Who We Are - Our Beliefs

God has given us LIFE in His WORD

Living Word views God's Word as more than just a rulebook for life: it is also the source of life. We plainly state our fundamental beliefs in the interest of Christian unity for the work of His Kingdom: winning souls for Jesus Christ.

 
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We believe in the life-creating God & His life-giving Word

  1. We stand on the Living Word of God. We believe God speaks and acts through His inerrant life-giving Word. We believe the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, true, authoritative, and sufficient. (Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

  2. We believe in the one true God. There is only one God, the Creator of the world: the Yahweh of the Bible. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5)

  3. We believe in the Trinity. There are not three Gods but One Triune God. (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:14-6)

  4. We recognize the reality of sin and death. Every human being is by nature and action a sinner. As a result of the fall of mankind into sin, the penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual. (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:19; 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 2:12-16; 3:23; 5:8; 5:12; 6:23; 7:18; 12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:14-15)

 
 

We Believe in the Person & Work of Jesus Christ

  1. We believe Jesus was both God and man. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin and is both fully God and fully human. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3)

  2. We look to Christ’s death as necessary for salvation. Jesus Christ died as my substitute to pay the penalty for my sin. (John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18)

  3. We believe in the resurrection and return of Christ. Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead to conquer death on my behalf. Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return. (Matthew 28:1-20: Mark 16:1-8: Luke 24:1-53: John 1:20-21; 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7)

  4. We anticipate eternity with Christ. When Christ returns there will be a physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15 )

 
 

We Seek God’s Grace & Personal Salvation

  1. We see salvation as Christ’s work, not ours. It is only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, that are we reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins. (John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

  2. We emphasize personally confessing our faith in Christ. The Good News of salvation through means of God’s Word must be met with a response of faith. (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9; John 6:28-29)

  3. We emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Those in Christ Jesus are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit who calls, convicts, guides, comforts, and equips them for service. (John 16:7-9; Romans 8:9-15; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1:14; 3:16-17; John 14:6-7)

  4. We seek personal renewal and holiness. Those in Christ Jesus are at peace with God and are called to live holy and blameless lives, being set apart from the world. (Philippians 4:7; Romans 6 and 12; James 1:22-27)

 
 

We wORK through the Local Church

  1. We value the local church as the right form for God’s work. We believe the local congregation is the form God has chosen for His people to walk, grow, and serve as a church.(Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-14; Romans 12:4-5; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 2:9)

  2. We engage in Gospel mission and witness. Those in Christ Jesus are called and empowered to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins to all the world. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

  3. We believe that there are We remember our Lord’s sacrifice for our redemption as stated in the Word of God, and the Lord’s Supper. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:18; 6:1-11; Acts 2:37-41; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34)

  4. We value faithful and honest articulations of the Christian faith. We believe the three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian), Augsburg Confession, and Luther’s Small Catechism are accurate summaries and right articulations of the doctrines taught within Scripture.