Foundational
beliefs of Life Outreach Center Church, Ministries.
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.
(II Timothy 3:16; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21)
The Godhead - Our God is one, but manifested in three persons:
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Philippians
2:6). God the Father is greater than all; the sender of the Word
(Logos) and the Begetter (John 1:14, 14:28, 16:28). The Son is
the Word (made flesh), the One Begotten, and had existed with the
Father from the beginning (John 1:1, 14, 18)
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. "All have sinned and come
short of the glory of God." "As it is written, there
is none righteous, no, not one." 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 (Romans
3:10, 3:23, 5:14; 1 John 3:8). 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 acceptable
to God (Ephesians 2:8).
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.
(II Corinthians 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5).
Water Baptism - Baptism in water is by immersion,
is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only.
The ordinance
is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ's death,
burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians
2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The following recommendation regarding the
water baptismal formula is adopted, to wit: "on the confession
of your faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by
authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, Amen."
Baptism In the Holy Ghost - The 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 following
the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence
of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance
(Matthew 3:11; John 14:16; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 19:1-7).
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.
(Hebrews 12:14; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Philippians
3:12-14; I Corinthians 1:30).
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 Jesus Christ, and is the privilege of every member of
the Church today (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15, Matthew 8:17; Isaiah
53:4-5).
Resurrection of the Just and the Return of
Our Lord - The angels said to Jesus' disciples, "This same
Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go in
to heaven." His coming
is imminent. When He comes, "...the dead in Jesus 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..." (Acts
1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following the Tribulation, He shall
return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together
with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign
a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
Hell and Eternal Retribution
- The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ
is hopelessly and eternally
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 (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20).
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