God's Word
1.) The Holy Scriptures, comprised of Old and New Testaments, are fully and verbally inspired by God and are therefore infallible in the original writings and completely trustworthy in all areas in which they speak. They are therefore the supreme, unmediated, and final authority of faith and practice for every believer.
(References: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 4:4, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Jeremiah 1:9, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 17:17, Proverbs 30:5-6)
God's Existence
2.) There is only one eternal, almighty, and perfect God. Within the Being of this One true God exist three eternally distinct and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(References: Genesis 1:2, Genesis 1:26, 1 Corinthians 2:11, Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 44:6, John 10:30-33, Luke 1:35, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:1-2, John 14:9-11, Philippians 2:5-8, John 16:13-15)
Jesus Christ
3.) Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who took upon Himself human flesh through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He who is true God became true man, uniting two natures in one person forever. Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He now serves as our High Priest, our only Mediator. He will return bodily and visibly to the Earth as King of Kings and will judge every human being that has ever lived.
(References: John 1:1-3, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58, Colossians 1:17, Revelation 1:8, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 7:3, Genesis 1:26, John 17:5, John 14:6-7, Ephesians 2:9-10, Matthew 1:22-23, Matthew 28:9, John 9:38, Luke 7:48, Mark 2:5-7, John 1:14, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 1:35, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Colossians 2:9, John 1:18, Luke 24:39, 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5, John 8:29, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 2:19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:35-45, John 20:19-21, Acts 4:10, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Isaiah 53:4-12, Mark 8:31, Matthew 17:22-23, Luke 9:44, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:21-26, Romans 5:8, Revelation 5:9, 1 Corinthians 15:14, Luke 24:42-43, John 20:19-27, Acts 1:9-11, John 14:1-3, Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 5:5-10, Hebrews 9:11-15, Hebrews 7:24-27, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 9:23-24, 1 John 2:1-2, Hebrews 8:1, Matthew 24:27-44, John 5:28-29, Philippians 3:20-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Titus 2:11-14, James 5:7, 2 Peter 3:8-10, Revelation 1:7-8, Revelation 3:11, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20, Acts 10:42, Psalm 98:9, Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 25:31-32, John 5:22-29, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:12-13, 1 Chronicles 16:33, Psalm 9:7-8, Psalm 50:3-6, Isaiah 2:4, Matthew 16:27, John 9:39, Acts 17:31, Romans 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 4:5, Revelation 6:10, Revelation 15:4.)
The Holy Spirit
4.) The Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the one, true Triune God, the Regenerator of persons, the Bestower of Spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Advocate who empowers believers for godly living and service.
(References: Genesis 1:2, Psalm 33:6, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 6:19, John 3:5, Acts 5:3-4, Acts 13:1-2, Isaiah 43:10, John 14:25-26, John 15:26-27, John 16:7-15, Mark 1:10-11, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Corinthians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Adam
5.) In Adam, human beings were created in the image of God (they share in a finite way the communicable attributes of God, including personality, spirituality, rationality, and morality). Through the fall of Adam that image of God in humanity has been defiled, although not eradicated. Every human being is radically corrupt and estranged from God. God condemns human beings because of their descent into sin, both through their relationship to Adam and through individual choice. The desperate need of humanity is forgiveness of sins and consequent restoration of fellowship with God; yet humans remain totally unable to atone for and restore themselves.
References: Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 5:1-2, 1 Corinthians 11:17, Genesis 9:6, James 3:9, Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:18-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Titus 1:15, Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 8:7, Ephesians 2:2, Romans 6:23, Psalm 145:20, Galatians 6:7, James 1:15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, John 3:26, Romans 2:6-10, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8, 1 John 1:9)
Jesus' Death
6.) Jesus’ death on the cross provided a penal substitutionary atonement for the sins of humanity. In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His unmerited grace alone, through faith alone, on the account of Christ alone.
(References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 4:12, Acts 15:11, Acts 18:27, Romans 3:21-24, 1 John 2:2, 1 Peter 2:24, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, Romans 5:6-11, Romans 2:2-4, Romans 5:10, 1 Peter 3:18, Isaiah 53:5, John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, John 3:16, Galatians 1:3-4)
The Gift of Salvation
7.) Those who have received the free gift of salvation will live forever in the fellowship and Kingdom of God (heaven). Eternal, conscious punishment apart from the fellowship of the Kingdom of God (hell) is the ultimate destiny of unredeemed humanity, Satan, and his entire angelic host. The Christian church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Corporately and individually, its members strive to worship, serve, and glorify God through prayer and praise, diligent study and application of the Scriptures, evangelism, sanctified living, good works, and observance of the rites of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The ultimate mission of the church is the discipleship of all nations, not only the saving of souls (which is primary and the work of the Holy Spirit) but also bringing the gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought — until the Lord returns.
(References: Romans 5:15, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8, John 14:1-3, Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:1-4, John 6:51, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-9, Revelation 20:15, Mark 9:42-48, Revelation 21:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 13:41-42, Revelation 14:11, John 3:18, Hebrews 9:27, Matthew 4:10, Psalm 29:2, John 4:23-24, Psalm 100:2, Deuteronomy 10:12, 1 Samuel 12:24, Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Deuteronomy 13:4, John 12:26, Colossians 3:23-24, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:11, 1 Corinthians 10:3, Revelation 4:11, Ephesians 2:20-21, John 15:8, Psalm 9:1, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Ezekiel 37:14, John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:2, Matthew 6:5-8, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:9-13, Ephesians 6:17-18, 1 Timothy 2:1, James 5:16, Isaiah 25:1, Psalm 150:6, Psalm 63:3-4, Revelation 5:13, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 145:1, Isaiah 12:4, Acts 2:46-47, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 3:15, Deuteronomy 11:18-23, Acts 17:11-12, Matthew 22:29, Romans 1:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:21, Colossians 3:1-5, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 5:16, James 2:14-18, Titus 2:14, Titus 2:7, Titus 3:1, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Colossians 2: 12-13, Matthew 3:11-17, Acts 2:38-41, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Acts 2:42, John 6:53-58, 1 Corinthians 11:23-27)
Questions About Our Statement of Faith
(Adapted from: What Is Essential Biblical Doctrine? - Christian Research Institute)
If there are any questions regarding this doctrinal statement, please do not hesitate to contact LCF leadership
HERE.