Statement of Faith
At Living Hope, we are committed to searching the Scriptures in the pursuit of Truth. We are on a journey and just as we have changed our beliefs in the past, we will continue to do so as God leads us and reveals more of His truths to us through his Word. We believe in doctrinal humility, and we welcome dialogue on any of the beliefs listed below (Prov 12:15; 18:15).
Our Core Beliefs
There is one God - The Father
The only almighty, eternal, immortal, invisible, wise and holy God (1 Corinth 8:6, 1 Tim 2:5), is the God of the Old Testament (YHWH) who is the God and Father of Jesus of Nazareth, His only begotten son (John 3:16,17:3; Heb 5:5, Eph 1:3,17). He is our God and Father, and He alone is the creator and sustainer of our universe. (Isa 44:27) He is a God of love and justice who balances mercy and wrath and bestows forgiveness without compromising holiness (Exod 34:6–7; Isa 6:3).
Jesus is the Christ
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He was a man without sin who gave His life for our sins, was raised from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God. (Matt 1:18, 25; Heb 4:15; 1 Cor 15:3–4). He is both our Saviour and Lord, and we strive to obey His teachings as His disciples. (Matt 16:24; Luke 6:46). He is the one mediator between God and humanity (I Tim.2:5), interceding for us as our advocate (Rom 8:34; I John 2:1). God has given Him all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18). He is subject to no one except His God and Father (I Cor 15:27).
Holy Spirit
The holy spirit is God’s power and presence in the world today. Anointed with the Spirit, Jesus performed miracles, healed the sick, and taught with great authority (Acts 10:38). When individuals come to Christ, they receive this same Spirit (Acts 2:38), which guides them into deeper relationships with God, Jesus, and others (John.14:26; 16:13-14; Rom. 8:14-16). The Spirit works within believers, helping them become more like Jesus and produce godly fruit in their lives (Rom. 8:29, Gal 5:22).
The Gospel of the Kingdom and of Jesus Christ
The gospel (good news) of salvation is about Christ’s death for our sins, Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and Christ’s return to establish the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43; Acts 8:12; 2 Tim 2:8), in which everything wrong with the world will be made right (Isa 2:4; 25:6–8; 65:17–25). Once all things have been restored back to perfection as in the Garden of Eden, Jesus will give everything over to His Father (1 Corinth 15:24-28) and God himself will dwell with his children forever in this renewed earth and there will be no sin, sickness, or death (Rev 21:3–4; 22:4–5).
Salvation Requires Repentance and Obedience
God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:4) He has made this salvation possible by sending His only Son, Jesus. When we repent, believe in the Gospel and start living a life of obedience to Jesus, his blood will cleanse us of our sins (1 John 1:7, Acts 2:38, Luke 24:47). Those who persevere in faithfulness and obedience throughout their lives will be welcomed into God’s Kingdom (Heb 5:9, Phil 3:11, Heb 10:36).
The Scriptures are inspired
The Holy Scriptures were inspired by God, which is why they are reliable, authoritative, and full of truth. They are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and are profitable for reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that God’s people may be complete and equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-16) While the scriptures can be hard to understand at times, they clearly reveal to us the truth about God, Christ, our world, the future and how we are to live today. (John 5:39; 2 Pet 1:3).
Sin
Sin is an act of disobedience against God's commands. Through the disobedient act of one man, (Adam) sin entered the world. Death came through his sin and spread to all people because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 5:12, Rom 3:23). Sin is humanity’s greatest problem as it separates us from God and leads to death (Isa 59:2). Jesus came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29; Rev 5:9) by both dying on the cross as a sacrifice, and empowering and equipping believers to live a holy and righteous life so that we can be found without spot or blemish (2 Peter 3:14).
We live in the New Covenant
As Moses was the mediator of the old covenant to ancient Israel, so Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant to the church (Heb 9:15–26). Christ-followers are not obligated to live by the Law of Moses (Gal 3:24–25; 5:18) but are commanded to obey the teachings of Christ and his apostles (John 14:15; 1 Cor 9:20–21). The New Covenant fulfils God's promise to write His law on the hearts of His people, making them His own and enabling them to know Him in a deeper way (Eze 11:19; Jer 31:33; 2 Cor.3:3).
Gifts of the Spirit are available
Gifts of the spirit are available to Christians today, including, but not limited to, prophecy, utterance of wisdom, utterance of knowledge, faith, discerning of spirits, healings, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. (1 Cor 12:4–11). These gifts are for the building up of the church (1 Cor 14:12) and are given out as God wills (Heb 2:4).
Resurrection and Judgement
The dead, whether righteous or unrighteous, are asleep (1 Thess 4:13-14 Eccl 9:5, 10; Ps 6:5). When Christ returns, he will awake those who are asleep in the tombs (Dan 12:2; John 5:28) and will judge all people. Those not found written in the book of life, the wicked and unrepentant, will be cast into the lake of fire and destroyed, which is the second death (Rev 20:11–15; 21:8). Those who have been faithful and obedient will be given immortality and have everlasting life in God’s Kingdom on earth. (1 Corinth 15:20-56)