Our Beliefs
Our Statement of Faith
* In the essentials there must be UNITY
* In the non-essentials there can be LIBERTY
* and in all things there must be LOVE
Growing in your journey to Know God means you are also growing in your understanding of God and His ways. At Livingway we seek to establish a foundation of truth that permeates every area of our life.
The Essentials
About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1,26,27,3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Galatians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without error. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person is an imager bearer of God, all of us are marred by disobedience toward God called “sin”. As a result, we are unable to come to God unless God intervenes in our life. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2)
About Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us by grace through faith. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. This salvation is a work of God alone, who draw, convicts, empowers confession, regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, preserves, and will one day glorify, (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:2; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1, 10:9-10)
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
About Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts (I Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 2:4). Every believer has received at least one spiritual gift (I Peter 4:10,11). Spiritual gifts are given to the Church, not for self-edification, but for the building up of the body (I Corinthians 12). No one gift is to be exalted above another. They have been graciously given for the common good (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:8-16). We believe that as God so chooses, He can bestow any spiritual gift. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith (Luke 10:9; Mark 16:18; Jas. 5:14-16; I Peter 2:24), in accord with His own will, for the sick & afflicted; and where there is no healing, God has promised His grace to sustain us (John 15:7; I John 5:14,15; James 5:15; II Corinthians 12:9).