Living Word Church

What We Believe

-In The Scriptures

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (1Thess 2:13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (2 Pet. 1:21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

-In The Godhead

Our God is one, but manifested in three person, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal and co-eternal. (Phil. 2:6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: God the father is greater than all; the sender of the word and the begetter (John 14:28;) Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 16:28) I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. The son is the word, flesh-covered, the begotten one, and has existed with the father from the beginning (John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal and lives in you. (John 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
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-In Man, His Fall and Redemption

Man is a created being made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Jesus Christ, the son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave his life and shed his blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom 5:12, 17)Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works that is acceptable to God (Eph 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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-In Eternal Life and the New Birth

Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (2 Cor 7:10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. John 3:3 says, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. (2 Cor 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new Creature old things have passed away behold all things become new. (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
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-In Water Baptism

Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct command of our Lord, and is for believers only. The Ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matt 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost. (Rom 6:4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Acts 8:36-39) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, see here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
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-In The Baptism in the Holy Ghost

Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matt 3:11) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (John 14:16-17) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (Acts 1:4-5) 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and begin to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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-In Sanctification

The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. (Heb 12:14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (I Thess 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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-In Divine Healing

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the church today. (Mark 16:18) They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. (I Peter2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose strips ye were healed. (3 John 2) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (Acts 10:38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
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-In The Resurrection of the Just and the Return of the Lord

The angels said to Jesus disciples, This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. His coming is imminent. When he comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. (Acts 1:11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (I Thess 4:16-17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangels, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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-In Hell and Eternal Retribution

The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is eternally and hopelessly lost in the lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms eternal and everlasting, used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God. (Luke 16:22-23) 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Heb 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement. (Rev. 19:20) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet th