Statement of faith - Leadstar Christian University

The Doctrinal Statement of the Leadstar Christian University

God

We believe that God is the creator of heaven and the earth and everything visible and invisible in it. He is infinitely perfect, immutable, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, omniscient, divine, three in personality, one in Godhead. Gen.1:1-28; 11:7; Deut.6: 4-5; Ps.139:7-12; Is.40:28; Mt.28:19-20; Lk.3: 21-22; Jn.14:16, 17:11; Acts 14:15; 17:24-29; Col.1:15-17.

Trinity

We believe that God is one God who is eternally self-existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in essence and every divine perfection, but different in function and distinct in personality. Deut.6:4-5; Is.44:6-8; 45:5; Mt.3:16-17; 28:19-20; Jn.14:16; 2 Cor.13:14, Eph.4:6.

God the Father

We believe that God the Father is not limited in any way and will not be limited. He is the creator of all, Lord and Ruler, living in unapproachable light, loving Father, faithful to his promises, trustworthy God, and has sent his only Son to save the world. Gen.3:16; 22:15-18; Ex.33:20; Num.23:19; Isa.40:12; 45:18-19; Jn.1:18; 3:16; Acts 3:25-26; 1 Tim.6:16.

God the Son

We believe that God the Son is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father, the Creator of the world, perfect God and perfect man with the two natures united in one person when he was born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless human life, performed divine miracles, and died an atoning, redeeming death. He was raised from the dead in power and glory, ascended, and is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. He presently is interceding for the saints and will come in glory and power to judge the living and the dead. Mt.1:20-25; Lk.2:4-7; Jn.1:1-4, 14-18; Col.3:1; 1 Jn.2:1; 1 Tim.2:5, 3:16.

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that God the Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and Son, the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit teaches, leads, and comforts believers, gives them spiritual gifts, enables them to live a holy life, empowers them for ministry, intercedes for the saints, witnesses about Jesus Christ, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and is the one in whom all believers are baptized into the body of Christ. Gen.1:2; Job 33:4; Ps.139:7; Isa.11:2; Mt.28:19-20; Jn.14:26; 15:26; 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 5:28-32; Rom.8:26; 1 Cor.2:9-10; 12:4-13; Heb.9:14.

God Bible

1. We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, written by the guidance of the Holy Spirit through men, without error in every way. In the Bible, God has revealed everything necessary for salvation, godliness, and service.

2. We believe that the Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament, 66 books in all.

3. Because God spoke through his Son, Jesus; because of his testimony, we believe that the Bible is the only true and complete Word of God which cannot be replaced or changed. It is the only basis of authority for the beliefs and rules of the Church. Ex.20:1; 34:1, 15-17,27; 31:18; 2 Sam.23:2; 1 Chron.28:19; Jer.36:1-4; Lk.9:35; Jn.17:8; 2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb.1:1-4; 1 Pet.1:28; 2 Pet.1:3,21; Rev.1:17-19.

The Creation and Fall of Man

1. We believe that man was created, male and female, in the image and likeness of God, eternal, holy, righteous, and the ruler of creation.

2. We believe that man broke the command of God. Because of his sin man fell into bodily death, is dead in his spiritual life and a sinner. Because of man’s fall the creation of the whole earth is under the curse of God.

3. We believe that man cannot save himself from this fall. Gen.1:26-28; 2:16-17: 3:1-7, 16-19; Acts 4:12; Rom.3:25; 5:12,19; 6:23; Eph.2:1-9.

Salvation of Believers

We believe that man is not saved by his merits, but that when he repents and trusts in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ he will be born again, will become a child of God, will be declared righteous through the grace of God, will be able to live a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit, will not perish, but will live eternally. Lk.13:3, 5; Jn.1:12; 3:3-5; 10:27-28; Acts 3:19-20; 13:38-39; 20:21; Rom.3:24; 5:1; Eph.2:8-9; Titus 3:4-5; 1 Pet.1:15- 16; 1 Jn.5:13.

Separating from the Sin of the World

We believe that believers are called to be separate from the sin of the world and its evil and should live righteous and holy lives. Rom.12:1-2.

The Church

We believe that the Church of Christ is His body, holy, universal, and of which all true believers are members. In its earthly and local expression it is a congregation of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who associate together by covenant and fellowship of the gospel, who observe the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, who exercise the gifts and privileges of His Word for mutual edification and the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world, and whose officers are elders and deacons. It is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to join and actively participate in the life of a local church. Mt.28:20; Acts 2:41, 47; 6:1-7; 11:21-23; 1Cor.1:1-13; 4:17; 14:23; 2Cor.8:1-5; Gal.6:2; 1Tim.3: Titus 1:6-9; 3 Jn.9.

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that as Christ was seen ascending into heaven, he will return bodily and visibly to the earth in great glory and splendour with his angels to take believers and reward them and to give unbelievers the wages of sin, the judgment of death. Mt.25:46; 16:27; Jn.14:2-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess.4:16.

The Resurrection of the Dead

We believe that as Jesus Christ rose from the dead bodily, the righteous and sinners will be raised from the dead in a resurrected body, the righteous to eternal joy and sinners to eternal torment and death. 1 Cor.15:12-58; Rev.20:12.

Holy Angels

We believe that God’s holy angels are God’s creatures to serve him. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament these angels were sent to God’s saints to serve them. Angels do not receive worship. God alone deserves worship. Gen.16:7, 21:17; Jdg.6:1; 2 Sam.24:16; Ps.91:11; Isa.6:1-3; Zec.1:12; Lk.1:19; Acts 8:26, 29; Rev.5:11; 22:8-9.

Satan and Demons

We believe that Satan was God’s angel and guardian cherub. He fell from heaven because of his pride. He has a spiritual personality, leads people and the world to destruction, blinds the mind of the unbelievers and evil spirits, is the ultimate source of all destruction, and is the leader of the fallen angels. The devil is the enemy of God and man, the god of this world, the father of liars, and the accuser of the believers. At the end of the age he will be cast into the fire prepared for him. Demons are angels who fell with Satan, who oppose the work of God with Satan, and who will be judged with Satan. Gen.3:1-6; Isa.14:12-17; Ezek.28:13-18; Mt.10:24; 12:24; 25:41; Lk.8:31; Jn.8:44; 14:16: 2 Cor.4:4; Jude 6; Rev.12:10; 20:10.

Heaven

We believe that heaven is a place of eternal peace and joy, with no trouble or worry, which Christ prepared for his followers. The light of Christ’s glory shines upon it. Jesus Christ will reign with his saints forever in this holy place. Mt.25:34; Jn.14:3; Phil.3:20; Rev.21:1-22; 22:1-5.

Hell

We believe that hell is prepared for the devil and his fellow demons. Unbelievers will share this torment forever. Mt.26:41; Rev.20:11-15.