What We Believe

The purpose of this church shall be, as revealed in the New Testament (Matthew 28:18-20 and others), to win people to faith in Jesus Christ, commit them to the fellowship and purpose of the church, to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ that increasingly they may know and do Hiswill and to work for the unity of all Christians and with them engage in the common task of building the Kingdom of God.

This congregation accepts no creed but Christ, no guide but the Bible, and noextra-congregational human authority. The members of the congregation will be known as Christians; not claiming to be the only Christians, but Christians only. This congregation is obligated to follow the express commands of the New Testament and apostolic examples. On opinions or actions about which the NewTestament is silent, liberty is followed. For the purpose of maintaining general unity, the Church adopts these Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine.

A. THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule offaith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).

B. THE ONE TRUE GODHEAD. The triune Godhead is comprised of three (3) separate and distinct personalities, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, and who are eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit.

C. THE SALVATION OF MAN.
1. Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin providing salvation for all mankind, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10).

2. Faith and Works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Romans 10:1-9 and 2 Corinthians 5:10).

3. Repentance. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sins but turning away from our sin and turning to God through JesusChrist. "Repent and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order thattimes of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19).

4. Baptism in Water. The command of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they are dying with Jesus and that they are raised with Him to walk in newness of life.  Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins and the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).

D. THE LORD'S SUPPER. "And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body which is for you. Do this isremembrance of Me.' In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25, 28).

E. CHRISTIAN LIFE; SPIRITUAL CONDUCT. We will follow the Scriptures in all of the following matters as well as others not listed below.

1. Personal Ethics (1 Corinthians 6:12).

2. Obedience to Law (Romans 13:1-2)

3. Family; Household (Ephesians 5:22-31, 33-6:4)

4. Self-Control (2 Peter 2;10; Romans 15:2-3).

5. Adultery; Immorality (Exodus 20:14; 2 Peter 2:14;Matthew 5:27-28;

1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

6. Homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-29;1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The tenants of faith described above have been taken directly from the Lawrence Heights Christian Church Constitution, article 1, section 2.