BELIEFS

---

We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  inspired, only  infallible,  authoritative  Word  of  God.

We  believe  that  there  is  ONE  GOD,  eternally  existnt  in  three  persons:  Father,  Son  &  Holy  Spirit

We  believe  in  the  deity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, in  His  virgin  birth, in  His  sinless life,  in  His  miracles,  in  His  vicarious  and  atoning  death  through  His  shed  blood,  in  His  bodily  resurrection,  in  His  ascension  to  the  right  hand  of  the  Father ,  and  in  His  personal  return  in  power  and  glory.  

We  believe  that  for  the  salvation  of  lost  and  sinful  man,  regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit  is  absolutely  essential.  

We  believe  in  the  present  ministry  of  the  Holy  Spirit  by  whose  indwelling  the  Christian  is  enabled  to  live  a  godly  life.

We believe  in  post  conversion  water  baptism  by  emersion  and  in  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  in  the  exercise  of  spiritual  gifts.

We  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  both  the  saved  and  the  lost.  They  that  are  saved  unto  the  resurrection  of  life  and  they  that  are  lost  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation.

We  believe  in  the  spiritual  unty  of  believers  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  

We  also  embrace  the  Niacene  creed  of  AD  325  and  the  Chalcedon  Creed  of  AD  451

We hold the biblical position that marriage is honorable and is established by God as a blessed institution between a man and a woman.

We affirm that the doctrines of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith make up the essential, distinctive nature of Christianity. 

In regards to these essential doctrines there can be no conflicting opinions of those who call themselves true followers of Christ or members of TLC. However, we do acknowledge that there are peripheral, or non-essential doctrines, that are important but not critical to the follower of Christ as it relates to our salvation.

Some of these doctrines include the specific function of women in ministry, exact manner of the return of Christ as it pertains to eschatology the setting and use of certain spiritual gifts, the relationship between election and mans will in salvation, etc.

While our church leadership will be diligent to establish positions as it relates to these non-essentials, we will not allow these secondary teachings to cause division within the church. We will accept into our church body those who have differing views on the non-essential doctrines, but will not allow those of a different opinion to fracture the church. While we celebrate diversity along both racial and theological lines, we will ultimately pursue the unity found in Christ.