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Bible… We believe the Scriptures of the Authorized King James Bible are inerrant, infallible, preserved and God-given; therefore, they are the final authority for faith and life. It is the only English version accepted and used at Lighthouse Baptist Church. (II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 3:16-17).

 

The True God… We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ… We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  He became man without ceasing to be God and was born of a virgin in order to reveal God and redeem mankind.  We believe He accomplished our redemption through the blood sacrifice of Himself with the death on the cross.  We believe He was buried in a tomb and arose from the grave three days later conquering sin, death, and hell for mankind.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest and is our Representative, Redeemer, Intercessor, Savior and Advocate.

 

The Holy Spirit…We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person that convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and that He does that supernatural work of regeneration and sealing us unto the day of redemption.  We believe that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer.  God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry.  We also believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, and the gift of healing, were temporary and are no longer used today.  These sign gifts were used to reveal God’s Word and we have the full and complete revelation of the Word of God today.

 

Mankind… We believe that man is sinful by nature due to Adam’s fall during the beginning of Creation.  We also believe that man is utterly unable to redeem his lost condition outside the receiving Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.

 

Salvation… We believe that salvation is the gift of God, through the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.  It is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which we receive the forgiveness of sins – plus nothing and minus nothing.  We believe that all who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are kept by God’s power and are thus eternally secure in Christ and have no way of falling out of God’s family.  However, we do not believe that this gives us liberty to sin as we please. (Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:16, I John 5:13).

 

The Church… We believe that Jesus Christ started/established (in the gospels) the local New Testament church, with Himself as the Head of the church and His 12 disciples as members of the body.  We believe the Lord adds members to a church as they are saved. The role of the church is to proclaim the gospel and establish other independent/local churches.  We also believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority or control.  We believe that the church is to be pastor-led (overseer), as the under-shepherd, under the direction and accountability of the Lord Jesus Christ and not a committee, deacon, denomination, or church-board. (Acts 2:47, I Peter 5:1-4)

 

The End Times… We believe in the personal, imminent return of Jesus Christ.  We believe in a pre-tribulational rapture and a pre-millenial return of Christ in which He will set up His earthly Messianic Kingdom promised to the nation of Israel. (Matt 24:42-44, Luke 21:34-36, Romans 5:8-9, Rev 3:10)

 

Baptist Distinctives… We believe and uphold as follows:

 B       Bible Only Rule of Faith and Practice              

 A       Autonomy of the Independent Local Church 

 P       Priesthood of the Believer   

 T       Two Ordinances (Baptism by Immersion & the Lord’s Supper) 

 I        Individual Soul Liberty

 S       Saved, Baptized, and Church Membership

 T       Two Offices of the Church (Pastor and Deacons)

 S       Separation  (Church & State, Personal, and Ecclesiastical)