| Doctrinal Statement
The teachings of this ministry follow the fundamental truths of Christian orthodoxy outlined in the following statements:
| Inspiration of the Bible
We believe that the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are God-breathed: that by the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, the biblical writers wrote the divine, trustworthy, and authoritative Word of God, the only rule of faith and practice1.
| The Trinity
We believe in the one true God who has revealed Himself as eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; distinguishable yet indivisible2.
| The Incarnation
We believe in the Incarnation: the deity of Jesus of Nazareth – that He is Lord, the Son of the living God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is truly God and truly man3.
| The Human Condition
We believe that mankind was originally created by God in His image, fell into sin through disobedience, marred God’s image, plunged all of creation into depravity, and made it impossible for men and women to save themselves4.
| The Atonement
We believe in the Substitutionary Atonement: that Jesus, the Christ died on the Cross for our sins, obtained eternal redemption for us, was buried, and was raised bodily from the dead on the third day, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, and appeared to His disciples5.
| Jesus’ Exaltation and Return
We believe that Jesus of Nazareth ascended bodily into heaven, was exalted to the right hand of the Father, and that He will literally and physically return the second time for the Church6.
| Salvation
We believe that the personal salvation of the repentant sinner, by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, produces the “Abundant Life”7.
| Baptism
We believe in water baptism by immersion, as an obedient response of the believer to be the command of the Lord8.
We believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father for empowering believers to witness about Christ9.
We believe that speaking in other tongues is an initial manifestation of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit that every believer has a right to expect, and that the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit are to operate in the local church until Jesus returns10.
| Church
We believe in the local church as the primary instrument of God in the earth to disciple men, and to establish the kingdom of God through prayer, fellowship, and the ministry of the Word11.
| Jesus’ Return
We believe that on the “Last Day”: Jesus will return in the “Second Coming,” there will be a resurrection of the dead including the righteous and the wicked, and after judgment the righteous will be rewarded, but the wicked will be punished12.
(This statement of doctrine was developed by Bishop G. A. Thompson for Jubilee Christian Church and is used with his permission).
| Women in Ministry
At Life Church our policy is to fully include women in ministry and in ministry leadership. Here are some resources that help to explain why:
Footnotes
- Matthew 5:18; 24:35 ; 2 Timothy 3:16 ; 2 Peter 1:20-21 ↩︎
- Deuteronomy 6:4 ; Matthew 28:19 ; Luke 3:21-22 ; 2 Corinthians 13:14 ↩︎
- Luke 1:26-35 ; John 1:1, 14, 18 ; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Revelation 1:7-8 ; Revelation 22:12-13, 16 ↩︎
- Genesis 1:27 ; Genesis 3 ; Romans 5:12 ↩︎
- Isaiah 53 ; Luke 24:1-3 ; Acts 1:1-3; 2:22-36 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ; Hebrews 9:12-14 ↩︎
- John 14:2-3 ; Acts 1:9-11 ; Philippians 2:9-11 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 ; Hebrews 9:28 ↩︎
- Isaiah 53:4-5 ; Matthew 8:16-17 ; John 10:10 ; John 19:30 ; Acts17:30-31 ; Romans 5:1-2 ; Ephesians 2:8-9 ; 1 Peter 2:24 ↩︎
- Matthew 28:19 ; Acts 2:38 ; Acts 19:1-5 ↩︎
- Luke 24:49 ; Acts 1:4-8 ; Acts 2:1-4 ↩︎
- Acts 2:4 ; 10:44-46 ; 19:6 ; Romans 12:6-8 ; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 ; Ephesians 4:11 ↩︎
- Matthew 28:19-20 ; Acts 2:42-47 ; Acts 6:4 ; 20:28 ; Ephesians 4:11-16 ; 2 Timothy 2:2 ; Hebrews 10:25 ↩︎
- Daniel 12:2 ; John 5:28-29 ; John 6:39, 40, 44, 54 ; John 11:24 ; Acts 24:15 ; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:11 ; Revelation 20:11-15 ; cf. also Matthew 25:31-46 ↩︎