LMI Doctrinal Statement

The Bible

Every word in the original manuscripts of the Bible is inspired of God and is without error (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Matthew 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:17, Romans 3:4, Galatians 3:16). The entire Bible is the basis for the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry in faith and practice (John 16:13-15). We believe the Bible should be interpreted grammatically, contextually, and historically. 

God

God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Though there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) sovereign over the universe (1 Chronicles 29:11-12), in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal and equal Persons (Matthew 28:19)—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence (John 6:27, Hebrews 1:8, Acts 5:3-4).

God the Father

God the Father has the specific role of Father to the nation Israel (Exodus 4:22), to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17), and to all believers in Christ (Galatians 3:26). He is the initiator of the plan for the salvation of mankind (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:3-8) as well as for the Messianic role of Christ (Psalm 2:7-9, Ephesians 1:9-10).

God the Son

The eternal Son of God became a sinless man in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1,3,14, Luke 2:52). He was born supernaturally to the virgin Mary, becoming forever the God-man in order to be the Savior of mankind (1 Timothy 2:5) and to fulfill all the Messianic prophecies of Scripture.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8-11), regenerates sinners (John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5), indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19) and baptizes them into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), seals them until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), and fills for godly living those yielded to God’s purpose (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:1-2, 8:14).

Angels, demons, and Satan

Angels were created by God to be His servants (Jude 6, Hebrews 12:22). However, in eternity past many chose to rebel against God following a leader we know as Satan. Satan and other fallen angels (demons) have been allowed by God to reside on earth until their final judgment (Isaiah 14:12-20, Ephesians 6:11-12, Matthew 13:38-39, Revelation 20:12).

Mankind

Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), but in Adam’s sin all subsequent mankind became tainted with sin (Romans 5:12). The result is that all people are sinners by nature and by practice, eternally condemned apart from the salvation and grace of God (Genesis 3:20-24, Romans 1:18-3:23, 6:23).

Salvation

Salvation from the eternal consequences of Adam’s sin and our own sins comes by the unmerited grace of God and is received by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ died in the place of all sinners and rose again (Matthew 20:28,1 John 2:2, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) to reconcile holy God and sinful mankind (2 Corinthians 5:19), and to redeem mankind from the eternal consequences of the fall (Colossians 1:14, 20-22). However, Christ’s death is only effective for those who believe (John 3:16-18). All true believers are eternally secure in Christ (John 10:28-30, 1 John 5:11-13).

Justification and sanctification

Every believer has been justified before God, having the righteousness of Christ credited to him at salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21). However, sanctification—being freed from sin’s bondage for the work and honor of God—will be fully realized only in heaven itself (1 John 3:1-3, Jude 24). Still it may be progressively realized as the Christian grows spiritually (Romans 8:29, Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 4:13-14, 2 Corinthians 3:18) by submitting to the lordship of Christ (Romans 12:1-2) and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).

The church

The universal church is a spiritual organism composed of all believers in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 4:16). It began at Pentecost (Acts 1:5, 11:15) and will continue being formed until Christ returns to gather the final members at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:3-18).

The local church is an organized group of believers voluntarily joined together to act on Christ’s behalf and so to honor God (Galatians 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Spiritual gifts

The Spirit of God sovereignly gives personal, spiritual gifts for the purpose of enabling members of the Body of Christ to function effectively (1 Peter 4:10-11). Particular sign gifts were given in the apostolic age to authenticate God’s workings in the early church (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Christian responsibility

Christians are responsible to live a life that is under the control of the Holy Spirit so that their honest relationships with others will be an example to believers and a testimony to unbelievers (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10).

Ordinances

The two ordinances to be practiced by the church are believer’s baptism (Matthew 28:18) and communion for all believers (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Final events

The imminent coming of Christ to rapture the living members of the church and to resurrect those dead in Christ (2 Thessalonians 2, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) will immediately precede the seven-year tribulation (Revelation 5-19).

The physical return of Christ to the earth (2 Peter 3:3-10, Revelation 22:7) will end the tribulation period and will usher in Christ’s 1000-year reign over the earth (Revelation 20:1-6). His reign is followed by the final judgment of mankind, Satan, and the fallen angels (Revelation 20:7-15), the creation of a new heavens and new earth, and the ushering in of the eternal joys of heaven for all those who have ever believed in God for salvation (Revelation 21:1-22:5).