WHAT WE BELIEVE - (ARTICLES OF FAITH)
(Adopted from LCBC)
A DECLARATION OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US . CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES
We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, made up of sixty-six books (Lk. 24:25-27,44), which constitute the Old & New Testaments -- The Word of God. We believe that holy men of God were "moved by the Holy Spir
it" to write the very words of Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; Mt.5:18). We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the Scripture -- historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical -- and the Scriptures are therefore inspired, infallible, and inerrant in their totality in the original writings. While honoring honest differences of understanding in how God has preserved His Word, we reaffirm with our Baptist forefathers that God, by His singular care and providence, has preserved His Word pure in all ages (Mt. 24:35; Isa.40:8). We believe the Scriptures are to be interpreted by the grammatical-historical method, taking account of its literary forms and devices, and that Scripture is to interpret Scripture. We believe the Scripture is the final authority and is to be the final court of appeal in all matters of faith and practice (Isa.8:20; Jn. 12:46-48; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:1). CONCERNING THE TRUE GOD
We believe in the one Triune God, the Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:2-3). God exists eternally in three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- and these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience (Mt. 3:16-17; Deut. 6:4; Mt. 28:18-20; Isa. 46:9; 2 Cor. 13:14). We believe that the Triune God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing in six ordinary days (Gen. 1:5; Ex. 20:11). We believe each member of the Godhead exercises distinct yet harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Eph. 1:3-10; 4:4-6). CONCERNING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, being eternally the Son of God, was ordained by the Father to be the Mediator between God and man; the Prophet, Priest and King; The Head and Saviour of the Church; Heir of all things; and Judge of the world (Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14-18; Heb. 4:14-16). In the fullness of time God sent forth His Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary (Gal. 4:4-5; Isa.7:14; Mt. 1:23). Having the very nature of God, He took upon Himself the nature of man, becoming eternally the God-man -- Very much God and Very much Man (John 1:1-3, 14, 18). The Lord Jesus Christ, having taken the nature of man, with all the essential properties and common infirmities, lived totally apart from and without sin (Heb.4:15; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:46). The sinless, spotless Son of God gave Himself as a voluntary, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 3:18; John 10:17-18; Heb.7:25). After three days and three nights, the Lord Jesus rose victorious from the grave on Sunday before daylight, becoming the firstfruits of those that were asleep. This means it is impossible for Jesus to have died on Friday. Jesus must have died on Thursday to make up for three days and three nights in the grave before resurrection. (Matt. 12:40; Matt. 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-8) We believe the Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He now makes intercession for us, and where He also now awaits the Father's good time to come again for His own (Acts 1:9-11; Heb.9:24-28; John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead, possessing the same nature, attributes, and perfections as the other members of the Trinity (Acts 5:1-4). We believe the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit in all ages is to bring glory to the Son (John 16:13). We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, as well as presently restrains evil in this world (Jn. 16:8-11; 2 Thess. 2:5-7). Furthermore, we believe in and are completely open to the ministry of the Holy Spirit among God's people as recorded in and mandated by the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural agent involved in convicting men of sin, regenerating the lost, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling, filling, guiding, teaching, gifting, sanctifying and sealing them until the day of redemption (Jn 16:8-11; Jn. 3:3-11; Eph. 2:4-6; John 7:37-39; John 14:16-17; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 5:18; 1 John 2:20,27; Jn. 14:16-17, 25-26; 16:12-14; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 3:17; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30). We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit, although alike in most ways, was somewhat different in the Old Testament. Especially is this true in reference to His present ministry of baptizing all believers into one body and thereby forming the Church, which is distinctive to this age (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:2-11). In the future, after the rapture of the Church, the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain sin in and through the Church, allowing the full manifestation of the mystery of iniquity in the person of the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:3-12; Rev. 13:1-8). We believe the Lord Jesus chose the Apostles for the purpose of establishing the Church and completing the Scripture. The Holy Spirit, in a unique and non-repeatable way, led them and authenticated their ministry with signs and wonders and mighty deeds (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 15:12; 19:11; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4). Upon the passing of the Apostles and completing of the Canon, the signs of an apostle ceased (Jude 3; Isa. 8:20). Although open to, and even insistent upon, the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, we reject the teaching and practice of the modern Charismatic movement. CONCERNING MAN
We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in God's image and after His likeness by the direct act of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Having been created in a state of positive holiness and righteousness, Adam willfully sinned against God and fell from that state. The consequence of the fall is that all men are now constituted sinners and are totally depraved -- sinners both by nature and by choice (Eph. 2: 1-3; Rom. 3: 10, 23; Jer. 17:9). Fallen, human nature is devoid of the ability to do good or to please God and, in reality, is positively inclined to evil (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:5-6; Jn. 14:16-17). Man, therefore, apart from the grace of God, is already under the condemnation of God and will be consigned forever to eternal punishment because of his condition (John 3:18, 36). Although not every individual is as sinful as he could be, this sinful state manifests itself in all men in thought, word, and deed (Rom. 3:12-19). CONCERNING SALVATION
We believe man, being a sinner both by nature and by choice, is in a state of perpetual enmity against God, from which he is able to do nothing to change or improve his condition. God, because of His grace and boundless love (Deut.7:1-9; Eph.2:4), ordained before the foundation of the world that His Son would be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, and give Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins to reconcile us to God. We believe that only through God’s gracious gift of His Son -- the shed blood of Christ -- does mankind have hope of salvation (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22). This salvation is totally of God's grace, apart from anything man can do, whether this be good works, ceremonies (such as Baptism or the Lord's Supper), or church affiliation; it is only Christ's blood -- His finished work on Calvary -- that saves (Eph. 2:4-5, Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 11:5-6). By the grace of God, upon repentance from sin and personal faith in Christ (Acts 20:21; Rom. 4:1-5; Rom. 3:28), a person partakes of this great salvation. This great salvation means we are "born again" into God's family as newborn children, and that we are adopted into God's family with all the rights of adult children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (John 3:3,5; Titus 3:5; Rom. 8:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4;), awaiting the full experience of those rights and blessings at Christ’s coming. We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel (Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (Rom. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17); and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel (John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:32; Prov. 1:24; Acts 13:46); which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation (John 3:19; Matt. 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1:8). We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27); that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind (2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7); that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth (John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11); and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18). We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God (Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1); whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ (John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition,
