction which shapes our life together at Ballylinney. We are committed to teaching the Bible systematically and consecutively week by week. This is reflected in every part of our church, the preaching each Sunday, the teaching at our midweek prayer meeting, our discipleship small groups, our ministry to young people and children. The best way to find out about Ballylinney is to join us on a Sunday morning at 11am as we gather around God’s word together, you will be made very welcome.
Gospel
The supreme message of the Bible is the salvation God has provided for the world in his Son, Jesus Christ (John 3v16, Acts 20v20-21). All humanity has fallen short of God’s glory; is in a state of sin (Romans 3v23); and deserves eternal punishment (Romans 1v18). Jesus Christ was a real person in history, by his sinless life and sin-atoning death and resurrection, Jesus has secured a way back to our Creator God (1Corinthians 15v1-8). Jesus is ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’, through whom we can approach God the Father (John 14v6). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, when we repent of our sin, putting our faith in him alone, we are saved from eternal punishment and granted eternal life (John 6:40). The calling of those who have come to saving faith in Christ is to live a life that brings glory to God, a life lived in joyful obedience to God’s commands, a life that makes the good news of Jesus known (1 Corinthians 6v20, Colossians 1v16). It is the third person in The Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who works in us (those who are saved 1Timothy 1v15/ born again John 3v3) so that we may live as joyful, obedient Christians, who live looking forward to eternity (Romans 8v9, 2 Corinthians 4v18, Philippians 2v12-13). If you are seeking God and want to talk with someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ then please contact our minister Andrew, he will be delighted to speak with you.
Confessional
Confessional means we are a church that subscribes to both the ancient Christian creeds (such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed); and to historic reformed theology as expressed in The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and The Westminster Shorter Catechism. As a confessional church we believe it is important to say what we believe and to write it down for others to read and confirm in scripture (2 Timothy 1v13; Titus 1v9). Our confessions and catechisms are subordinate to the Bible, while striving faithfully to summarize biblical teachings. If you are seeking a reformed evangelical church that preaches the Bible, that is passionate to reach the lost and committed to God’s mission in Ballyclare and beyond then come and join us, we look forward to meeting you.
Presbyterian
Presbyterian means we are a church governed by a body of elders (also referred to as overseers or shepherds in the Bible) called by God and elected by members of the church. As a Presbyterian church we believe Jesus, the chief shepherd, has given undershepherds to care for God’s people as they journey through their life of faith this side of heaven (Ephesians 4v11-14; 1 Peter 5v1-4). The Presbyterian form of church government emphasizes the cooperative character of the Church as reflected in the New Testament (Acts 15v2-6). Therefore, while the elders of Ballylinney are primarily responsible for overseeing the ministry of Ballylinney, they also share in the work of overseeing the ministry of sister churches through a regional presbytery and in the entire denomination through a General Assembly. You may find the PCI website helpful for further, more detailed information about our denomination and its mission.