Expecting fulfilment of His promise and obeying the command of His apostle, we endeavour to bring our children up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6: 4).

Since the responsibility for this task has been placed on our shoulders as parents we gladly accept responsibility for that part of the education which takes place outside our homes in the school.

We consider the establishment of parent-controlled Christian Schools, which are to assist us in the work of Christian nurture and education, to be our duty and God-given privilege.

For such Christian Schools we as parents claim all freedom in the field of education as long as this education takes place in obedience to the requirements of God's Word and in adherence to legitimate, governmental standards and provisions.

Believing all the truth revealed in the Word of God we wish to emphasise some doctrines which are of special importance with regard to Christian education. They are:

• God and Creation:
  All things were created by God so that "what is seen was made out of things which do not appear" (Heb.11:3). God created them in, through and for Christ (Col.1:15-17) by His Word and Spirit (Gen.1; Ps.33:6), to the glorification of His Holy Name (Ps.8; Ps.19; Rom.11:36). It is also by God's hand, power and care that all created things are preserved and controlled (Ps.99; Mat.6:24 f; Acts 17:24 f). In order to understand the world, man and history, they must be seen in their relationship to God as the Bible speaks of it.
• The Bible and Science:
  Creation as well as Scripture have been brought forth by the same God of truth. Therefore, any seeming discrepancy between the Bible and Science can only be due to human error either in science or in the interpretation of Scripture.
• Man:
  Man was created in the image of God to enjoy true communion with his Creator (Gen.1:26f; Acts 17:26f). Man was instructed to exercise dominion under God, to interpret all reality in accordance with His design and law and to reflect in his person and works the excellence of his Maker (Gen.1:28f; Ps.8:4; Rom.1:20).
• Sin:
  By disobeying God's law and forsaking his office, man estranged himself from God and his neighbour and brought God's curse upon himself and upon all creation (Gen.3:16-19; Rom.8:19f). He also became blind to life's true meaning and purpose, misusing his knowledge and abilities, adhering to man-centred philosophies, and making himself false gods of his own imagination and desires (Rom.1:18f).
• Christ:
  Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, is God incarnate, the Word become flesh (John 1-14). Laying down His life for His sheep (John 10: 10-15), He paid the price of sin for them, being a ransom for all who truly believe in Him (Matt.20:28; Rom.5:6f; 1 Tim. 2: 5,6).
  
  Risen from the dead in His physical body (Luke 24:36-43) and having ascended to the throne of Heaven He is the King of the Universe (Matt.28:18; 1 Pet.3:22). By His Word and Spirit He rules in grace over all true believers. Redeeming their life in its entirety, renewing them after His image and restoring them to the fellowship with God and their fellow men, He makes them obedient to God's will in all spheres of life (Rom.8: 1-17).
• The Holy Spirit:
  The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity (2 Cor.13:13), the divine source of all created life (Gen.1:2; Ps.104:30), is also the source of faith in Christ, of true, spiritual knowledge and of a new sanctified life in grateful obedience to God's will (John 3: 3f; 1 Cor.2: 9f; Eph.3: 14f).

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: STATEMENT OF AFFIRMATION

1. About the Supreme Authority of the Bible

WE AFFIRM that Jesus Christ is from eternity God's only begotten Son; He was born of a virgin and is therefore truly God and man. Through Him God created and sustains the world. Jesus suffered and died for our sins and rose again for our salvation. He ascended into heaven where He now sits on the right hand of the Father making intercession for His people. Christ is the Head of the Church and will come again to judge the world and complete the salvation of His people and the Kingdom of God.

WE AFFIRM that a Christian school is a school where Christ is confessed as the Lord of creation. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, its special task is to teach the child to understand the world from a Christ-centred perspective and to equip him for his calling in life in subjection to Jesus Christ as Lord.

WE AFFIRM that all citizens owe obedience to the legally instituted governments of our nation which derive their authority from God and are responsible to Him for promoting and maintaining public security, justice and welfare.