Our Beliefs

We believe in the one God, eternally existent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who created everything including man and woman by direct immediate acts (Genesis 1:1,26-27; Matthew 28:19; Revelation 11:17)

We believe in the divinity, incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension to heaven, and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2,14; Philippians 2:6-11; Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 4:15; Acts 2:22-24; Hebrews 9:28; I Thessalonians 4:14-18; Acts 1:9).

We believe mankind is fallen and can be regenerated only by the operation of the Holy Spirit on the basis of God’s grace through the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, which is the only way to eternal life. All mankind shall be resurrected: either to eternal life or to eternal damnation (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 5:28-29).

We believe that repentance from sin and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ are available to all. Salvation comes through faith in the atoning shed blood of Christ, His death, and His resurrection (Acts 2:38-39; Romans 3:21-26; 5:1,9; Hebrews 6:1-2).

We believe that Christians must respond to our Lord’s command to experience Water Baptism by immersion for circumcision of heart. Water Baptism does not regenerate (“get you saved”) but is essential for every believer as an initial recognition and expression of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This sacrament includes many actions, benefits, and declarations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:9-13; Acts 19:2-6).

We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as an act performed by God and available to each believer. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to live an overcoming life of progressive sanctification and to fulfill the great commission. Speaking in tongues is the usual accompanying sign of receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:4,38, 10:45-46; Ephesians 1:13; II Corinthians 1:22; Romans 15:16).

We believe the Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the Gospel. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are exhorted to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters (Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:5-6; Hebrews 2:4; I Peter 4:10).

 

We believe the healing power of God as provided through the sufferings of Jesus Christ is a benefit of the Gospel for every believer (Psalm 103:2-3; I Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-16; Mark 16:17-18; I Corinthians 12:8-10; Isaiah 53:4-5).

We believe it is necessary for each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to be a witness to His saving grace through a consecrated life style of being His disciples and ambassadors in the midst of the world, and by living a life of righteousness as a declaration of his faith (Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:14-15; II Corinthians 5:20, 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; James 2:17-26; Hebrews 12:14; I John 2:15-17).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the governmental head of the Church and our obedience to Him cannot be compromised by any other governmental authority (Acts 5:29; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18).

We believe that the practice of the Christian faith at Living Faith Fellowship includes but is not limited to:

• Teaching and preaching of the Bible (Ephesians 4:11-16)
• Prayer (Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2)
• Worship (Ephesians 5:18-19; Psalm 150; Acts 24:14)
• Communion (I Corinthians 11:26-34)
• Giving of tithes & offerings (Genesis 14:18-20, 28:20-22; Leviticus 2:3;
  II Chronicles 31:4-6; Numbers 18:21a; Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 26:12-13;
  Proverbs 11:24-25, 19:17; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; I Corinthians 16:2;
  II Corinthians 8:7, 9:6-9)
• Water baptism (Matthew 28:19)
• Footwashing (John 13:14-15)
• Marriage between one man and one woman (Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22-23;
  Genesis 2:24; Romans. 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10-11)

This includes all forms of:

• Church educational ministries (Acts 5:42, 10:42; Proverbs 22:6)
• Biblical counseling (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22)
• Evangelism and ministry outreaches (Mark 16:15)
• Prayer and healing ministries (I Thessalonians 5:23)
• Church discipline (Matthew 18:15-18)
• Citizenship (Romans 13:1-3)
• Recreation (I Timothy 4:8)
• Charity (Matthew 25:34-36; James 1:27)

…and all other aspects of obedience to the Holy Scriptures as integral, inseparable, and indistinguishable ministries of the Church.

This may include any aspect of service to our God or to people of any age or need within or without this Congregation which ministers to the spirit, soul, or body of those people (Proverbs 22:6; Mark 10:14; James 1:27; I Timothy 5:3-9; I Thessalonians 5:23).