LIVING WORD Articles of Faith
The articles of faith is an elemental, not exhaustive, statement of what we believe to reflect the Bible’s essential doctrines.
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative written Word of God.
We believe it to be Divinely inspired in its entirety as Christian Scripture for faith and practice. (II Tim 3:15-17, 17; II Peter 1:19-21, I Thess 2:13)
We believe that the Bible is to be provided to people in their spoken language.
GOD
We believe there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
FATHER
We believe the Father is the head of the Trinity (John 5:19).
We believe that the Father sent Jesus, the Son, to save mankind (John 3:16).
We believe that the Father, in cooperation with the Son, sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, John 15:26).
We believe that the Father adopts all who enter into a saving relationship through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15, Gal 4:5).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious suffering and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His place as head and bridegroom of the Church, and His personal return in power and glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Person: We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is working in the earth through the Church by His power.
Work: Sanctification (being set apart as holy for God’s service) is a work of the Holy Spirit, not our own efforts. Only by
the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to grow in the character of Jesus Christ as we walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 22-23).
Holy Spirit Baptism: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience that is either simultaneous or subsequent to being born again. In being "born of the Spirit" there is an impartation of life, but in the "baptism of the Spirit" there is an impartation of power for witnessing. Speaking in other tongues is often a physical manifestation of receiving this endowment of power (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4-5; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6; Eph 5:18).
Spiritual Manifestations: We believe all the manifestations of the Spirit, including divine healing and prophecy, are still in operation today and should be sought for and encouraged as evidence of God’s work in His church. (1 Cor 12:7-11, 31)
THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by practice. Mankind was created by God as good, but by voluntary transgression we fell from acceptance and right standing with God. Our only hope of salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.
SALVATION
We believe that when individuals experience salvation, they are "born again" as a “new creation” in Jesus Christ and "old things pass away." Salvation is granted to those who have been forgiven of their sins by repenting, confessing faith in Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, and have submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus. Salvation is evidenced internally by the witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) and outwardly through a life of holiness and righteousness, a new love for the Lord, a new love for others, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
ORDINANCES
An ordinance is a practice or act of worship instructed by God through His word. Ordinances do not grant salvation, which is by God’s grace received through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We recognize two ordinances:
Water Baptism: We believe that baptism in water is by immersion in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and shall be administered only to those who give evidence of being born again.
The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated to remember and proclaim Jesus’ death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
THE CHURCH
The prime agency for the work of God’s kingdom is the Christian local church functioning under the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-47, 16:4-5; Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20, Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
LAST THINGS
We believe in the literal, physical, and personal return of Jesus Christ to consummate His kingdom.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: those who are saved, unto the resurrection of life; those who are lost shall rise to be judged (Rev. 20:12-15; John 5:29).
We believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) in heaven, and that Hell is a literal place of eternal separation from God for those who are unsaved.
For more on what we believe about Gender & Marriage, please click here: LWC Marriage Statement
The articles of faith is an elemental, not exhaustive, statement of what we believe to reflect the Bible’s essential doctrines.
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative written Word of God.
We believe it to be Divinely inspired in its entirety as Christian Scripture for faith and practice. (II Tim 3:15-17, 17; II Peter 1:19-21, I Thess 2:13)
We believe that the Bible is to be provided to people in their spoken language.
GOD
We believe there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
FATHER
We believe the Father is the head of the Trinity (John 5:19).
We believe that the Father sent Jesus, the Son, to save mankind (John 3:16).
We believe that the Father, in cooperation with the Son, sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, John 15:26).
We believe that the Father adopts all who enter into a saving relationship through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15, Gal 4:5).
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious suffering and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His place as head and bridegroom of the Church, and His personal return in power and glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Person: We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is working in the earth through the Church by His power.
Work: Sanctification (being set apart as holy for God’s service) is a work of the Holy Spirit, not our own efforts. Only by
the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to grow in the character of Jesus Christ as we walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 22-23).
Holy Spirit Baptism: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience that is either simultaneous or subsequent to being born again. In being "born of the Spirit" there is an impartation of life, but in the "baptism of the Spirit" there is an impartation of power for witnessing. Speaking in other tongues is often a physical manifestation of receiving this endowment of power (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4-5; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6; Eph 5:18).
Spiritual Manifestations: We believe all the manifestations of the Spirit, including divine healing and prophecy, are still in operation today and should be sought for and encouraged as evidence of God’s work in His church. (1 Cor 12:7-11, 31)
THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by practice. Mankind was created by God as good, but by voluntary transgression we fell from acceptance and right standing with God. Our only hope of salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.
SALVATION
We believe that when individuals experience salvation, they are "born again" as a “new creation” in Jesus Christ and "old things pass away." Salvation is granted to those who have been forgiven of their sins by repenting, confessing faith in Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, and have submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus. Salvation is evidenced internally by the witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) and outwardly through a life of holiness and righteousness, a new love for the Lord, a new love for others, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
ORDINANCES
An ordinance is a practice or act of worship instructed by God through His word. Ordinances do not grant salvation, which is by God’s grace received through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We recognize two ordinances:
Water Baptism: We believe that baptism in water is by immersion in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and shall be administered only to those who give evidence of being born again.
The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated to remember and proclaim Jesus’ death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
THE CHURCH
The prime agency for the work of God’s kingdom is the Christian local church functioning under the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-47, 16:4-5; Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20, Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
LAST THINGS
We believe in the literal, physical, and personal return of Jesus Christ to consummate His kingdom.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: those who are saved, unto the resurrection of life; those who are lost shall rise to be judged (Rev. 20:12-15; John 5:29).
We believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) in heaven, and that Hell is a literal place of eternal separation from God for those who are unsaved.
For more on what we believe about Gender & Marriage, please click here: LWC Marriage Statement