What the Bible teaches

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. It is the supreme authority in faith and practice. We believe the Word of God has been preserved for the English speaking language in the King James Version.
II Peter 1:19-21; II Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 12:6-7; Matthew 24:35

 

The Trinity

We believe in one true and living God revealed in the Scriptures as eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 2:18; John 14:26-27; Hebrews 9:14;
II Corinthians 13:14

 

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary; that He was true God and true man; that He lived a sinless life upon this earth; that He died on a cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins on all mankind; that He rose bodily from the grave on the third day; that He ascended bodily into Heaven where He continues His ministry at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest; and that He is personally, visibly and imminently returning to this earth to set up His Kingdom.
John 1:14; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:1-5; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 20:6;
Hebrews 4:15

 

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God; that this present era of the church is, in a special way, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit; and that His ministry in the world includes reproving, regeneration, indwelling, guiding and empowering men.
Acts 5:3-4; John 3:3-5; John 16:7-11; I Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:14; Acts 1:8

 

Man

We believe that man was created by the direct act of God; that he was made in the image of God; that in his original state he was innocent; that by exercise of his own free will he disobeyed God and, thereby, fell into a state of sin and condemnation; and that his descendants, inheriting a fallen, sinful nature, are under the condemnation of God, and are in need of a new birth.
Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3

Salvation

We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace; that it is received by repentance and faith; the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour trusting His death on the cross and His resurrection as payment for our sins; and that there is no other means of salvation.
Luke 13:3; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12-13; Acts 4:12;
Romans 10:9-10

 

Election

We believe that God desires all people everywhere to be saved, but since man has the freedom to choose, God saves only those who repent of their sin and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, permitting him to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit and have eternal life, or to resist them and perish (eternally).
Romans 8:29-30; I Peter 1:2; I Timothy 2:3-4; Titus 2:11; II Peter 3:9;
Romans 10:13

 

Sanctification

We believe that every believer is sanctified in Christ at conversion (salvation); that this sanctification continues during the Christian life as the believer grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus; and that it is completed when the believer stands in the presence of Christ, either at death or at the rapture.
Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 10:10, 12:23; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Philippians 3:12-15;
I John 3:2

 

Security

We believe that God has given to the believer Scriptural grounds for knowing positively that he is saved; that God has promised and provided to keep His children even in times of failure, when they fall out of fellowship with Him; that God has assured His followers that as believers they are secure in Christ. Sin does not affect our relationship with the Lord, sin affects our fellowship with the Lord.
I John 5:13; John 3:36, 5:24, 10:28-29; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:5; Philippians 1:6

 

The Church

We believe that a New Testament church is a local group of baptized believers united for His purposes; that it was established by Jesus Christ, Who is the sole Head; that it began with the New Testament saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture. We are anti-Calvinistic and non-charismatic in belief.
Philippians 1:1; I Corinthians 1:2; I Timothy 3:15; Revelation 2,3; Acts 20:28

 

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that God ordained marriage between one man and one woman. Sexual activity should take place only in this relationship.
Genesis 2:21-25; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 6:15-20; Hebrews 13:4

 

Ordinances

We believe that God has given His Church the ordinances of Baptism, which is to be administered only to believers, by immersion and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and the Lord’s Supper, which is to be open to all born-again believers present.
Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41, 8:37-38, 16:30-34; I Corinthians 11:23-28

 

The Christian Life

We believe that the Christian is to live a righteous, pure and holy life; that he is called to be a witness for Christ; that he is to be faithful in attending his church; and that he is to support his church by faithfully giving his tithes and offerings.
Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 5:17, 6:14, 7:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Titus 2:11-12


© Copyright The Old Lamplighter's