Statement of Faith and Practices

Because of our desire to uphold sound doctrine and because of the religious pluralism existing in society with its many churches, cults, doctrines and interpretations, the Elders of Living Hope Church feel they should issue a statement of faith and practices.  This statement will serve as a framework for our leadership of this body.  We feel this statement is important because:

1. We desire to clearly identify the Living Hope Church as a local congregation of Christ’s Body by affirming the apostolic, historic Christian faith.
2. We wish to be able to give an answer to all who may inquire about the basic beliefs and practices of this church.
3. We want to establish the basic foundational truths on which our teaching and preaching ministries are built.

 

We strongly affirm the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God and the only divine standard of faith and practice.  There are, we believe, some biblical truths that should have greater consideration in our teaching and practice.  Therefore, in the Statement of Faith we are seeking to focus on central biblical truths that we consider to be primary to the faith and practice of biblical Christianity.

The Statement of Practices expresses how we believe the Lord would have us implement certain matters of faith, as we presently understand His will.  Though always subject to God’s written Word, these practices take place in a dynamic organism and are subject to change or modification as the Lord may further enlighten or direct this Body.

We would have it known that our faith has its center in Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Savior and Lord.  The fellowship of this body is extended to all who by faith receive Him as Savior and Lord and trust Him alone for their salvation.  Membership at Living Hope shall also include water baptism by Immersion, in obedience to Christ, as well as compatibility with this Statement of Faith and Practices.

Statement of Faith

We believe:

1.  The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired and infallible Word of God, the complete 
      revelation of His will for human salvation, and the final, authorative Divine rule for all Christian faith and practice
      (Mk 12:26;  Luke 24:27;  Jn 5:39;  Acts 1:16;  II Tim. 3:11; and others).

1. In one God, Creator of all, infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

      (Mt. 23:18-19; Mk 12:29; Heb. 1:1-3 and others).

1. That Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures.  Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate, and we await His imminent return (Luke 1:30-35; Jn. 1:1-2; Jn. 1:11; Phil 3:20-21; Eph 1:22-23).

 

1. That according to the divine promise, the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, and is the source of all power and all acceptable worship and service.  We believe that in this age certain well-defined ministries are committed to the Holy Spirit, and that it is the duty of every Christian to understand them and to be adjusted to them in his own life and experience.  These ministries are the testifying of Christ; the restraining of evil in the world to the measure of the divine will; the convicting of the world respecting sin, righteousness, and judgment; the regeneration of believers; the indwelling and anointing of all who are saved; the baptizing into the one Body of Christ of all who are saved. (Jn. 3:6; 16:7-11; I Cor. 12:13; Eph 4:30; II Thes. 2:7; I Jn. 2:20-27 and others).

1. In the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and it’s evidence:  All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian church.  With the experience comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living and productive service.  It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effective ministry (Luke 24:49;  Acts 1:4,8;                  I Corinthians 12:1-31).  The baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate from salvation, and follows the New Birth experience (Acts 8:12 -17).  The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives them audible expression (Acts 2:4).  This form of speaking in tongues is basically the same as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28).  The difference is the purpose and use. [The manifestation of tongues will be observed in the life of every Spirit-filled believer at the initial infilling.  The audible expression of tongues should also continue to function in the Spirit-filled believer’s personal prayer life.  However, the gift of tongues (sometimes called “messages in tongues”)  operates publicly, usually in congregational worship settings.  This gift is followed by the gift of interpreting the tongues.  Both are given to individuals within the church.  Their purpose is for the spiritual benefit of the individual and the congregation].

 

1. That man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and because of universal death through sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree or reformation, no attainment of morality, no culture, no baptism or any other ordinance can help the sinner to take one step toward heaven. A new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are children of God.  We believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Christ and that repentance is a vital part of believing and is in no way itself a separate and independent condition of salvation nor are any other acts.  (Jn. 1:12; 3:16; Acts 12:39; Rom. 1:16-17; 3:22; 4-5; Gal. 3:22).

1. That when an unregenerate person exercises that faith in Christ, which is illustrated and described as such in the New Testament, he passes immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life and from the old creation and into the new; being justified from all things, accepted before the Father just as Christ is accepted, loved as Christ is loved, having his portion and place with the Father and one with Christ and receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit.  We believe that the believer is set apart unto God and that this is a progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to “grow in grace” and to “be changed” by the unhindered power of the Spirit. But  the child of God will only be fully sanctified when he shall see his Lord and shall be “Like Him”.  (Jn. 5:24; Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1;  I Cor. 3:21-23; Jn. 17:17; Eph. 4:24; Heb. 10:10 and others).

 

1. That the true church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, having been baptized by that same Spirit into the one Body that is Christ’s and of which He is the Head.  United together they become members of one another and are under obligation to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above sectarian differences and loving one another.  Under the Lordship and Headship of Christ each local church has the right to decide and govern its own affairs.  (Mt. 16: 16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:5;  I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph 4:3-10 and others).

1. That water baptism by immersion is a scriptural testimony of the believer’s new life in Christ and his identification with the Body of Christ and evidence of his commitment to Jesus.  Thus, it is fitting for every member of that Body in response to Christ’s command, though we do not understand this or any other act to be precondition or requirement for salvation.  We also believe the Lord’s Supper to be a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, a renewal of our covenant walk with God, and a looking forward to the Second Coming of our Lord, when we shall partake of that feast with Him in His kingdom and, thus, it is also fitting for every believer to keep in response to Christ’s command.  (Mt. 23:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 10:47-48; I Cor. 11:26).

 

1. In the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.  ( Jn 14:1-3).

Statement of Practices

1. We will recognize as brothers and sisters in Christ those who confess Jesus as Savior and Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead.  Water baptism by immersion is practiced as an act of obedience to Christ and we feel it should be a part of every person’s commitment to Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we will practice and teach this without condemning those who disagree.

 

1. The Lord’s Supper is observed regularly and faithful participation by all believers is encouraged.

1. The dedication of infants to the Lord in a public service is a practice of this church, available to all believers.  This is not infant baptism nor does it address in any way the salvation of those children.  It is a dedication of intent on the part of parents to raise the child in the Lord’s ways.

 

1. Jesus Christ is the only Head and Lord of this church.  He has established government and ministry in His church on the earth.  We believe the Scriptural norm is a teamwork of pastors, elders and deacons.  The pastors and elders provide spiritual oversight of the body and pastoral care for all members and their families.  Deacons and deaconesses are to serve the body in matters of administration, benevolence and service.

1. We believe it is the will of God that every believer should walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts or abilities greater than our own in order to accomplish God’s will and for the common good of the church.  Spiritual gifts may be exercised in our assembly, by either men or women, according to Biblical guidelines.  (I Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:6-8; Eph. 4:11; I Peter 4:10-11).

 

1. We believe that corporate praise and worship is an integral part of our assemblies.  Our praise and worship may include the raising of hands, clapping, special music and dancing according to biblical guidelines.

1. We believe that God has made provision for physical healing in response to prayer in accordance with His Word and will.  We practice prayer for healing and anointing with oil when requested, as taught in the Scriptures. (James 5:13-16).

 

1. We believe that those who accept Christ as Lord should commit themselves fully to His will for their lives.  We believe this includes placing oneself in a local congregation of believers and placing oneself under the pastoral care provided in the congregation.  In addition, one’s committing himself to a local congregation also places him in relationship with everyone else in the congregation.  On a daily basis this means learning to love one another,

forgiving one another, serving one another and correcting one another, when necessary, in a brotherly fashion.

1. We believe in and practice the priesthood of all believers through Christ, whereby each Christian is responsible for coming to the Father in confidence and faith as a priest unto Him, and there to minister both the worship of his lips and the worship of his life sacrificially presented to God (Rom. 12:1&2).

 

10.    This church has a strong commitment to marriage and the family.  We readily acknowledge that some are called to celibacy and some of necessity are single, but we believe the Scriptural husband-wife-child relationship to be a sacred institution intended to reveal the love, nature and ways of God.  It is our intent that marriage be held in honor by all.  We oppose attitudes and actions which threaten the family including; adultery, pre-marital and extra-marital sex, the practice of homosexuality, abortion-on-demand, and divorce without Scriptural basis.

11.    We believe that the Christian family in the United States is under severe attack by satan.  To counter the attack, we believe it is important for the church to give significant emphasis to the encouragement and strengthening of the Christian family unit.  Accordingly, the husbands and fathers are encouraged to exercise their responsibility as spiritual pastors and priest in the home, and wives and mothers are encouraged to exercise their responsibility to provide love and training.  Parents are expected to take the primary responsibility of training the children in the knowledge of the Lord, with the church ministries viewed as supplementary instead of the primary source of training.  We encourage each family to spend quality time together on a regular basis.

12.    We make a diligent effort to provide for the shepherding and equipping of this body through various services, classes and groups.  Therefore, we feel members should be faithful in their attendance and support of the Sunday Services, the Bible classes and especially the small home group fellowships upon which we place a great emphasis in terms of growth and discipleship.  We believe every committed member of the Living Hope Church should be an active member of a small home group fellowship.

1. Regarding Christian stewardship, we believe that all we have belongs to the Lord and should be used to His glory.  We believe one’s financial contribution to the local church should be presented to the Lord as he has prospered and purposed in his heart, and should be given with cheerfulness.  We encourage everyone to follow the biblical pattern of tithing as a basic guide for their contributions to the local church.

 

1. We are committed in ministry to the neighborhoods in which we live, the neighborhood in which our body assembles, to our city, and all the world.  We want people, regardless of their origin or circumstances, to know and experience Christ’s love in our midst in the context of a caring community.

15.    Members whose conduct or belief have become a reproach to the church and the name of Christ shall be dealt with according to the Word of God in Matthew 18:15-18.  Openly unrepentant sinners shall have fellowship and membership withdrawn by this church.  Persons who have thus forfeited their membership shall, on evidence of sincere repentance, be heartily forgiven and restored to the fellowship and membership of the body.  The only object of discipline is correction in Godliness, in keeping with the Word of God.

16.    The practical manifestation of membership in the church universal is membership in a local Church, a local body of believers.  We believe that one’s membership should reflect a common belief in basic doctrine, and an active and responsive participation in the life of this body.  Membership requirements are listed on the application for Membership card.

 

Those persons desiring membership at Living Hope Church shall share with one or more of the elders their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, indicate their compatibility with the Statement of Faith and Practices and be baptized in water by immersion in response to the Lord’s command, if they have not already done so.  Attendance at Membership classes is a part of this process.