LifeHouse Church

Core Beliefs

The Bible | God | Man | Jesus Christ | Salvation | The Holy Spirit | Assurance | Human Destiny | The Church | Faith and Practice

The Bible

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, and that it was given through chosen men. Scripture speakswith the authority of God and yet, at the same time, reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

God

We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each of Whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and everything in it, revealing His magnificent power, wisdom and love. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation and is operating throughout history to fulfill His purposes.

Man

God created man in His own image, with the ability to reason, to make choices, and to worship. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and was alienated from God. This fall of man from perfection took place at the beginning of human history, and has resulted in the physical, intellectual, and moral corruption of all people. No person is capable of pleasing God in and of himself, and all are in need of the saving grace of God.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all people by dying on the cross as their substitute. Through His death, He satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father. He is the only Mediator between God and man and continually makes intercession for His own. He will come again to earth, physically and visibly, to judge all men, and establish the kingdom of God.

Salvation

The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works, goodness, church membership, or religious ceremony. Salvation must be personally received through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Good works are a fruit of salvation, not a prerequisite for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

The third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to enlighten the minds of sinners, awaken in them a recognition of their need of a Savior, and impart new life to them. At the point of salvation He permanently indwells every believer to become their source of assurance, strength, and wisdom. He uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the Church. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His help and power are available to every believer by faith, and He enables them to lead a life of Christ-like character to the glory of the Father.

Assurance

All who are born again of the Spirit can, through the sure promises of God, be fully assured of eternal life from the very moment they put their faith in Christ. This assurance is not based upon believers' efforts or merit, but upon the finished work of Christ, who completely paid for their sins. God requires all believers to persevere in faith to the end of life, but He promises that all who are truly born of God will persevere.

Human Destiny

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. Immediately after death, believers in Christ enter into conscious fellowship with the Lord and await the resurrection of their bodies to eternal glory and blessing. Immediately after death, unbelievers enter into conscious separation from the Lord and await the resurrection of their bodies to eternal suffering and anguish.

The Church

There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship, service to the church through the development and use of talents and gifts, observance of baptism (by immersion) and communion, and outreach to the world.

Faith and Practice

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent or unclear. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible.

We believe the Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are contrary to the Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension.