We seek the same path to God taught by His Son that is found in the New Testament. Believing that Jesus was the Christ, the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring salvation to man, we exist as a ministry to carry out the Savior’s work. Our mission centers around teaching God’s word to those interested in learning it and encouraging one another in our spiritual growth.
We seek to by-pass all the traditions that have been piled up in the name of Christ and cut through all the edits done to Christianity. We simply seek the lifestyle, worship, and work in which the first Christians were involved. By following the New Testament example we can know we are doing what God wants. This benefit both us and those we seek to serve.
Read the following scriptures for the basis of our purpose
CORE BELIEFS OF L4C MOVEMENT:
We believe in one God as He is revealed in the pages of the Old and New Testament. There is no one else like Him (Isaiah 45:18) and there is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:6). Scripture reveals Him in so many ways; Creator, Father, Lord, King, Redeemer, Savior, and Judge. He is Almighty; omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent (Psalm 139:1-16). He is righteous (John 17:23) and faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 1:13; 1 John 1:9), full of grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:4; Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 1:3). He cannot lie and is the source of all truth (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:1). He is love (1 John 7-8). His name, Yahweh, means “I am, I am” and demonstrates the eternal quality of His being; He always is, always has been and always will be “I am.” (Exodus 3:13-14; Matthew 22:32)
We believe Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:1). We believe He is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). We believe He came to earth through the miraculous birth to a virgin (Luke 1:26-38). We believe He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15) performing miraculous signs too many to list (John 20:30-31) but including healing, exorcism, raising the dead, and mighty deeds such as walking on water, turning water into wine and multiplying food to feed thousands. We believe He preached the Kingdom of God and the Gospel (good news) of salvation (Mark 1:14-15). In all these things He showed us the glory of the Father (John 1:14 & 14:7-15). We believe and proclaim through our preaching, sharing in the Lord’s Supper, and the transformation of the way we live that Jesus “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus did not die for His own sin, but for ours (1 Peter 2:24). He shed His blood to wash away our sin (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7). His death defeated death (Hebrews 2:9-18). It was impossible for death to hold onto Him and three days later He rose from the dead (Luke 24:5; Acts 2:24-32). Forty days later He returned to Heaven and took His rightful place of honor and power at God’s Right Hand far above all power and authority (Acts 1:9-11; 2:33-35; Ephesians 1:20-21; Philippians 2:9-11). We believe that one day He is coming again to take His people home with Him (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), but of that day and hour no one on earth knows (Matthew 24:35-51; 2 Peter 3:3-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). Therefore, get ready and be ready!
We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit and, therefore, is Himself God (yes, we believe in what is commonly called the Trinity of God). Scripture is filled with the various works and ministry He has accomplished. He was there at creation (Genesis 1:2), anointed Jesus at His baptism empowering Him to do good (Matthew 3:16; Acts 10:38), raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4, 8:11). The apostles were baptized in Him to christen the arrival of the last days and the birth of the church (Acts 2:1ff). He is the One who inspires the writing of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2;6-13; 2 Timothy 3:16). We believe He is received as a gift at baptism, raising the saved to walk in newness of life, and continues to dwell within the child of God (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4 & 8:9-16; Galatians 5:16-26). Christians should live by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh and being filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We believe the Bible (also called Scripture) is inspired by God (literally, God-breathed; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It is not the word of men, but the Word of God (which is only like the difference between night and day—1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-19). “The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God is everlasting (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23, 25). The Bible is the bread of our souls (Matthew 4:4). The message of God’s Word saves the soul (James 1:21ff; 2 Timothy 4:16). Faith can only be found through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
We believe all men who have sinned need saving (Matthew 1:21) and this includes all men and women (Romans 3:23). We do not believe we are born sinful or that we inherit sin from our fathers and forefathers (Ezekiel 18:2ff). This doctrine, common in the religious world, since it teaches we are held accountable because of someone else’s sin is an affront to God’s righteous, just, and fair character. We believe Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, as the Scriptures teach (Romans 5:12) and that all men and women (at some point in their lives) will of their own will and volition choose to sin (like Adam and Eve).
Sinners need saving because they are dead (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1). Sin is dangerous and deadly and separates us from God (Isaiah 59:3; John 8:23-24). We believe Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 17:10) and that He gave His life as a ransom because of our sin (Mark 10:45). Jesus came and took our place, bore our sin, and died our death (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53; 1 Peter 2:21-25). This is a gift from God and an act of His grace (Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-8; 7:21-8:8; Ephesians 2:4-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-7 Hebrews 2:9).
Salvation is only possible because of what God and Jesus have done and this is what the Bible calls grace. This was an act of love (1 John 4:7-14) and an act of His kind intention of His Will (Ephesians 1:3-5, 9). We could never merit or earn or deserve all that God has done. It is His grace (His good favor) that saves us. But this does not mean there is nothing for us to do to receive that grace.
In Acts 2:37, the first one who heard this gospel of grace asked, “Brethren, what shall we do?” The answer was not, “Nothing, God has done it all.” The Bible says you must hear the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17; John 5:24). Of course, this hearing must lead to faith (John 3:16; Acts 16:30-31). But it does not stop there, there is more to do.
Remember the believing ones up above in Acts 2:37? I told what the Holy Spirit didn’t tell them, but what did He tell them, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
Repentance and baptism are also necessary steps everyone must take to be saved. Only the name of Jesus saves. Only the blood of Jesus saves. Therefore, Acts 22:16 recounts Ananias’ words to Paul, “Now, why do you delay? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”
We cannot be saved without the death of Jesus and Romans 6:3 teaches that we are “baptized into Christ and into His death.” In Romans 6:4 it is only when a person is raised from the water of baptism that the begin to “walk in newness of life.” Baptism is what Jesus meant in John 3:3-5 when he talked to Nicodemus about being born again. Following baptism a person must live “faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:7-8).
We believe in the worldwide (universal) Church, made up of all those who trust in Christ throughout every age, together as the Body of Christ. In the same way, we believe in local churches which are made up of believers who regularly meet together in different areas to worship, hear the Word of God, fellowship, witness, take communion and pray, amongst other activities. Every Christian should be a member of a local church. Matthew 16:18 Ephesians 3:10
The Bible teaches, again in Acts 2:41, 47 that everyone who was baptized and saved was then added by God to His church. We are baptized into His body, the church (1 Corinthians 12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18-19). The church is the administration of the Gospel message and designed to make know the “manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:9-10). Christ died for the church (Acts 20:28) and as His body, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all”, no one can have Christ without also having His church.
ANGELS AND DEMONS
We believe God created many angels. These angels were created without sin, but Lucifer intentionally sinned and was then called Satan. Some of the angels (1/3) followed him to become fallen angels. Satan rules in this sinful world; however, he does not have power over God, or us. He endeavors to destroy God’s plan and man’s life by influencing and tempting us to make bad decisions or to sin against God. Isaiah 14:12, Psalm 104:4
MAN
We believe that the first couple was created sinless, but they intentionally sinned, causing all humans to fall under the power of sin. For this reason, it is necessary for every person to receive salvation through the sacrifice made for us by Jesus Christ. Without salvation, a person will receive the penalty of eternal destruction in hell. Romans 3:23, Genesis 1:26-27
REDEMPTION OF MAN
Man is a created being and was made in the likeness and image of God (both male and female). But, through Adam’ s transgression and fall, sin came into the world and passed upon all men. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. We believe that a person can only be saved when he or she trusts in Jesus Christ and His salvation from sin. Salvation is given by the grace of God and not because of one’s own works. True confession, faith and trust in Christ will lead to repentance from sin. At the point of salvation, an individual becomes a new creation in Christ and is gradually transformed to become more like Him. Salvation is the free gift of God to man. It is not earned by just doing good deeds and obeying God’s Law. It is made operative by God’s grace and given to us through our faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation experience occurs when an individual confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God has raised Him from the dead. Romans 5:12-21 Romans 10:9-10 John 3:16-17, I John 3:8
SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in trying to live our lives, in every way, to be more like Christ, as an ongoing process and commitment. However, the Doctrine of Sanctification is a definite, yet progressive work of God’s grace, that commences at the time of regeneration and continues until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return. I Thessalonians 5:23 II Corinthians 3:18 Philippians 3:12-14 I Corinthians 1:30
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
Anyone who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God. We believe that every person will rise from the dead on the final day. Believers will live with God in heaven and will be eternally blessed. Those who do not believe will be judged and receive eternal punishment in hell. Hebrews 9:27 Matthew 25:31-46 Mark 9:43-48 Mark 16:15-16
STATEMENT OF FAITH:
– The Holy Scriptures as originally given by God are divinely inspired, infallible, entirely authentic, and constitute the only supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
– There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
– Our Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh; we affirm his virgin birth, sinless humanity, divine miracles, vicarious and atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, ongoing mediation work, and personal return in power and glory.
– The salvation of lost and sinful humanity is possible only through the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, received by faith apart from works, and is characterized by regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
– The Holy Spirit enables believers to live a holy life, to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
– The Church, the body of Christ, consists of all true believers.
– Finally God will judge the living and the dead, those who are saved unto the resurrection of life, those who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
