Our Beliefs

Introduction

The following simply summarises our fundamental beliefs as a church family. We believe the Bible and teach it to be perfectly true. Every belief and teaching at Lighthouse Baptist Church flows from the Word of God.

Concerning the Scriptures

We believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God, fully and verbally inspired of God. We believe the Scriptures to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God, contained within the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. We further believe that God has promised to preserve His word forever, and that the King James Version is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people and the only acceptable translation for use in this church. God's Word is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice. (Psalm 12:6–7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 4:1)

Concerning God

We believe in one God. He is eternal, self-existent, infinite, and immutable. We believe He has one nature and one essence, yet manifests Himself to man in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17 1 Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:7)

Concerning Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Saviour of mankind. We believe Jesus Christ to be eternally God and to possess all the attributes of Deity. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin-born, that He was God incarnate, and that the purposes of the incarnation were to reveal God and to redeem men. In His incarnation, we believe Jesus Christ never relinquished any attributes of His Deity, but, in an act of humility, He veiled them. We believe He lived a perfect, sinless life, at the end of which He was offered for all mankind as a substitutionary sacrifice for man's sin. We believe that three days following His death, He rose under His own power from the grave. We believe He ascended into Heaven after His resurrection, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

(Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:18; 1:25; John 1:1, 1:3, Romans 5:6-15; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16; Hebrews 7:26, 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:19-21)

Concerning the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a Person who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind; however, we believe He has a special ministry that began at Pentecost and will continue until the Rapture. This ministry includes reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit was also sent to regenerate, sanctify, seal, and indwell all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. We believe Christians are commanded to allow Him to fill their lives and control their conduct. (Genesis 1:2; John 3:5-6; John 14:16; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; 5:18)

Concerning Man, Sin, & Salvation

We believe that man was created in the image of God and by choice fell into sin and death. This happened through our common ancestor, Adam, from which all men are born with an inherited sin nature. We believe that because of his nature, man is a sinner by choice, and he is totally incapable of reforming himself or ceasing from his sin by his own power. We believe the only hope of deliverance for man is repentance - a total change of mind concerning his sinful condition and inability to change it, and a turning to Jesus Christ by faith as the only Saviour. We believe that only through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross can a man be delivered from his sin. We believe in the eternal security of the believer; once an individual has trusted Christ, they cannot lose their salvation. We believe that all those who reject Jesus Christ as their Saviour are condemned to an eternity in the lake of fire. (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1-5; John 10:28; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:6-12; Romans 6:23;

Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-9; 4:30; Titus 3:5-6; Revelation 20:11-14)

Concerning the NT Church

We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptised according to the command of Christ, and have voluntarily united together for the purposes of worship, fellowship, service, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and communion. We believe God has placed the offices of the pastor and deacon for the spiritual leadership and oversight of the local church. We believe God gifts different believers in different ways as different members of the body of Christ so that together, they might effectively reach the world with the Gospel. We believe all true believers will be taken up at the Rapture, just prior to the tribulation.

(Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 1:15, 2:41-43, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:12:-26; 15:51-58; Ephesians 5:25-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Timothy 3:4-15)

Concerning End Times

We believe in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures in their grammatical and historical context. Therefore, we believe in the pre-tribulational rapture of the church saints, followed by the seven-year tribulation. We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth and His literal rule of 1,000 years. Following this one-thousand-year reign is the Great White Throne judgment and then the new heaven and new earth. (Daniel 9:27-30; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; Revelation 19-22)

Concerning Worldwide Evangelism (Missions)

We believe that God has commanded His church to carry the Gospel to all parts of the world. Because this is physically impossible for every individual, we believe the church is responsible to send missionaries unto the uttermost parts of the earth through prayer and financial support. This should be done while the church tenaciously proclaims the Gospel in its own locale. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:3-4)

Conclusion

As stated above, these items are a simple summary of our beliefs at Lighthouse Baptist Church. Should you desire a full statement of faith, or if you have a question about something specific, please feel free to email the church at info@lighthousebc.co.nz, and someone will reach out shortly with the requested information.