LWACC
Statement of Faith
God:
We believe that there is one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is a spirit who is infinite, all knowing, and perfect in all ways (Isaiah 45:5-7; John 4:24). His character includes perfect holiness, justice, grace, compassion and love. God is one in essence but has eternally existed in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
God the Father:
We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9; Revelation 4:11) He is the absolute and all powerful ruler of the universe and His sovereignty and glory is over all things in heaven and on earth. (1 Chronicles 29:11; Isaiah 46:9-11). He works all things to bring glory to Himself (Romans 11:33-36).
Jesus Christ (God the Son):
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is fully God (John 1:1-5; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 14:9; Colossians 1:15). Jesus Christ emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-25). We believe that God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished redemption by being without sin, submitting to the plan of God, and willingly sacrificing Himself on the cross and literally rising from the dead (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24). He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. (Acts 1:9; Romans 8:34) We believe that Jesus Christ will return to receive His church unto Himself, establish His kingdom on the earth, and judge all mankind (Acts 1:11, John 5:22-23; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15)
Holy Spirit: (God the Holy Spirit)
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, is fully God, possessing all of the attributes of God (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Holy Spirit, throughout the scriptures has manifested Himself through various prophets and servants of God to accomplish God’s purposes (Isaiah 59:21; Judges 3:10). We believe that the unique indwelling of the Holy Spirit began in this present age, when He came from the Father as promised by Christ (John 14:16-17; 15:26). The work of the Holy Spirit is to build Christ’s church (1 Corinthians 12:13), convict the world of sin, righteousness & judgment (John 16:7-9); glorify Jesus Christ and transform believers into Christ’s image (Acts 1:5; 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13). We believe that the Holy Spirit brings spiritual life and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9). All who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit indwells, sanctifies, instructs, and empowers believers for service. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each individual to be used to edify the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) to the glory of Christ (John 16:13-14).
Salvation:
We believe that all who confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord, believe in there hearts that God raised Him from the dead and repent from their sins, shall be saved (Romans 10:9; Acts 3:19). Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, a person can be forgiven of all sin, declared righteous by God, reborn into a new life. And guaranteed eternal life with God. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone. (Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; John 14:6).
Resurrection:
We believe that Christ rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4). The fullness of salvation awaits Christ’s return when He will resurrect believers in glorified bodies like His own immortal body. He will resurrect “Those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29; John 11:25).
Spiritual Unity of Believers:
We believe the spiritual unity of believers is in the Lord Jesus Christ and is expressed through love for fellow believers. (John 13:34; 1 Cor 1:10)
The Holy Bible:
We believe that God communicates with mankind through the Holy Bible. The entire Holy Bible (the Old and New Testaments) is inspired by God, written through men, and is completely inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21). The Holy Bible is the actual Word of God. We believe that it is the final authority in what we believe and in how we live (Matthew 5:17-20; John 17.17; Hebrews 4:12).
Church:
We believe that the church is the body of Christ established by Christ and made up of all believers (Ephesians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). The church is to be the light and salt of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). The church is to function like a family, with loving relationships motivated out of good for the other person and for the entire church (1 Timothy 3:4-5; 14-15; 5:1). We believe that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21), to function as Christs hands and feet on earth (Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 4:13-16) and spread the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).
Love:
We believe God is love (1 John 4:7-21). The greatest commandment is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30). The second greatest commandment is to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; 1 John 3:16; John 13:34; 1 Peter 4:8).
Good Works:
We believe that doing good works is an important part of living out our faith in Christ. Although we are not saved by our works, our works exemplify our faith in Christ Jesus. We are called to be a light that shines before others, and through our good works we give glory to God. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Matthew 5:16; James 2:14-17).
Holiness:
We believe holiness is received through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Christians are to strive to live a holy life because God is holy (Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Christians are called to “Let love be genuine, abhor what is evil; and hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9-21). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we must abstain from all sin & immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Through the Holy Spirit we must separate ourselves from this world and be transformed by the renewing of our minds to live a life that is acceptable and perfect to God (Romans 12:
Marriage:
We believe that marriage has been ordained by God and is the exclusive covenantal union between one man and one woman until death. A man and a woman as defined by their natural birth. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with this definition of marriage. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25, Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:22-33). Divorce is not permitted unless in cases of adultery and the abandonment of a believing spouse by an unbelieving spouse (Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:15). Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and a man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Luke 16:18).
Human Sexuality:
We believe that one of the amazing mysteries that is evident in creation is the reality that humanity was created in the image of God—an image that is only expressed in two genders, male and female (Genesis 1:27-28; Matthew 19:4; Ephesians 5:22-32). The gift of sexuality, given by God, is to be enjoyed in submission to one another solely within heterosexual marriage (Genesis 2:23-25). Human sexuality was corrupted by our rebellion against God (Genesis 3:6-21) resulting in sexual expressions that are inconsistent with a biblical witness. These would include, but are not limited to sexual activities of an exploitive or illegal nature, trans-gender identifications, pornography, pre-marital sex, homosexuality and adultery (1 Corinthians 6:18-7:5). God created humans as male and female according to biological sex. Biological sex means the condition of being male or female, which is determined by a person’s chromosomes, and is identified at birth by a person’s anatomy.