STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
Living Springs Community Church embraces the following statements concerning the truth. The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, I Cor. 1:10; Acts 2:42). No claim is made that it contains all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines. We do not presume to say the phraseology employed in this Statement of Fundamental Truths is inspired or that it is the final work on Bible truth. However, we are persuaded it is proper and consistent with the Holy Scriptures to “set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most assuredly believed among us” (Luke 1:1).
Section 1. Scriptures.
We believe the Scriptures, Old and New Testament, are the Word of God, fully inspired by God without error in the original manuscripts. They are sole and final authority on all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).
Section 2. God.
We believe there is only one and true living God. He is infinite, personal and Spirit. He has revealed Himself as One God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; these being distinguishable, yet indivisible. He is the creator, preserver, and ruler of all things and as such deserves our worship, love and obedience. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:3,15; Matt. 28:18-19; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17)
Section 3. Jesus Christ.
We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His incarnation, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His substitutionary atoning death on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension into heaven, and in His personal, imminent, and visible return to earth. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; John 1:1-18; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20;3:11 ; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; Rev. 1:13-16)
Section 4. Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came forth from God the Father to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe He (the Spirit) brings conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement. We believe every believer is indwelt (baptized) by the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion, placing them into the body of Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit submitting the use of such gifts to the order outlined in the New Testament. (John 4:24; 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26,27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 12; 14; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
Section 5. Man.
We believe that mankind was created by a direct and immediate act of God. We believe man was made in the image and likeness of God. Through an act of transgression and sin by the first man, Adam, sin entered into the human race creating a state of total spiritual depravity and death in which all mankind is now a slave to sin and death. As such, we believe that man has no ability through his own efforts or merit to attain righteousness and acceptability before his holy creator God. (Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5-7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Ps.8:3-6; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22)
Section 6. Salvation.
We believe all people are sinners by nature and by choice and, therefore, are under the judgement of a Holy God. Because of the substitutionary atoning work of Christ on the cross, we believe no man can receive forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life without repenting from his sins, and by faith receiving Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord of his life. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and the commitment of the entire person to Him as Lord and Savior. (Gen. 3:15; Matt. 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 2:38; 4:12; 20:21 Romans 3:23; 5; 6:23; 10:9-10,13; 2 Cor. 5:17-21)
Section 7. Heaven and Hell.
We believe that it is appointed for man to die once and then comes judgement. We believe that for those individuals who have trusted Christ for salvation, their eternal prospect will be to dwell forever with their Savior and God in a place of life and joy called heaven. For those who deny Christ before their physical death, they will die in their sin and therefore be consigned to a place of eternal torment and punishment called hell. There will never be an opportunity for such individuals to escape the eternal wrath of God having rejected His grace through Christ in this life. (Matt. 8:12; 10:28; 18:8; Luke 16:24-26; John 3:18; John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 1:8,9; Heb. 11:10-16; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Rev. 21; 22:4)
Section 8. The Return of Christ.
We believe in the personal, visible, and imminent return of Christ to this earth to receive His bride, the Church, to Himself. We believe in the physical establishment of Christ's Kingdom on earth to be followed by the Great White Throne Judgment; wherefore, the righteous will enjoy eternal blessing and life, and the unrighteous will experience eternal judgment and death. (Matt.24:30; Mark 13:26; John 14:1-4; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Peter 3:3-10; Rev. 20:1-10; 21)
Section 9. Eternal Security.
We believe that all true believers, those who have genuinely accepted Christ, been redeemed by His blood, and sealed by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace. Believers may fall into sin, grieve the Spirit, and grow cold towards the things of God, yet they shall be kept by the power of God, through faith, and God will perfect the work which He began in them until the day of Christ Jesus. (John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:28-39; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 9:22-28; 10:10-18; 1 Peter 1:2-5; 2:4-10)
Section 10. The Church.
We believe that the Church is the living spiritual body of Christ, of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons from all ages are members. We believe the Church is known visibly through local assemblies of believers. These believers are in covenant with Christ and one another in which they observe the two ordinances of Christ, commit to Christ's teachings, and exercise their spiritual gifts to build one another up in love. They seek to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. We also believe in the autonomy and individuality of each local church. We believe each local church is governed by a plurality of elders who themselves are given leadership and vision by the Senior Pastor. We believe all leadership of the church is to serve God's people in love and integrity knowing that it is to Jesus Christ Himself that they will give an account. (Matt. 16:15-19; Acts 2:41-47; Eph. 1:22,23; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 1 22-23; 2:19-22; 4:1-16; 1 Tim.3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-3)
Section 11. Water Baptism.
We believe that water baptism is one of the two ordinances Christ commanded the New Testament believer to obey. We believe that water baptism is to be performed only upon a person's repentance from sin and their personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We believe the mode of baptism to be that of immersion. We believe that water baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.(Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:9-13)
Section 12. The Lord's Supper.
We believe the Lord's Supper is the second of the two ordinances Christ commanded the New Testament believer to obey. We believe it is to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and is to be observed by the gathered church until Christ's return. We believe the practice of the Lord's Supper is foremost an act of remembrance which commemorates the death of Christ on the cross in behalf of His church. We believe that through personal examination of each saint before the taking of the elements that the Lord's Supper preserves the unity, purity, and commitment of the body before the Lord and brings about a renewal of her pledge to serve Him wholly and completely. For those who judge themselves wrongly or partake in an unworthy fashion, we believe that Christ will release discipline upon that believer in order to bring that believer back to Himself. (Matt. 26:26-30; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:23-29)
Section 13. Church Discipline.
We believe in church discipline administered within the Church in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality. The purpose of such discipline is the restoration of the one subject to such discipline and/or the purification of the Church. The steps of discipline are one on one private confrontation, private confrontation and witnesses, and finally judgment leading to restoration or separation. (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1; Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-11; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; 1 Timothy 5:20)
Section 14. Civic Responsibility.
We believe as members of the same body of Christ, baptized by one Spirit into one body that we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We believe this fulfills a responsibility to maintain a proper witness before the community in which we live. This witness not only includes the domestic relationships that exist within our community but also the legal and governmental aspects of our community as well. Therefore, we discourage bringing a lawsuit in a civil court against another believer in the Church, the Church itself, another believer outside our Church body, or any Christian ministry. We believe that all such disputes must be and can be resolved within the Body of Christ without taking them before unbelievers for judgment. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:3-6)
Living Springs Community Church Incorporated is organized and operates exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
