BELIEFS AND VALUES | Living Hope Church

LHC

Statement of Faith

DOCTRINE

Authority of Scripture.

We believe that the Scriptures, both the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the inerrant, inspired Word of God and have the final authority for all Christian faith and life and for the church (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Trinitarian God

We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory (Isaiah 40-48; Psalm 104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).

The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, truly God and truly man, that he was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, and was physically raised from the dead on the third day (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:8).

The Fallenness of Man

We believe that all humanity (except for Jesus Christ) are born subject to sin and moral corruption because of the sin of Adam. Mankind is, therefore, by nature and choice children of wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, in need of a savior, and unable to save themselves (Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Salvation

We believe that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the redemptive work of Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of an individual is required in order to be saved (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9).

Judgment and the Culmination of this Age

We believe in the personal, physical appearing of Jesus Christ when he returns to the earth as King to consummate his kingdom and to reign with his people for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:20-28,50-58; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation 19:1-21). We believe that Christians will live for eternity in glorious fellowship with their great Triune God. Those who die without Christ will suffer eternal separation from the presence of God (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15).

Sexuality and Marriage

Sexuality and Marriage – We believe that God creates each person either male or female. These two distinct genders together reflect the image of God. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as revealed in Scripture. We believe that God intends for sexual intimacy to occur only in the context of marriage. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, use of pornography, etc.) is sinful and against God’s design and will. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18-25; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)