What we believe

These basic doctrines within our Doctrinal Statement affirm and represent the core elements of what we teach and believe at Living Word Baptist Church.

DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament are the inerrant (without error), inspired (God-breathed; spoken by God) and infallible Word of God. God’s Word is the final authority for faith and life.

DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

There is only one God, and He has chosen to reveal Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

DOCTRINE OF HUMANITY AND SIN

We believe man was created in the image of God and the sin of Adam (the first man) marred that image, creating an eternal divide between God and man. Every person is born in sin (with a sin nature and under the penalty of sin).

DOCTRINE OF JESUS

We believe the only way a person can have a true, forgiven relationship with God is through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus became man without ceasing to be God. He lived a perfect and sinless life. Our right standing with God is made sure because of his literal, physical resurrection.

DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION

We believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus to judge the living and the dead.

DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

We believe God offers eternal life as a free gift and that it must be received by faith alone through God’s grace alone. The life that comes from this gift is a permanent possession of the one receiving it. It is everlasting life. Good works are not essential for salvation, but good works demonstrate the reality of our faith and that Christ is present in us through the person of the Holy Spirit.

DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes (places) all believers into the body of Christ at the moment of conversion and that he permanently indwells all believers. Believers have a responsibility to daily be “filled” (controlled) by the Spirit as they submit to his leading over their lives. The purpose of the Spirit’s work is to transform the believer into the image of Christ by producing the fruit of the Spirit (the character of Christ) in his/her life and to empower for ministry and service.

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

We believe the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of believers on mission to enlarge God’s kingdom. The local church is autonomous, free of any external authority or control.

DOCTRINE OF THE ORDINANCES

We believe believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church.

For more on the basic theological beliefs held at Living Word, read our Statement of Faith.