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What We teach

THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God–breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21;Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13).

THE TRINITY
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons––Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co–eternal in being, co–eternal in nature, co–equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. (Genesis 1:1,26; Deut. 6:4; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; 2 Cor. 13:14; Ephesians 4:5,6)

JESUS THE GOD/MAN & THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35).

SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH OF CHRIST/BODILY RESURRECTION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3–5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, he fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 7:25,9:24; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2).

HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8–11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor.12:12–14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 5:18)

THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:9-11, 22-23, 5:12, 8:7, 14:23; 2 Cor 4:4-6; Eph. 2:1–5, 12).

SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace alone through faith alone, and received by personal faith in the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. True Faith always involves repentance. A turning from our sin brought about by an inner change that gives birth (1John 5:1, John 3:1-15) to new Christ-centered behaviors and desires (2 Peter 1:4, 2 Cor 5:17). (Eph. 1:7, 2:8–10; John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:18–19)-(Jesus’s call to repentance: Matt 4:17, 12:41 Luke 5:32, 13:3,5)

PERSERVERENCE OF THE SAINTS

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37–40, 10:27–30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13-14;Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11–15).

THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts. It is, however, the believer’s responsibility to attempt to develop and strive for (1 Cor 12:31,1 Cor 14:1) their sovereignly given spiritual gift(s). We also believe that particular spiritual gift(s) are neither essential, nor do they prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor are an indication of deep spiritual experience (1 Cor. 12:7,11, 13; Eph. 4:7–8). We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15). We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to him (Rom 12:1–8; 1 Cor. 13; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

THE CHURCH AND THE SACRAMENTS
We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born–again persons (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25–27; 1 Cor. 12:12–14; 2 Cor.11:2). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 18:22, 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1–3; Titus 1:5–11). We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control (Acts 13:1–4, 15:19–31, 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5: 4–7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1–4). While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture (1 Tim 2:12-14; 3:1-7). We recognize believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23–26).

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that one day Jesus will return to the earth to judge both the living and the dead.(Matthew 24:36-42; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11, 10:39-42; I Peter 4:5; I Thessalonians 4:16,17)

HELL
We believe that the unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment.(Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Thess 1:5-10; Jude 7; Rev 20:11-15)

Lynchburg City Church affirms this Statement of Understanding with regard to sexuality:

We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as set forth in Scripture.

WE AFFIRM that self-conception as male or female should be defined by God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption as revealed in Scripture. WE DENY that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption.

Therefore, this definition and understanding shall apply when used in any church document, contract, procedure, guideline, notice, announcement, ministry, service, meeting, event, or excursion of the church; and also when pertaining to any usage of church facilities, properties, ministries, or the engagement of church personnel. Based upon these scripturally based concepts, the church reserves the right to refuse use of all church facilities and properties to any group, couple, or individual that does not affirm or embody this Statement of Understanding.