What We Believe

We affirm the Holy Bible as the God-breathed word of God (2 timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), and the only basis for our faith and practice. The Church accepts “The Baptist faith and message,” a 1963 affirmation (revised in 2000) of basic Christian beliefs, as a general statement of our faith.

The Bible is God’s word to man. God used men to write this book. These men, though they may have understood little of the whole to which they were contributing, did nevertheless under the mighty hand of God produce a single book in which there is infinite continuity and which manifest evidence of being the work of one writer who alone is the author. The Bible is divinely inspired and the authority of the scriptures. By this is meant a miraculous guidance of the Holy Spirit in their original writing extending to all parts of the scriptures equally, applying even to the choice of words so that the result is the very word of God, the infallible rule of faith and practice.

II Timothy 3:16

There is one, and only one living and true God. An infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme ruler of heaven and earth. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence or being. John 14:16

Jesus Christ, the very God, was divinely conceived in the womb of Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost. He took on Himself a genuine and complete human nature and was born as a man, without giving up in any way His complete Divine nature. Luke 1:34, 35

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God. He fell, through disobedience, which resulted in the total depravity of man. All men are born with a sinful nature and separated from the life of God. Man can only be saved through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:22

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men. Those who repent and believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the grave are born of the Spirit of God, receive the gift of eternal life and become the children of God. For whoever neglects this salvation, there can be no escape from the righteous judgment of God. Acts 4:12, Hebrews 2:3

Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior; the believer’s death to sin; the burial of the old life; and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a Church ordinance, it is a pre-requisite to the privileges of Church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. Romans 6:3-10

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. I Corinthians 11:23-29

The Church is a “called out” body of people “for His name”, a heavenly people, one body separate from all other men of the world as a unique heavenly bride of Christ. The Church was born on the day of the Pentecost; composed only of believers; is distinct from Israel; and it will be complete as believers fulfill their duty by making Christ known. The local Church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship and the proclamation of the Gospel. Acts 2:47, Colossians 1:24

1. The Lord Jesus in His crucified body was literally raised from the dead and walked among men after His resurrection for forty days. He then ascended on High to be with His Father to prepare us our dwelling place and to be our advocate.

2. There shall be a bodily resurrection of every man on the planet earth, just and unjust. It is at this time that Christ returns for His own, that is the Bride of Christ, those who died in Him will be raised first then those who are alive will be caught up with them in the air. But the unjust, those outside the Bride of Christ, will remain in their graves until the setting of the Great White throne of judgment. The just will be raise to righteousness and the unjust to damnation.

I Corinthians 15:52, Daniel 12:2

Marriage is a biblical institution established by God as clearly described in the scriptures. This Church recognizes that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Accordingly, this Church, its pastors, staff and members will not participate in same sex unions or same sex marriages, nor shall its property or resources be used for such purposes.

The bible teaches that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, Love Gave Church opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, fornication, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex.

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in his image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139)