Our Beliefs

We believe that God has spoken in the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, through the divinely inspired words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
[ 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Matt. 24:35]

We believe in one God who exists as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They have always been together and always will be—never separate, never beginning or ending. Each one is fully God, equal in power and perfection, with none greater or lesser than the others.
[1 John 5:7]

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures reveal his virgin birth, his sinless life, his miracles, his substitutionary work on the cross, his bodily resurrection, and his exaltation to the right hand of God.
[Matt. 1:23, Heb. 7:26, Acts 2:22, 1 Cor. 15:3, Matt. 28:6, Acts 1:9]

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image; however, through voluntary disobedience they fell from perfection. Through Adam, all people have inherited sin's nature and consequences. Only through God's saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
[Gen. 1:27, Rom. 5:12, Rom. 5:19]

We believe that Christ died for all of us while we were still sinners; taking the full punishment for our sin. With His own blood, He purchased salvation and redemption for all who believe in Him.
[John 3:16, Isa. 53:5; Titus 2:14]

We believe that salvation is entirely an act of God's grace that is accessed through faith in Jesus Christ alone. No person can be good enough to earn salvation, and our "goodness" does not contribute to receiving God's love and favor.
[Eph. 2:8, 13]

We believe that, upon sincere repentance and wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross.
Repent - to both be remorseful for sins, and also to turn away from a sinful lifestyle.
Accepting Christ - believing in Him as the only Savior.
Justified - being declared 'not guilty' in regard to sin.
[Rom. 10:9-10, 1 John 1:9]

We believe that a "new birth"–a very real change–takes place in people when they accept Christ as their Savior. As they allow Christ's life to be lived through them they are empowered by the Holy Spirit, leading to new desires, interests, and pursuits.
[John 3:3, 2 Cor. 5:17]

We believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an experience that follows salvation. At salvation all believers are baptized into the Holy Spirit, and have God's Spirit placed within them. However, being baptized with the Holy Spirit empowers them to exalt Jesus, live lives of holiness, and be witnesses of God's saving grace. We believe that those who experience Holy Spirit baptism today will experience it in the same manner that believers experienced it in the early church; in other words, we believe that they will speak in other tongues–languages not known to them.
[Acts 1:5, Acts 1:8,  Acts 2:4]

We believe that born-again believers should be people who pray and allow the Holy Spirit to shape their values and behaviors every day. Their lives should exemplify live, honesty, and sincerity.
[Eph. 4:30-32

We believe that the Holy Spirit gives ministry gifts to believers. In other words, the Holy Spirit gives people special abilities for ministry. These gifts will build up groups of believers and help them mature in Christian faith. In addition, believers lives should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. 
[1 Cor. 12:1-2, Rom. 12:6-8, Gal. 5:22-25]

We believe Christ’s healing ministry continues today through His people. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever, still heals the sick and afflicted in response to believing prayer. Healing for body, soul, and spirit is both a "paid-in-full" grace freely received by every believer and a gift we are called to freely extend to others.
[Matt. 8:16-17, Mark 16:17-18, James 5:14-16]

We believe that people who have been born again grow in sanctification–the separating of themselves from the value system of the world and embracing and living according to the values of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. As they do so, they increase in holiness, faith, power, prayer, love, and service.
[2 Cor. 7:1, Heb. 6:1]

We believe Christians should live with clear moderation and integrity, avoiding excess and not drawing others into extremes. Their devotion to Christ should be deep and sincere, marked by humility, balance, and self-sacrifice. In all areas of life, they should reflect the grace and character of Christ and be known for their steady, Christ-like witness.
[Phil. 4:5, Col. 3:12-13]

We believe it is essential for all believers to be actively part of a local congregation. Together, we worship, observe the ordinances of the church, encourage and support one another, and labor side by side to advance the Kingdom of God.
[Heb. 10:24-25]

We believe that people who have been born again should be baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as on outward sign of an inward work. Water baptism was embraced by Jesus Christ and confirms that Christ is Lord and King in each believer's life.
[Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4]

We believe in observing the Lord's Supper, or communion, just as Jesus instructed. Born-again believers take the broken bread and the fruit of the vine as a remembrance and celebration of the new life that is theirs because of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection, and look forward to His return as triumphant King. 
[1 Cor. 11:24-26]

We believe that evangelizing and making disciples is the primary responsibility of the church; every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed.
[James 5:20, Mark 16:15]

We believe that tithes (the first 10% of earnings) and offerings (individually determined gifts) are God's instruments to carry on His ministry, spread the gospel, and release personal blessing.
[Mal. 3:10, 1 Cor. 16:1-2]

We believe that God, according to His sovereign design and through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, calls and equips both men and women for ministry in the Church. Scripture affirms that women throughout both the Old and New Testaments served in significant roles of spiritual leadership, teaching, prophecy, and ministry partnership, and that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all believers—sons and daughters alike—equipping the entire body for service. Therefore, we affirm that ministry leadership is determined not by gender but by the calling, gifting, and anointing of the Holy Spirit as recognized by the local church. In Christ, all believers are one and are joyfully released to serve in all levels of ministry in accordance with their Spirit-given gifts for the building up and mission of the Church.
[Ex. 15:20, Acts 1:14, Acts 2:17-18, Rom. 16:1-7, Gal. 3:28, Eph. 4:11-16]

We believe the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent, as certain as His first coming is historically true. Though no one knows the exact time, believers are called to faithfully proclaim the gospel to all nations until He returns. When He comes, the Lord will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will be raised, and believers will be gathered to meet Him in the air.
[Matt. 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thes. 4:16-17]

We believe that everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Born-again believers will be sent to a place of everlasting life, and non-believers will be sent to a place of everlasting punishment.
[Rev. 20:11-12, 2 Cor. 5:10]

We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers.
[John 14:2, Rev. 7:15-17]

We believe hell is a place of darkness, deep sorrow, and unquenchable fire, originally prepared for the devil and his angels. It will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior.
[Matt. 13:41-42, Rev. 20:10, Rev. 20:15, Rev. 10:10-15]

We believe that civil government is established by divine appointment, and civil laws should be upheld at all times except when they are in opposition to the Word of God.
[Rom. 13:1-7]

We pray for our local and national political leaders while recognizing that as citizens of Christ's kingdom, His rule and reign transcend all other partisan ideologies.

Marriage is the original and foundational institution of human society and is a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church. The divine design for sexual expression is within the commitment of marriage between a man and woman.
[Matt. 19:3-8, Eph. 5:21-33]

God created humans in His image as male and female, with biological gender at birth signifying the distinction between the two. We find no biblical basis for separating gender identity, sexual identity, and anatomy.
[Gen. 1:26-28, Gen. 2:4-25, Matt. 19:4, Mark 10:6]

Followers of Jesus are to live in Christ-like righteousness, including pursuing sexual wholeness that is biblically good, godly, pure, and joyful while fleeing the seductive lies and false promises of sexual immorality. Sexual immorality includes acts of adultery, heterosexual activity outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, bestiality, pedophilia, pornography, pansexuality, etc.
[Prov. 5:1-14, 1 Cor. 5:9-20]

Human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect as bearers of God’s image. We aim to demonstrate this in our thoughts, speech, and behavior and oppose any mistreatment of those who identify as LGBTQ. Lakeshore is welcoming but not affirming of actions outside of God’s good and loving plans for us.