What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Living Word Bible Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe in the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit, coexistent and coeternal. God is the sovereign creator and ruler of all things. He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love.

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son, one in being with the Father, eternally begotten but not made, who in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation. He lived a perfect life, died an atoning death, resurrected, ascended, presently reigns, and will return to restore his people and creation.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God himself, eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son, who indwells Jesus' people, giving new life, empowering them for service, giving understanding of the Scriptures and changing them into Christ's likeness. We affirm God's activity in the world for his sovereign and gracious purposes.

John 1:1-3; Eph. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:15; Jer.10:10; John 15:26; Ps.147:5; John 3:16

We believe that the Bible, specifically the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the written Word of God. It is inspired by God, being written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit and are therefore without error in their original writings. They are the only supreme authority and standard for life, doctrine, practice, creeds, history, and reality.

2 Peter 1:21; II Tim. 3:15-17; Proverbs 30:5; Phil. 3:16; Heb. 4:12-13

We believe God created all things out of nothing as the overflow of his trinitarian love and a reflection of his glory. God created all things good and he is always present in and in control over all things. God in his sovereignty temporarily allows evil to exist, though he is not its author nor does he tempt anyone to sin. We believe that God directly created Adam and Eve as first people to be the historical parents of the entire human race. Mankind is created in the image of God, without sin, as male and female. As image bearers, they were called to reflect and represent God’s glory in the world by multiplying humanity and filling and ruling the world, as they live in communion with God and walk according to his Word.

We believe that men and women are equal yet distinct and complementary. God’s design of biblical masculinity and femininity is a beautiful and essential part of creation and Christian community. Men are given the special calling of being servant hearted leaders in the context of the home and church. Marriage is a common-grace gift, a covenant between a man and a woman and is the only God-ordained pattern of sexual relations for men and women.

Ps. 19:1; Gen. 1:27-31; Gen. 2:7, 21-25; Ps. 8:3-9; Jam. 3:9; Eph. 5:22-33

We believe that through the temptation of Satan, humanity transgressed the command of God and fell from their original holiness and righteousness. Sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need of salvation. Now the entire human race inherits a corrupt nature that is opposed to God and His law. Therefore, all humans are under condemnation. Depravity extends to the whole person; mind, will, body, and affections. Unregenerate humanity lives under the dominion of sin and Satan and is separated from God.

Gen.3:6-24; Rom. 5:12-19; Isa.53:6; Gen.6:12; Rom.3:9-20; Eph.2:1-3; Rom.1:18

We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead. The good news of Jesus calls all people everywhere to repent, believe and be restored to life in Christ. Repentance includes an acknowledgement of one’s sin against a holy God, and a fundamental turning away from sin to God. Faith is the willful submission of the heart and trust in Jesus as the one Lord and treasure of our life. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and become children of God.

We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that act of God by which the Holy Spirit gives a new spiritual nature and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the dominion of sin is broken, and the heart is transformed from a love of sin and self to a love and pursuit of holiness and God. The salvation of humanity is fundamentally the work of God. Before the foundation of the world, God elected His people, setting His affection and grace upon them. In love God predestined His people for adoption. Faith is a gift of grace that is given by the mercy and pleasure of God, so that no one may boast. Apart from the intervention of God, humanity cannot choose of its own accord to worship God and pursue righteousness. God’s sovereignty in salvation is comprehensive: from first to last, all of salvation is the work of God.

John 3:5-8; Heb.10:19-25; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 1:4-6; Rom. 10:9-13; Eph. 2:1-10

God, by His Word and Spirit, creates, preserves, and guides the Church, calling sinful humanity into the fellowship of Christ’s body. The universal Church comprises all believers across time; a local church is a specific expression of that larger reality. All Christians are called to be members of a local congregation, which is comprised of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel.

The ultimate mission of the Church is to bring glory to God by making disciples of all peoples. The Church is called to make disciples through worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship, the exercise of our gifts and the proclamation of the gospel both in our community and to all the nations. In obedience to Christ’s command believers are baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection, showing our release from the mastery of sin, Satan and death. Baptism is the prerequisite for membership in the church and participation in the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ’s death. As we come to the table with a posture of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body.

1 Cor. 12:12-31; Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; 1 Peter 3:21

The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the glorification of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan, with his demons and all those outside Christ, are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment. The righteous, in glorified resurrected bodies, will live and reign with Him forever, serving Him, and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then the eager expectation of creation will be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God, who makes all things new.

Acts 2:11; Rev. 20:7-15; Rev. 21:1-5; Rom. 8:18-25; Matt. 26:64