Lighthouse Community Church

Our Tenets

1) One living God, Eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son & Holy Spirit, in perfact Unity.

(John 1:1,2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30).

2) The Divine inspiration and Authority of the Holy Scriptures.

The Authority of the Scriptures

We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments combined constitute the Holy Scriptures. Nothing may be added nor can anything be deleted. The Holy Scripture is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, that is, without error or failure of basic contents and meaning in the original manuscipts.

The Holy Scripture contains all the necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation. (Ps. 19-7; John 17:7; Romans 15:4; I Thess. 2:13 and II Tim. 3:15-17).

3) Man's inherent sinful and corrupt nature through Adam's fall; the necessity for Repentance and Regeneration by Grace and through Faith alone, and the Eternal Separation from God of the finally Impenitent.

4) The Virgin birth, Sinless life, Atoning death, Triumphant resurrection, Ascension and Abiding intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ; His Second Coming and Millennial Reign upon earth.

5) Justification and Sanctification of the believing through the finished work of Christ, and the resurrection of the believer in an incorruptible body.

6) The sacraments of Baptism by immersion, and of the Lord's Supper.

Sacraments

We believe that God ordained two sacraments: The Lord's Supper and Water Baptism.

The Lord's Supper is received in remembrance of Christ's death for our sin. The bread represents His broken body and the wine His shed blood. It is also a remembrance of God's love and grace towards us, and of the love we must share with one another. (Matt. 26:26,38; Mark 14:22-24; I Cor. 10:16).

Water Baptism is an outward, symbolic act signifying salvation and cleansing from sin. (Num. 8:7; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:36).

The word baptize means to bury in water.

We believe in baptism by immersion at an age of accountability. Our infants are dedicated to the Lord. Baptism is for those who are knowledgeable of sin and the need to repent.

7) The security of the believer as he abides in Christ.

We rejoice in the saving and keeping power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. However, we do recognize the responsibility that is ours to maintain a spiritual walk. We believe that after we have experienced regeneration it is possible to fall into sin. In this life there is no height or strength of holiness from which it is impossible to fall. But by the Grace of God one who has fallen into sin may, by confession and true repentance, find forgiveness and be restored into fellowship with God. (Matt. 18:21,22; I John 1:9; 2:1,24,25).

Let us always remember that our security is in abiding in fellowship with God. He is always willing to keep us but we must be willing to abide.

8) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for Believers with signs following.

Prior to His ascension the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His followers to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit because the power of the Holy Spirit was necessary to be witnesses and to express the life of Christ. (Acts 1:1-8).

Paul also commanded the believers in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the spirit. ("be filled" is a present passive imperative...it is not "have you been filled?" but "be filled now on a continuing basis".) The Word of God would not command us to receive something that has not been freely given and was not available to us. (Acts 19:2-6).

A person who is being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit will manifest the character and ability of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.

9) The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church, which is the body of Christ.

We believe that Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, has given spiritual/natural gifts to believers (severally as He wills).

The purpose of the gifts is to build up the Body of Christ (The Church) thereby bringing glory to God.

The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity. (I Cor. 12:4,11,18,21-25).

10) Church Government by Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Elders and Deacons.

Ascension Gifts

We believe that Jesus gives governmental gifts to the Church (Eph. 4:11-16) to equip and adjust the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.

11) The obligation and privilege of bring Tithes and Offerings to the Lord.

It is our privilege to bring to the Lord our tithes and offerings as an acknowledgement of His Lordship in our lives. (Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Prov. 3:9-10; Mal. 3:10; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7; Heb. 7:1-10).