STATEMENT OF FAITH LIGHT OF LIFE CHURCH BIRMINGHAM
This Statement of Faith is intended simply as a basis for belief, fellowship, and cooperation among us.
Thus we believe:
What We Believe
1. The Inspiration of the Scriptures
The Bible is the only inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God and is the rule for life and conduct of the believer. We believe that the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. Divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the original writings, insuring their entire trustworthiness (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The Eternal Godhead
There is one true God, eternally existent in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe in the unity of the one true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent One, and has revealed Himself as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19).
3. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright, but man, by voluntary transgression, fell and the only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was virgin born and who lived a sinless life. We believe that humankind was created good and upright. However, voluntary transgression resulted in their alienation from God, thereby incurring not only physical death but spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:16-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
4. The Salvation of Man
It is the grace of God that brings Salvation. Man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and by being justified by grace through faith. The evidence of this “New Birth” is a witness of the Holy Spirit inwardly, and a changed life both inwardly and subsequently outwardly. We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead on the third day. By His atoning blood, salvation has been provided for all humanity through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. This experience is also known as the new birth, and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit whereupon the believing sinner is regenerated, justified, and adopted into the family of God, becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus, and heir of eternal life (John 3:5-6; Romans 10:8-15; Titus 2:11, 3:4-7; 1 John 5:1).
5. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
In the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is evidenced by the sign of speaking with other tongues as the spirit leads, and by subsequent manifestations of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:15-19; 11:14-17; 19:1-7).
6. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Gifts have been given to the church by the Holy Spirit in order for the church to be equipped and be used to encourage and build up one another. These gifts are for today and are active within a healthy church. We believe in the present day operation of the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) and the ministry gifts of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13) for the edification and expansion of the church.
7. The Church and its Mission
We believe that the church is the body of Christ and the habitation of God through the Spirit, witnesses to the presence of the kingdom of God in the present world, and universally includes all who are born again (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Romans 14:17-18; 1 Corinthians 4:20).
8. The Ordinances of the Church
We believe that baptism in water by immersion is expected of all who have repented and believed. In so doing they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be shared by all believers until the Lord returns (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34).
9. Sanctification
That entire sanctification and holiness is the will of God and should be pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word. We believe that sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. In experience, it is both instantaneous and progressive. It is produced in the life of the believer by his appropriation of the power of Christ’s blood and risen life through the person of the Holy Spirit. He draws the believer’s attention to Christ, teaches him through the Word and produces the character of Christ within him (Romans 6:1-11; 8:1-2,13; 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 10:10, 14).
10. The End of Time
We believe in the premillennial, imminent, and personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ to gather His people unto Himself. Having this blessed hope and earnest expectation, we purify ourselves, even as He is pure, so that we may be ready to meet Him when He comes (John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 20:1- 6). We believe in the bodily resurrection of all humanity, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that everlasting conscious punishment is the portion of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24; Revelation 20:10-15).