**What We Believe**
At Lakeside, we confidently affirm our commitment to the teachings of the Bible. Below is a constructive summary of our core beliefs:
**The Scriptures**
We believe that the Bible serves as God's ultimate and complete revelation to humanity. Through holy men, God provided His written Word, which we hold has been preserved for English-speaking communities. Our choice of the King James Version stems from its reputation as a faithful, word-for-word translation that has significantly influenced the English language and literature throughout history.
*(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalms 119:89)*
**The True God**
We affirm that there is one true and living God who has revealed Himself as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This Godhead is equal, yet each person plays a unique role in our lives.
*(Genesis 1:1,26; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6)*
**Jesus Christ**
We celebrate Jesus Christ as both the Son of God and God the Son. He exemplified a sinless life to provide a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. We believe in the miraculous virgin birth of the Lord Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, affirming His dual nature as both the Son of God and God the Son. Furthermore, we hold that Jesus Christ literally and bodily rose from the dead before ascending to Heaven, and we anticipate His return in the rapture to gather all believers.
*(Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 1:26-35; John 10:30, 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 4:15)*
**The Holy Spirit**
We recognize the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Godhead. Known as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, He plays a vital role in our lives today by convicting the unbeliever of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit is also our Comforter, guiding and sealing believers while empowering them for holy living.
*(John 14:26; 15:26; Romans 8:16)*
**Satan**
We acknowledge Satan as the adversary of God. Originally known as Lucifer, he was once a holy angelic being who fell due to pride. The Devil actively seeks to blind and deceive people, striving to keep them separate from God. He is also an adversary to Christians, tempting and accusing believers as they endeavour to live for God.
*(Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Peter 5:8)*
**The Church**
We believe the local church is a community of born-again and scripturally baptized believers united by a covenant of faith. Together, we are called to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord has instituted two key ordinances for the local church: baptism by immersion and the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
*(Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; 12:12-20)*
**Creation**
We affirm that God created the world in a literal six-day period as described in the Genesis account. We believe that humanity was created in the image of God and reject Darwin's theory of evolution, upholding the belief that our creation reflects God’s intention.
*(Genesis 1:1-2:1; Colossians 1:16-17)*
**The Fall of Man**
We understand that man was created in a state of purity and innocence, but willfully chose to transgress God’s law. As a result of Adam's transgression, all humans are born with a sinful nature. This foundational truth underscores the significance of the gospel message, which proclaims Jesus Christ as the Second Adam who came to redeem us from the curse of sin.
*(Genesis 3:1-6; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:22)*
**Salvation**
We believe that God's redemptive grace, which offers forgiveness and eternal life, is a free gift available through Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. This grace covers all our sins—past, present, and future. We emphasize that true salvation involves biblical repentance, brought about by the Holy Spirit’s conviction of our sinfulness and our need for a Saviour. The Scriptures clearly state that salvation is "unto all, but upon all them that believe." We teach that repentant sinners will confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Saviour. Upon this salvation, they are justified before God, signifying both the forgiveness of sin and the imputation of Christ's righteousness.
*(Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-10, 13)*
We at Lakeside Baptist Church realize that there are many different interpretations of Scripture, so we have a more detailed statement of faith and a church constitution available upon request. In the spirit of transparency, we want people to know what we believe and why we believe it. We also believe that all Christians should understand the purpose of the gathering of the local church and the principles that govern each unaffiliated body.