From the time of the Apostles, Christians have laid out doctrine (beliefs) in brief, definitive statements. At Lighthouse, we believe it necessary to set forth in a concise fashion the cornerstone truths of our church as guided by Scripture. Our Statement of Faith summarizes essential Christian beliefs, shows unity in Christ, and guards the church from error. We hold significant agreement with the 1689 London Baptist Confession.
Lighthouse Baptist Church is a gospel-centered, reformed, Baptist church. We seek to glorify and enjoy God in all things, making him known in Hope Mills and the greater Fayetteville NC and throughout the world. We emphasize expository Biblical preaching and teaching, evangelism, discipleship, authentic worship, and biblical (reformed) theology.
You don’t have to agree with every one of these points to be a Christian (see What is the good news (gospel)?), but we strongly believe that these points are true (and opposing viewpoints are false) based on the Bible as our authoritative source.
1. God and the Trinity
We believe in the one true and living God (Dt 6:4, Is 45:5-7, 1 Cor 8:4), in three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19, 2 Cor 13:14), who is invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none, immutable, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, holy, good, loving, merciful, long-suffering and gracious.
2. The Holy Scripture
We believe that Almighty God has revealed all that is necessary to life and salvation in the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture, which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, is infallible and inerrant, and is the final arbiter in all disputes. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men.
3. Election
We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect a great multitude of men and women to eternal life as an act of free and sovereign grace. The election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works or merit (Jn 1:12, Eph 1:7, Eph 2:8-10, 1 Pet 1:18-19).
4. Adam our Representative
We believe that God made our first father Adam holy and upright. He was appointed representative and head of the human race, thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God’s commands.
5. The Fall and Its Effects
We believe that Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring, death, condemnation and a sinful nature.(Gen 2:16-17; 3:1-19; Jn 3:36; Rom 3:23; 6:23; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1-3; 1 Tim 2:13-14; 1 Jn 1:8)
6. Man’s Inability
We believe it is utterly beyond the power of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel, to repent of sin or to trust in Jesus Christ.(Ps 14:1-3; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12)
7. Christ our Representative
We believe that God sent His Son into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, unchangeably sinless, both God and man, born under the law, to live a perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His elect people.
8. Particular Redemption
We believe that God’s Son died at Calvary to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption and atonement for His elect people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son’s work by raising Him bodily from the dead.
9. The Ascension of Jesus Christ
We believe that God’s Son ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory, where He intercedes on behalf of His people and rules over all things for their sake.
10. Irresistible Grace
We believe that God the Son has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of God regenerates elect sinners and draws them irresistibly to faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour.
11. Justification
We believe the elect, who are called by grace, are justified in the sight of God on account of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is received by faith alone.
12: Sanctification
We believe that genuine regeneration is manifested in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works are the proper evidence and fruit of regeneration (1 Cor 6:19-20; Eph 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Eph 5:17-21; Phil 2:12b; Col 3:16; 2 Pet 1:4-10). This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 3:18)
13. Perseverance
We believe that all who are regenerated, called and justified, shall persevere in holiness and never finally fall away.
14. Evangelism
We believe it is the calling of every Christian and the local church to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus Christ has commanded us and of the local church to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
15. The Church
We believe that the local church is under the authority of Jesus Christ alone. (Matt 18:15-17, 1 Cor 6:1-3) Nevertheless, He has appointed men to be elders (under-shepherds) to represent Him as they care for His body. Deacons also serve Jesus Christ as His ministers of mercy (1 Tim 3:1-13). Furthermore, the communion of the saints requires the recognition of and fellowship with other local evangelical churches.
1689 London Baptist Confession
We hold closely to the doctrines outlined in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, with exception to certain paragraphs (22.7b-8, 26.4b).