NLCC Affirmation of Faith
I. The Word of God
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (II Tim. 3:16-17, Rom 16:25-26, II Pet. 1:20-21).
II. The Nature of God
We believe there is one God who is Eternal (Is. 43:10, Ps. 90:2), Self-existent (Ex. 3:14, Is. 41:4), Immutable (Jas. 1:17, Ps. 33:11), Omnipotent (Rev. 19:6, Jer 32:17), Omniscient (Ps. 147:5, Is. 29:15-16, and Omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-12, Jer. 23:23-24), existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19, Is. 48: 12-16, Jn. 1:1-4; 16:12-15, Mt. 3:16-17).
A. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father (Is. 63:16), an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Mt. 6:14, Jn. 4:23-24; 6:40).
B. Jesus Christ
We believe in God, the Son, Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:13), the only-begotten Son of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We Believe in His virgin birth as a human being, His sinless life, and in His miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and in His personal, visible return to earth (Is. 7:14; 3:1-12; Jn. 1:1-3, 14; 3:16, Acts 1:1-11; 4:12; 8:32-33, Mt. 1:18, Heb. 4:15, 7:25).
C. The Holy Spirit
We believe in God, the Holy Spirit (II Cor. 3:17), Who came forth from the Father and Son. The ministry of the Holy Spirit includes:
1. The indwelling of the Christian who is then enabled to live a life pleasing to God (Rom. 8:9-14, Jn. 14:17).
2. The bestowal of grace gifts upon every believer, and a variety of manifestations of such gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:1-11).
3. An enduement with power concurrent with or subsequent to regeneration, the purpose of which is to equip believers to effectually proclaim the gospel (Acts 1:4-8; 2:38-39).
III. The Creation and Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-19, Rom 3:23).
IV. Salvation by Grace
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who provides the perfect and sufficient atonement on the cross of Calvary, by which we obtain remission of sins (Acts 4:10-12, Eph. 2:8-9, Jn. 3:16-18, Rom 10:8-11, 17; Tit. 3:5-7; I Jn. 2:2, Heb. 10:10).
V. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the Triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:18-20, Acts 2:41-42, Mt. 26:26-29, I Cor 11:23-26).
VI. Angels, Demons, and Satan
We believe in the real existence of angels and demons, and the reality and personality of Satan, who coordinates and motivates opposition to God (Gen. 3:1-7, 13-15, I Jn. 3;8, Rev 12)9, Heb. 1:13-14, Jas. 2:19, Ps. 91:11-12).
VII. Eternity
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved to everlasting life, and the lost to eternal punishment (Mt. 25:41, 46, Jn. 3:16, Dan. 12:2).
VIII. The Church
We believe in the Church, the Body of Christ, of which Christ Himself is the Head, and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that Christ commissioned the Church to proclaim the gospel in all the world, to encourage believers in the faith, and to teach and train believers in the principles of godly, fruitful living. We believe that a local church is a company of believers gathered together (Mt. 28:18-20, Eph. 1:22-23, Heb. 10:23-25).