Statements of Faith

We believe the Bible is God’s word without error. God literally breathed out His word using human authors who were guided by the Holy Spirit as they wrote. Every word in the Bible included in the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament is equally inspired. The Bible is our final authority and is a trustworthy source of absolute truth.

Father God is our Rock. We believe that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, from whom all things pertaining to life came according to His purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6), is the Creator of all things good (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9; James 1:17). He is the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, “for out of Him, the Sustainer of everything, came everything, and now everything finds fulfillment in Him” (Romans 11:36, TPT). His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with all believers. As Creator, He is Father to all men (Ephesians 4:6), but He is the spiritual Father only to those who choose Him (Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18). “Before we were ever born, he gave us our destiny, that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart” (Ephesians 1:11, TPT). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all of creation (1 Chronicles 29:11, Hebrews 11:3). He is neither the author nor approver of sin (Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47). He is the impartial Judge of Heaven who judges according to each one’s works, so we are called to live each day with holy awe and reverence toward Him throughout our lives (1 Peter 1:17). “And he chose us to be his very own, joining us to him even before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace – for the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!” (Ephesians 1:4-6, TPT) He sent His only begotten Son to take on the sins of the world so that we could live in close relationship with Him (John 3:16; 1 John 4:14). He sent Holy Spirit to seal our adoption as His sons and daughters, instruct, convict, encourage, and empower us as we live in fellowship with Him (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:3-7; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 14:16, 26; 15:26, 16:7, 13). The desire of His heart has always been and continues to be that He be able to live among His people whom He adores and that they would experientially know Him (Genesis 3:8; John 14:23, 17:3, 21; Revelation 21:3-7).

Jesus is our Rescuer. Jesus is the eternal Son of God and the second Person of the Trinity. The Bible clearly proclaims that Jesus is the Living Word of God become flesh (John 1:1-14). Old Testament prophets foretold He would come in human form when He was conceived from the Father through Holy Spirit to be born of a virgin (Hebrews 1:1-2; Luke 1:26-38). When He came to earth, He laid aside His deity, to become a mere man in order to fulfill the Law by living a sinless life on our behalf as well as to show us through His example how to live the Christian life (Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 8:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:9, 14, 17; John 14:12-14; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus joyfully took on being born to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God to take on the sins of the world on the cross where He died, then was buried, and rose from the dead after three days. He came so we could have the restored relationship that Adam and Eve shared with God in the Garden when they forfeited to the enemy that fellowship and their authority over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28; 3:8; Romans 5:12-21; Hebrews 12:2; John 1:29; John 3:16; John 19-20; Hebrews 9:11-5). Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no other salvation given to humanity than through Him (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). He is the firstborn among many brethren and has opened the way for us to have intimate relationship with each of the Godhead individually (Romans 8:29; John 16:23-26; Ephesians 2:18-19; Hebrews 10:19-22). “For in him was created the universe of things, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority – it all exists through him and for his purpose! He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him. He is the Head of the body, which is the church. And since he is the beginning and the firstborn heir in resurrection, he is the most exalted One, holding first place in everything. For God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling in Christ. And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself – back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!” (Colossians 1:16-20, TPT). Jesus fulfilled all that He came to do and now sits enthroned as God the Son at the right hand of the Father and has now left His power and authority with us to continue His work as His body, the Church (Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:12-14). Now, He intercedes for us continually (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34), is our legal Advocate and Mediator before the Father, the Judge (1 John 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24), and protects the child of God from the evil one (1 John 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; John 17:15), and lives His life in and through us through covenant relationship (John 14:23; Galatians 2:20, 3:20, 27; Ephesians 6:10; Colossians 3:1-3). Jesus will one day come again to gather His Church into eternal fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-21; Isaiah 63:1-6, Zechariah 14). Jesus came to show us in human form the heart of the Father and to give the gift of Holy Spirit living presence within us (John 5:19-21, 8:26-29, 12:49-50, 14:6-14, 16, 25-26, 31, 15:26, 16:7-15, 7:37-39; Acts 1:5, 8

Holy Spirit is our Revealer. He is the third Person of the Trinity. He was involved with creation (Genesis 1:1-2). He is actively working in our lives and always present (Psalm 139:7-10; John 14:16-17). From the moment we give Jesus our lives and enter into covenant relationship with Him, Holy Spirit takes up residence within us (John 14:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19) and bears witness of and seals our being a son and daughter to God through adoption not by our merit but through Jesus’ work on the cross (Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:4-14). Holy Spirit is our Parakletos, the “One Who is Called to Walk by Our Side” as our Helper, Counselor, Comforter, Advocate, Encourager, and Intercessor (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7-15). He is of the same as Jesus and Father God, a Savior, “the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be a friend just like [Jesus] – and he will never leave you” (John 14:17, TPT). He is the “Spirit of Holiness, the One like [Jesus] who sets you free, he will teach you all things in [Jesus] name. And he will inspire you to remember every word that [Jesus] told you” (John 14:26, TPT). He is “the Divine Encourager from the very presence of my Father” (John 15:26). He is “the Spirit of Truth, emanating from the Father, and will speak to you about [Jesus] (John 15:26). Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, letting us know what is right and wrong (John 16:8). “The truth-giving Spirit…will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak on his own, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come” (John 16:13). He helps us in our weakness and intercedes from within us (Romans 8:26). He gives all believers unique gifts and empowerments for ministry suited just to them individually (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11-12). He is the living expression of God that leads us and affirms that we are His sons and daughters (Romans 8:14; Romans 5:18). Holy Spirit leads us into a deeper relationship with God and helps us to grow into mature children of God. “But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all thing” (1 Corinthians 2:10). He can be grieved, left feeling completely rejected and abandoned (Ephesians 4:30), and quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). He is a Person that we can know and is One with whom we can enjoy relationship and He is all-knowing God that we carry with us at all times (John 14:17).

We believe that the Trinity consists of three distinct tri-equal, tri-powerful, and tri-eternal Persons with differing expressions but are in complete unity and purpose. Each of the Three are seen working together in creation. The Hebrew word used for “God” in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim meaning Gods or God in plural form denoting that all Three were present. Of the Father, Paul writes, “The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, … He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being…for he has all things and everything he needs. From one man, Adam, he made every man and woman and every race of humanity, and he spread us over all the earth. He sets the boundaries of people and nations, determining their appointed times in history. He had done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, and find him – for he is the God who is easy to discover! It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; …’Our lineage comes from him’” (Acts 17:24-28). Of Jesus, John writes, “In the very beginning the Living Expression was already there. And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God. They were together – face-to-face, in the beginning. And through his creative inspiration this Living Expression made all things, for nothing has existence apart from him. Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity…And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us! And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father overflowing with mercy and truth!” (John 1:1-4, 14) Of Holy Spirit, Moses wrote, “When God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was completely formless and empty, with nothing but darkness draped over the deep. God’s Spirit hovered over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2). The word Elohim is repeated throughout the Old Testament Hebrew for the plural form of God. One evident place in Deuteronomy 6:4, the Jewish creed of faith: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one!” They are “one,” echad, one in unity or united. We see this repeated in the New Testament at Jesus’s baptism: “One day Jesus came to be baptized along with all the others. As he was consumed with the spirit of prayer, the heavenly realm ripped open above him and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the visible, tangible form of a dove and landed on him. Then God’s audible voice was heard, saying, “My Son, you are my beloved one. Through you I am fulfilled” (Luke 3:21-22; Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus’ Great Commission also states that all should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

“Then God said: ‘Let us make a man and a woman in our image to be like us. Let them reign over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, over the creatures that creep along the ground, and over the wild animals.’ So God created man and woman and shaped them with his image inside them. In his own beautiful image, he created his masterpiece. Yet, male and female he created them. And God blessed them in his love, saying: ‘Reproduce and be fruitful! Populate the earth and subdue it! Reign over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every creature that lives on the earth…God surveyed all he had made and said, ‘I love it!’ For it pleased him greatly” (Genesis 1:26-28, 31a). God created man and woman in His own image out of love to enjoy relationship with them. They were perfect and good. They were given dominion over the Garden of Eden. From there, they were “to be fruitful and multiply” until their God-given authority and dominion spread throughout the earth. That was God’s original intent for humanity. They were tempted by the deceiver, satan, and out of their free will, Adam and Eve chose to give up their authority and dominion to satan. At the moment they gave in to the temptation to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, their innocence was lost, authority forfeited, and their spirits, the part of them that communed with God, died. They, being the original parents of all, passed down their fallen condition to every generation proceeding from them. Through them mankind was hopelessly lost. But God, gave the first Messianic promise right after the fall of man that foretold of Jesus’ rescue mission (Genesis 3:15). Humanity is completely spiritually dead and apart from God with its only hope being covenant faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 4:14).

Salvation is the greatest gift of God since creation! It is a free gift from God offered to all people. It has never been God’s intent for any to perish without Him (2 Peter 3:9). In fact, God did not make hell for people. He made it for satan and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41). Jesus is the only way to be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and if anyone will not choose Him, they have chosen the only alternative, which is eternal separation from God. God did not will it; they chose it. We believe that salvation comes totally by the grace of God on the basis of the redemptive work Jesus did by His shed blood alone and nothing we could do to rescue ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; John 1:12-13). All of the Godhead had part in our being saved. It gave Father joy to send His Son out of His deep love for humanity knowing from it He would have restored relationship with them, and Jesus would be exalted over all (Isaiah 53:10-12; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:4-6; 1 John 4:9-10). It gave Jesus joy to be the sacrificial “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), the means by which we now have wholeness and salvation through the new and better covenant He enacted with His blood and is exalted to be seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 12:2, Isaiah 53:3-6; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 8, 9, and 10) Holy Spirit introduces us to Father and Jesus unto salvation and once saved has been given to live within and empower us to live in relationship with God (2 Corinthians 3:13-17; 1 Peter 1:12; Romans 8:2; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:9-17). Salvation is the free gift that frees us from the bondage of sin and eternal death to eternal life that is sealed by the presence of Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:5). The work of salvation is a miracle, bringing the spiritually dead to new life through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:1-10). Salvation comes by God’s mercy and through faith in Jesus alone. Through salvation, we become a new creation, one who has never existed before (Galatians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Church is not a building. It is a people. We believe that Jesus intentionally used the term ekklesia translated as “Church” for a variety of reasons. Ekklesia literally means “those who are called out.” We have been “called out” by God, chosen for relationship and to represent Him to the world around us. It can also be translated as “church” and “assembly.” Classical Greek defines it as “an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly” and was seen as a governmental body that meets to rule over a region. With this in mind, we believe that the assembly of those “called out” from darkness into God’s marvelous light of revelation and hope is what we have joined universally, the Church, that happens to meet locally in Lascassas. Here are some ways Scripture defines us as those “called out” and “chosen:”

• We are “coming to Him as to a living stone [Jesus, our chief Cornerstone], rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10, NKJV).

• We are “the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ, to the intent now that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our God, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:9-12, NKJV).

• We are to “to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:9b-14, NKJV).

• “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body and the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16, NKJV).

We are a part of Jesus’ body to whom He delegated His authority to and empowered us to do the works that He did to rightly represent Him to the world (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:12-14). We have been given the privilege and responsibility of remaining in close fellowship with God so that we can bring Heaven’s rule, blessings, and pleasure to the earth as we partner with Heaven to bring it. Each person has been gifted with spiritual gifts and has an integral part in the Body that must be done for it to function well. We believe when we find this and partner with God in it, we are fulfilling our purpose that we were made for and the Church, locally and universally, benefits and God is able to do all that He desires through us.

This assembly of believers is to function within the universal Church in the location of Lascassas. We are here to proclaim Jesus to the world and act as His representatives (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:12-14). We equip believers to grow spiritually (Ephesians 4:12-16), do works of service in our community and beyond (Ephesians 4:12), help people grow in their spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11), and advance the Kingdom of God from where we are to the world (Matthew 28:18-20). The goal of this equipping is to have them grow into maturity as sons and daughters of God (Ephesians 4:12-16). We are active in telling others about Jesus as we are led (Matthew 28:18-20), fellowshipping with one another and others as we are led (Acts 2:42), and creating a safe and welcoming environment for members and visitors (Matthew 10:40-42). We also reserve the right to ask someone to leave that would disturb the peace and unity of our body of believers (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:13). We are to bring the rule of Heaven into our midst so it will be on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Lascassas Community Church recognizes marriage as an institution ordained and ordered by God, as clearly defined in the Bible as the union of one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18, 21-25; Ephesians 5:22-33; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9). Insomuch, Lascassas Community Church along with its Pastors, Staff, and Voting Members will not perform marriages involving individuals of the same gender. Lascassas Community Church along with its Pastors, Staff, and Voting Members will only perform marriages involving one (1) biologically born male and one (1) biologically born female. The building, grounds, and any property of Lascassas Community Church shall not be used for the facilitation of a same-sex wedding ceremony. All pastors, staff, and members shall maintain celibacy if single and remain monogamous if married, as the Bible teaches (1 Corinthians 7)

We believe that sex is created by God and reserved for one male and one female who are joined in the covenant of marriage (refer to statement on marriage). The practice of homosexuality, as well as all other sexual activity outside of biblical marriage are not compatible with Biblical Christian teaching (Romans 1:26-28; Genesis 19:5-7; Leviticus 18:22-24, 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; Jude 1:7). Persons will be affirmed by their biological gender of birth. Only male and female genders are to be affirmed. Gender changes are not compatible with the Biblical Christian teaching of a creative God who intimately knew us as He knit us together in our mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13,”You formed my inmost being shaping my delicate inside, and my intricate outside, and wove them together in my mother’s womb.”) We have compassion for and welcome all who have been confused by this fallen world in the areas of sexuality and gender. We believe that the power of Christ’s atonement can resolve and heal any question related to sexuality and gender. Every person can be restored to full life in a right relationship with God, knowing joy and peace, when there is repentance, acceptance of grace, and the gift of forgiveness and salvation from God through Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:11-12; Romans 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 8:12, 10:17).

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all of its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically and mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139)

On the Sacraments

Lascassas Community Church recognizes only the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion

Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is an outward act that symbolizes the inward newness of one who is coming into salvation or wants to recommit their life to Jesus as real, as God incarnate, as the sacrificial means by which those who believe in Him are reconciled to God. Baptism is a supernatural work of God in which we are invited to participate. The purpose of baptism is to give visual testimony of our commitment to Christ and is meant to show the world that you love, trust, and have put your hope in Christ (Romans 6:4-11; Colossians 2:12-13; Galatians 3:26-27). It is the first step of discipleship.

All candidates for baptism need to have made a profession of faith and understand what that they are doing. According to God’s Word, baptism is not a requirement of salvation (Luke 23:32-43), but it is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ. The Bible teaches that commitment to Christ always precedes baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38, 8:26-39). Therefore, there will be no infant baptisms. However, a service of dedication by the family can be done for infants and small children.

Baptism may be performed by the Pastor or an official member of the church who has been approved by the church council. The preferred method of baptism, meaning “to dip under, immerse,” is by immersion. Sprinkling and pouring over the head are also accepted methods of baptism. Previous baptism is accepted. However, if anyone desires to baptized will be required to conference with pastor and or attend a baptismal class. The symbolism of baptism represents the cleansing of the believer by the blood of Christ as well as the death of the old person and the resurrection of the new believer.

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Communion was instituted by Jesus during the Last Supper or Last Passover Seder as He broke the bread and passed the cup which held the fruit of the vine. The bread is symbolic of His body broken for us and speaks of our wholeness and healing. The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood that was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins and our inward justification and wholeness (Luke 22:19-20; John 6:53-58; Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24). Communion is not to be taken lightly but should be done in a prayerful manner. As we partake in Holy Communion, we are to remember that there is a great exchange taking place. Being a rite of covenant, Holy Communion is where we exchange our brokenness for Jesus’ wholeness which He gave when He was offered as a substitute sacrifice on our behalf when He died on the cross. He literally took on all of our brokenness and gave us all of His wholeness in exchange (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Communion at Lascassas Community Church is open to all who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Communion is to be served by the pastor or an official member who has been approved by the church council.