What We Believe…

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH

…We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative word of God, without error in the original languages.  The Bible is, therefore, profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16; John 14:26; II Peter 1:20 & 2l)

…We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14).

…We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14), in His virgin birth (Luke 1:27 & 35), in His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), in His miracles (John 10:25; John 20:30), in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood (Romans 3:24-26), in His bodily resurrection (Luke 24:6-7; I Corinthians 15:4-5), in His ascension (Acts 1:9) to the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110:l), and in His personal return in power and glory (Matthew 26:64; Acts 1:11, I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

…We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 5:1), but through disobedience they fell into sin by the temptation of Satan (Genesis 3:1-6), distorting that image.  As a result, man is alienated from God, under His wrath, spiritually dead, and unable under his own power to make himself right before God. (Ephesians 2:1-12; Titus 3:3-5)

…We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for the salvation of lost men (Romans 7:4-6, II Corinthians 1:21-22) and that this salvation is wholly of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

…We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Romans 8:5-11). The Holy Spirit gives gifts (I Corinthians 1 2:4-7; Ephesians 4:11) so that the body of Christ (the church) is enabled to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:19).

…We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (I Corinthians 15; John 5:28, 29; Revelation 20:11-15).

…We believe in the spiritual unity of believers, through and in our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:3-6) and in the church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Matthew 16:17,18).

…We believe in the sacraments of Baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26).

…We believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6) and in the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death (Genesis 1:27; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13-16).

 

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  For purposes of Lafayette Federated Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Council is Lafayette Federated Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.