Lighthouse Church, Church on the Rock International

THE BIBLE We believe the Bible to be the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. We believe it to be divinely inspired in its entirety. We accept the same as the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice. (II Timothy 2:15; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21)

GOD We believe there is one God, externally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are never identical as to Person, nor confused as to relation, nor divided in respect to the Godhead, nor opposed as to cooperation.

1. We believe THE FATHER is revealed in the New Testament in a two-fold way: a. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This relationship has always existed. (John 17:5; Hebrews 1:5-12) b. He is Father of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 1:12; John 3:3-7; Galatians 3:26)

2. We believe in the Deity of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious suffering and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.

3. We believe the HOLY SPIRIT is the third person of the Godhead, coexistent with the Father and the Son.

THE FALL OF MAN We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by practice. Man was created by God as good and upright, but by voluntary transgression, he fell from acceptance and right standing with God. His only hope of salvation from sin is being born again. SALVATION

We believe that when man experiences salvation, he is "born again" and "old things pass away."

1. Conditions of salvation: a. Repentance of sin and turning from sin. b. Faith in Christ's atoning death and resurrection as basis for our forgiveness and acceptance with God.

2. Evidence of salvation: a. The inward evidence to the believer is the direct witness of the Spirit. (Romans 8:16) b. The outward evidence to all men is a life of holiness and righteousness and a new love for the Lord.

WATER BAPTISM The ordinance of baptism by burial with Christ should be observed by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4; Acts 20:21; Hebrews 10:22)

THE LORD'S SUPPER The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruits of the vine, is a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ; a memorial of His suffering and death; and a prophecy of His second coming. It is the privilege of all believers "until He comes." (I Peter 1:4; I Corinthians 11:26)

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The consummation of the baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is indicated by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 15:7-9)

SANCTIFICATION By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey the command, "Be ye holy for I am holy." Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word. (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15, 16; I Thessalonians 5:23, 24; I John 2:6)

DIVINE HEALING Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. We believe that physical healing was provided for in Christ's atoning death and is the privilege of all believers today. Praying for the sick was enjoined in the Great Commission and it is the duty of the Church to practice the same. (Hebrews 13:18; Mark 16:18; James 5:17; Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16, 17)

THE CHURCH We believe that the body of Christ is composed of all born again believers everywhere without respect to race or denomination. We believe that the local church is comprised of born again believers in a given community who come together for mutual worship, instruction, and Christian service. The church's obligation is primarily spiritual, to evangelize, to teach the Word of God, and to edify and discipline its members. (I Timothy 3:15)

THE BLESSED HOPE The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, the rapture of believers which are alive and remain, and the translation of the true Church, this is the blessed hope set before all believers. (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13)

THE IMMINENT COMING AND MILLENIAL REIGN OF JESUS The pre-millennial and imminent coming of the Lord to gather His people unto Himself, and to judge the world in righteousness while reigning on the earth for a thousand years is the expectation of the true Church of Christ. (Revelation 20:4)

THE LAKE OF FIRE The devil and his angels, the Beast and false prophet, and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, the fearful and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars shall be cast into everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 21:8)

THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH We look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. (II Peter 3:13; Revelations 21 and 22)

NOTE: The Bible is our all sufficient rule for faith and practice. Hence the ARTICLES OF FAITH do not contain all Bible truth, but only that which we consider fundamental to the full gospel message.