Statement of faith

The Scripture

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and was written without error in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and life in every age.

  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • Luke 24:27, 44
  • 2 Peter 1:21

God

There is but one God, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each of whom possesses all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.

  • Genesis 1:26
  • 1 John 5:7
  • John 5:22-23, 26-27

Man

God created man in His own image, and man as he was originally created, was innocent before God. But man chose to sin by disobeying God, and therefore was alienated from his Creator and came under divine condemnation. Thus, all human beings are born with a corrupted nature and without spiritual life, and are totally incapable of pleasing God in and of themselves.

  • Romans 3:10-12, 20-23
  • Jeremiah 17:9
  • Ecclesiastes 12:14

Jesus Christ

God the Father, by His own choice and out of love for sinful men and women, sent Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile sinners to Himself. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was God in the flesh, both true God and true man. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and voluntarily suffered and died as our substitute to pay the penalty for our sins, thus satisfying God’s justice and accomplishing salvation for all those who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He bodily ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, makes intercession for His own. He will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily to judge all men and establish His kingdom.

  • Luke 2:26-27, 30-31
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
  • Hebrews 1:2-3

Salvation

Men and women are freed from the penalty for their sins not as a result, in whole or in part, of their own works, goodness, or religious ceremony, but by the undeserved favor of God alone. God declares righteous all who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation.

  • Romans 3:24-25
  • Ephesians 2:8-9
  • 1 John 1:9

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict men and women of their sins, and to impart new life to all who place their faith in Christ. He indwells believers from the moment of spiritual birth, seals them until the day of redemption, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.

  • Luke 12:12
  • Mark 1:8
  • Acts 1:8

Assurance

All who are born again of the Spirit can, through the sure promises of God, be fully assured of eternal life from the very moment they put their faith in Christ. This assur­ance is not based upon any kind of human merit but upon the finished work of Christ, who com­pletely paid for their sins and upon the indwell­ing of the Holy Spirit, who is the deposit guaran­teeing their inheri­tance.

  • John 10:14
  • Romans 10:9, 13
  • Romans 6:23

The Resurrection of the Dead

At physical death, the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting glory, and blessing. At physical death, the unbeliever enters into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting suffering, judgment, and condemnation.

  • Acts 4:33
  • 1 Corinthians 6:14
  • 2 Corinthians 4:14

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Jesus Christ has instructed those who believe in Him to be baptized in water as a symbol of their new birth in Christ. Baptism is only for those who have personally believed in Christ. Our practice is to baptize by immersion. The Lord also instituted the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of His suffering, death, and resurrection. Neither baptism nor the Lord’s Supper has any merit in helping a person obtain eternal life.

  • Mark 1:4
  • Acts 22:16
  • 1 Corinthians 11:26

The Church

All true believers make up the church worldwide and should assemble together in local churches for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching, in order to become conformed to the image of Christ and to become equipped to carry out the ‘Great Commission’ that Christ gave His followers in Matthew 28:19-20.

  • Romans 12:4-5
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of South LA Christian Life’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, our elders are the South LA Christian Life’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.