Our beliefs are the core of what builds faith and creates community at Living Stones. These are the essential doctrines that bind us together. You might call this our "orthodoxy." This is what we believe about God, Jesus, the Bible, etc. But these aren't simply legalistic dogmas. They serve as a foundation for faithful "orthopraxy." These beliefs are not just words on a website. Rightly applied, beliefs drive transformational action.
Beliefs
God – We believe in one all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present God. This eternal triune God exists continually as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him we owe worship, love, obedience, and service.
Jesus Christ – We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who is co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that He was born of a virgin, was fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and was crucified for our sins. We believe that he rose from the dead on the third day and faith in Him provides reconciliation for our sins. He will one day return to judge the world and draw all of His creation unto Himself.
The Holy Spirit – We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and co-equal with the Father and Son. We believe that He inspired the authors of Holy Scripture. He has been active since before Creation and is active today in illuminating the hearts of people to understand truth as He convicts people of sin and calls us towards the Savior.
Salvation – We believe that salvation is offered freely to all those who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, who by His blood obtained eternal redemption to all who believe. Trusting Jesus means that a person turns from his or her sin in repentance, and believes through faith alone that Jesus' gracious sacrifice is suffiencient to atone for sin and grant eternal life. We believe there is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ. In the broadest sense salvation includes election, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. We often say that God saves people, not to make good people into better people, but to make dead people into living people.
The Bible – We believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God. We believe that it was written by men divinely inspired by God as His revelation to man. All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. We strive to submit ourselves to God's Word in all that we do.
Man – We believe that all people are sacred creations of God made in God’s own image. Because of this truth we believe that men and women, regardless of age, ethnicity, or social standing have intrinsic value as image bearers. We also believe that, through Adam, man inherits a sin nature and validates that nature when he becomes morally capable. Thus, all people need the forgiveness of sin that can only come through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died for all, all people of value are worthy of respect and love.
The Church – We believe in the universal Church as the Body of Christ, and the local church as a unique expression and autonamous representation of the body. The local church is where we equip and encourage one another in the gospel to service and practice the character of Jesus.
Baptism – We affirm believer’s baptism by immersion as a public expression of an inward, spiritual reality. That reality being that a person has been born again and is united to Jesus by faith.
The End of Days – We believe that Jesus is indeed coming again to judge the earth and establish his eternal kingdom.
We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message