We are an assembly of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a
fellowship that is autonomous, evangelical and charismatic, affiliated
with Reconciliation Ministries.
We view ourselves as called of God to share in mutual Christian
care and practical cooperation in carrying out the Great Commission
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We affirm our commitment to both local
church autonomy and inter-church cooperation as biblical norms for
our life and ministry. We also affirm our call to work in the spirit
of love and unity with all true believers in our common ministry
within the Kingdom of God.
THE BIBLE. We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old
and New Testaments, to be the only infallible, authoritative written
word of God. (Jer.30:2; Heb. 2:2; Rom. 4:23-25; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21.)
GOD.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons:
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; Ex. 20:1-5; Deut.
6:4; Isaiah 63:9-10; Matt. 3:16, 17; 28:9; Luke 3:22; John 17:3; Gal.
4:4-6).
JESUS
CHRIST. We believe in the deity of Christ (Matt.
1:23; John 1:1-3), in his virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:35), in
his sinless life (II Cor. 5:21; 1Pet. 1:19; 1 John 3:5), in his miracles
(Mark 1:23-26; Luke 5:1-11; John 2:1-11; John 4:46-54), in his vicarious
and atoning death through his shed blood (John 3:14-17; Heb 10:10-20),
in his bodily resurrection ( Matt 28:1-6; 1 Cor 15:3-8), in his ascension
to the right hand of the Father (John 20:17; Acts 1:9), and in his personal
return in power and glory (Matt 24:27-31; Luke 21:27-36) to judge the
living and the dead (John 5:28-29; Acts 24: 14-15).
MAN.
We believe that all are born with a nature to sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12,
7:14-17; 1 John 1:10) and must be “born again” to enter the Kingdom
of Heaven (Matt 19:25-26; John 3:3-8; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Pet 1:23).
SALVATION.
We believe that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for
sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which
results in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by
grace of our Lord and not of works. Works are excluded except as FRUIT
of salvation (Acts 3:19, 20, Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-10).
LOCAL
CHURCH. We believe the Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ is a Body of believers who have been baptized in the Name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; who are under recognized, delegated
authorities; and who assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission,
and minister as the Holy Ghost leads. We believe the local church promotes
regular fellowship with other believers and a commitment to a local
church with regular participation in its activities is important for
personal spiritual growth (Matt 16:18; Matt 28:19, 20; John 17:11, 21:12;
Acts 2:40-47; 20:28; Rom 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16, 5:22-32, I Timothy
3:15; Heb 10:25).
ORDINANCES.
We believe
that the two ordinances of the Church are Water Baptism and
the Lord's Supper.
WATER
BAPTISM: Immersion in water in the Name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:15, 16, Matthew 28:19, 20, Acts 8:38,
Romans 6:1-4). A symbol of identification with Jesus Christ in His death,
burial, and resurrection.
LORD'S
SUPPER: A memorial of the death, resurrection, and
Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 22:13-20).
HEAVEN
AND HELL. We believe the Scriptures clearly set
forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal bliss
and service for the saved -- Hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the
saved (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46, Luke 16:19-31, John 14:1-3, Revelation
20:11-15).
HOLY
SPIRIT. We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third
person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict
men of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into
ALL truth, indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they
may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations
of the Holy Spirit recorded in I Corinthians 12:8-11 shall operate in
the present day churches which yield to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke
11:13, John 7:37-39, John 14:16, 17, John 16:7-14, Acts 2:39-48).
We believe that
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other
tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, is for all believers as promised
by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11) and Jesus (Acts 1:4, 5, 8) and Peter
(Acts 2:38-41), was witnessed by the early disciples of Christ (Acts
2:4, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 19:1-6), and is evidenced by many present-day
disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
DIVINE
HEALING. We believe that God has used doctors, medicines,
and other material means for healing; but divine healing was also provided
for in the Atonement (Isaiah 53:5) and may be appropriated by laying
on of hands by elders (James 5:14-16), laying on of hands by the believers
(Mark 16:18), by the prayer of an anointed person gifted for healing
the sick (I Corinthians 12:9), or by a direct act of receiving this
provision by faith (Mark 11:23).
PRIESTHOOD
OF BELIEVERS. We believe that each believer is a
priest of the Lord (Revelation 1:6) and has direct access to the Father
through the Lord Jesus Christ. Each person must believe for himself,
be baptized for himself, obey for himself, and answer to his Creator
for himself.
GOVERNMENT
OF THE CHURCH. We believe that the New Testament
Church should be apostolic in nature and is governed by delegated authorities.
These authorities at LIBERTY CHURCH, INCORPORATED are set forth in Article
IV of this charter.
