LIGHTHOUSE

We believe the Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the written Word of God. It is divinely inspired and completely without error in its original writings. Scripture reveals the being, nature, and character of God, the nature of God's creation, and especially His will for the salvation of human beings through Jesus Christ. The Bible is therefore our supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Acts 1:16; John 10:35; Psa 119:11; Rom 3:1-2; 2 Tim 3:15; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Eph 6:17

We believe in one infinitely perfect, eternal and personal God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. This one God exists eternally and simultaneously as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons in the Godhead share equally and completely the one divine nature, and are therefore the same God, coequal in power, nature, and glory. Gen 1:1; Rev 4:11; Psa 147:5; John 17:3; Mat 28:19; Heb 1:3; Deu 32:4; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; John 15:26; John 17:5; 1 Cor 2:10-11; Phil 2:5; Phil 2:6

We believe that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image. By personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature and plunged the whole human race into condemnation and death. All mankind is now sinful by nature and choice, and is under God’s righteous judgment without defense or excuse. Man has, within himself, no possible means of salvation. Gen 1:27; Gen 3; Rom 5:12; Rom 3:23; Psa 51:5; Rom 5:15-19; Rom 3:9-18; Eph 2:1-3; Rom 1:18-20; Rom 1:32; Rom 3:19; Gal 3:22

We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified to bear the condemnation of all people, and that nothing prevents anyone’s salvation except his rejection of Jesus Christ as his sin-bearer. Those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are freed from condemnation and given eternal life. John 1:12, 3:8, 6:40, 14:6; Eph 2:8-9; Isa 53:5-6; 1 Pet 2:24; 2 Pet 3:9

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. This new birth means that a believer becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is an instantaneous event, not a process. In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, which is the free gift of God. The new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner beyond our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Evidence of salvation is seen in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 5:1; Acts 16:20-33; 2 Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1,5; Col. 2:13; John 3:8

We believe that sanctification is the divine setting-apart of the believer unto God which is accomplished in a threefold manner. First, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishes the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior. Second, sanctification is a continuing process as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God in the life of the believer. Third, the final accomplishment of this process occurs at the Lord’s return. Heb. 10:10-14; 3:1; John 17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Thes. 4:3,4; 5:23,24; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24,25; Rev. 22:11

We believe in the blessed hope: the personal, imminent, pretribulational, and premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. His return has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The saved are raised to eternal, conscious bliss in heaven. The lost are raised to eternal torment in hell in conscious separation from God. 1 Thess 4:13-18; John 14:2; 2 Cor 5:1; Rev 2:7, 21:8; Matt 8:12, 10:28, 13:49-50, 25:34; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5

We believe that God works in believers to benefit the entire body of Christ, as well as the individual Christian. The Lord distributes various spiritual gifts among diverse members of the body, even as a human body is composed of its various parts that perform specific functions to serve and benefit the whole. The exercise of these gifts brings unity and maturity in Christ, who is the Head of the body. 1Cor 12:12; Eph 4:3-6,11-16

We believe that, by the grace of God, true believers endure to the end. Their persevering obedience to Christ is proof that distinguishes them from superficial “believers”. God and His angels watch over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. John 6:66-69, 8:31, 13:18; 1 John 2:19, 2:27-28, 3:9, 4:4, 5:18; Matt 6:30-33, 13:20-21; Job 17:9; Rom 8:28; Jer 32:40; Psa 91:11-12, 121:3; Phil 1:6, 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb 1:4-14, 13:5; 2 Kings 6:16

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It shows forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord's Supper, in which the members of Christ’s body commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 2:38, 2:41-42, 8:12, 8:36-39, 10:47-48, 16:32-34, 18:8, 22:16; Matt 3:5-6, 26:26-29, 28:19-20; John 3:22-23, 4:1-2, 6:26-71; Mark 14:22-25, 16:16; Gal. 3:27-28; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; 1 Cor 5:1, 8, 10:3-32, 11:17-32, 11:28; Luke 22:14-20