What we believe

At the core of what we believe is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The glorious truth that Jesus Christ died, was buried and was raised so that sinners could be reconciled to God. Below are statements defining what we believe which are sourced in God’s written Word, the Bible

GOD

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We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in God the Father, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, who in His infinite wisdom and love planned the redemption of mankind and accomplished it through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

We believe in Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, was crucified for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and was exalted to the right hand of God the Father as our Advocate and High Priest.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who convicts, guides, teaches, rebukes, indwells, illuminates, empowers, comforts, intercedes, unites believers into one body, and glorifies Christ.

Gen. 1-2; Deut. 6:4-6; Ps. 139; Is. 40; Mt. 28:19; Jn. 1:1, 18; 4:24; 15:26; Rom. 8:1-17, 26-27; 2Cor. 3:17; 5:19; 13:14; Phil. 2:6-8; 1Tim. 3:16; 6:15-16; Heb. 11:6; Jude 2-5.

The Revelation of God and the Holy Scriptures

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We believe in a self-revealing God who has made His power and deity known through creation yet supremely and finally in the Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Holy Bible.

We believe that the Bible is the Divinely-inspired, authoritative and inerrant word of God, breathed out by God and written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; intended to teach, reprove, correct, train, and equip believers for the life and good works that God has purposed for them. We believe that it is through the scriptures that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us today, and that everything necessary for the proper understanding of who He is, who we are, and what He is doing in the world is revealed through them. We, therefore, strive to teach the truths contained in them passionately and accurately in order to live our lives in light of them.

Ps. 1; 19; 119; Lk. 24:27, 44; Rom. 1:18-23; 2Tim 3:15-17; 2Pet. 1:16-21; Heb. 1:1-2; 8:5-13.

Man and Sin

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We believe that man was created in the image of God, sinless, with a God conscious spirit and a free will to make moral choices.

Through one man’s sin, death and sin were introduced and brought upon the whole human race. As a consequence, people are born sinful by nature, guilty before God, estranged from His presence, and in need of forgiveness and restoration.

Gen. 1:27; 3:1-19; Mt. 19:13-15; Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12; 18:21; Eph. 2:1-3.

Salvation by Grace

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We believe that there is one God and Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus Christ, who, by his substitutionary death, has redeemed humanity from the power of sin, death, and eternal punishment, through the shedding of His blood. On the cross, the wrath of God was satisfied and atonement was accomplished for those who put their faith in Christ.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone to the glory of God alone. Those who repent of their sins receive forgiveness and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, are adopted into the family of God called to live as faithful disciples in joyful obedience to God’s Word. Christians are to treat people of other faiths with respect, while urgently proclaiming Christ as the only way of salvation.

Acts 2:42, 46; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 4:12; 9:15-28; 1Jn. 1:9; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 1:18-24; 2:1-16; 3:21-26.

The Church of Christ

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We believe that the church was established through Christ’s redemptive work in history, and that it is comprised of all who put their faith in Him and who are baptized by the Spirit into one body, regardless of nation, race, or social class.

The Church is distinct from the nation of Israel in its relationship to God and Christ and in God’s prophetic calendar. There is a clear distinction between the universal Church (i.e. “the church which is His body”) which is made up of every believer in the Church Age and local churches that are made up of believers in that area who have been received into and are continuing in the fellowship of that local church. (Acts 11:26, 16:5, I Corinthians 1:2, 14:33)

Each local church has many members, each of which has been given one or more gifts for the edification of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:1-31). Gifts that were given for a sign (e.g. speaking in, or interpreting, tongues, laying on of hands, healings etc.) are no longer in existence today (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). We believe in the plurality of gifts in that a local church has more than one member gifted in publicly teaching and preaching (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11). This means that teaching/preaching publicly is not a one-man ministry, nor an every-man ministry (1 Corinthians 12:29-31).

Men and women are equal in value and contribution before God (Galatians 3:26-29). Each gender has distinct roles within the context of the local church especially in relation to public participation in church meetings. For example, in all church meetings only men members may participate audibly and women members are to participate silently. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35, 1 Timothy 2:11-15).

In the priesthood of all believers and as a result “worship” is a right, privilege and a responsibility of every member of a local church either audibly or silently (Hebrews 10:19-20, 1 Peter 2:9) depending on their distinct genders as defined above.

Mt. 18:15-35; Jn. 13:1-17; Jn. 17-21; Acts 2:38-44; 15:1-28; 1 Cor. 12-14; 2 Cor. 2:6-8; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:10-22; 5:21, 25-27; 1 Thess. 5:11, 14; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; Rev. 5:9.

The Purpose of the Church

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We believe that the Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation”, and that the command to make disciples of all nations is the primary task of the church. Every member of the church has been called and enabled by God’s grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to participate in the mission of proclaiming the gospel to all peoples everywhere.

In addition to the proclamation of the gospel, the mission of the local church is to glorify God in worship and nurture Christian growth and development of believers, equipping them to spiritual maturity.

Mt. 2:23; 11:5; 24:14; 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-69; Acts. 1:8; Rom 10:14; 2 Cor. 5:18-20.

The Indwelling and Empowerment of the Holy Spirit

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We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal in nature and work with Father and Son, and that as a result of Jesus’ substitutionary and atoning work at Calvary, the separation between God and man that resulted from Adam’s sin has been paid for. Thus we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit now indwells every believer and seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to convict unbelievers of their sin and need for Christ, and to impart spiritual life through regeneration.

The Spirit calls, indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit desires to fill, empower, anoint, and impart gifts to every believer in order that they could effectively ministry and powerfully testify to the good news of Jesus Christ. The church is to commission people to such ministries, and show love, respect, and support to those who serve faithfully and live exemplary Christian lives.

Is. 6:1-10; Jn. 14:16-17; Rom 8:9-16; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Gal 5:16-23; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 3:1-10; 5:17-22; Tit. 1:5-9; 3:10; 1 Pet. 5:1-5; 2 Pet. 1:3-10.

Christian Baptism

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We believe that Christians should be baptized in water upon the confession of their faith in Christ. We practice baptism by immersion. Baptism is a public declaration that the believer identifies with Christ and has become part of His body, the church. In baptism, a believer is united with Christ in his life, death and resurrection.

Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:2-6; Col. 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 1 Pet. 3:21.

The Lord's Supper (The Breaking of Bread)

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We partake weekly of the Lord’s Supper in obedience to the divine commandment in order to remember the work of Christ on our behalf, and in order to regularly examine ourselves for indwelling and unrepentant sin.

All those who understand its meaning, confess Jesus Christ as Lord in word and life, and are living in right relationship with God and others, and share what we believe are invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper. To participate in the Supper in an unworthy manner is to call judgement down upon ourselves.

Mt. 16:24; 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-32; Rev. 3:20.

Sexuality, Marriage and the Christian Home

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We believe that God created men, women, sexuality, and the institution of marriage. As Lord over all, God reserves the right to define what these mean and how they are expressed. Marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman meant to reflect the covenantal relationship between Christ and the Church. Therefore, believers should seek to reflect God’s unending covenantal love towards those in Christ through life-long marriage. Those who marry should have a common Christian commitment and understanding; a believer ought not marry an unbeliever.

We believe that divorce and adultery constitute a violation of God’s intention for marriage as laid out in the Holy Bible. Additionally, we believe that God has created men and women as two distinct sexual beings and
that living in line with God's created design and one's biological sex is essential to discipleship to Jesus.

We believe that Christian parents should nurture their children through exemplary living, prayer, worship, instruction in God’s Word, and godly discipline. Parents are commanded to ‘train up’ their children in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord, and children are commanded to obey and honour their parents.

Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18-24; Ex. 20:12; Prov. 5:18-19; 22:6; Mal. 2:13-16; Mt. 5:31-32; 19:4-9; 1 Cor. 7:10-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:22-23; 6:2-4; Heb. 13:4; Rom 1:18-32.

The Christian's Relationship Towards the Government and State

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We believe that God has instituted the state. Our chief concern and primary allegiance, however, is to Christ’s kingdom. We pray for our government, respect those in authority, pay taxes, obey all laws not in conflict with the Word of God, and witness against corruption and injustice in society.

Mt. 22:17-21; Acts 4:19; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-6; 1 Pet. 2:13-14.

Leadership of the Church

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As a local church, we are to be autonomous, independent, not answering to a convention, central oversight, parent organization or headquarters on earth. (Philippians 3:20)

We believe that a church is to be governed by a plurality of qualified elders who help steer and provide oversight of the congregation; help teach and preach sound doctrine; bring clarity to matters of theology; shepherd, pray for, and provide oversight for the congregation; and lovingly care and administer correction and restoration in matters of church discipline.

The scriptures are also clear that an elder must be: above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money, not fond of sordid gain, a good manager of his household, one who has his children under control with dignity, not a new convert, one who has a good reputation outside the church, self-controlled, sensible, able to exhort in sound doctrine, able to refute those who contradict said doctrine, are above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, loving what is good, just, and devout.

Our fellowship is a doctrinal fellowship (Acts 2:41-42). It is a fellowship of life and light (I John 1:1-7) and individuals received into Church fellowship must:

Be saved and baptized by immersion
Be living a moral life without the appearance or presence of excommunicable sin. (Matthew 18:15-19, I Corinthians 5:1-13), and
Hold Biblically-sound doctrine (which forms the basis for our fellowship) including, but not limited to, this statement of What We Believe and our Statement of Faith.

We believe in restoration of a former member to the fellowship of the church where the individual has repented, wishes to rejoin the church and is in full compliance with the conditions for fellowship outlines above (Galatians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 2:4-11).

1 Pet. 2:59; Matt. 27:51; Heb. 4:14-16; Acts 15:22; 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:5; 3:2-7; 1 Thess 5:12; Titus 1:6-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3, Jas. 5:14.

Sanctity of Human Life

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We believe that God is the creator and giver of life, and highly values each person as one who bears his image. All lives are worthy of dignity and respect regardless of race, ethnicity, and social or economic standing.

Procedures, such as abortion and euthanasia, which are designed to take human life are wrong. We oppose all attitudes which devalue human life, especially the defenceless lives of the unborn, disabled, poor, aging, and dying.

Gen 1:26-27, 2:7; Exod 20:13; Job 31:15; Ps 139:13-16; Amos 1-2; Matt 6:25-27, 25:31-46; John 10:11.

Christ's Final Triumph

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We believe that God will some day bring His purposes to a final consummation, and that the narrative arc of all history will come to a glorious conclusion as Christ returns visibly, personally, bodily, and triumphantly. We believe that prior to the aforementioned final return to the physical earth, when Christ returns to the air, (and this event could occur at any time), the dead in Christ will be raised bodily and, together with the living
believers, will be bodily transformed and shall be forever with the Lord.

This event will be followed by seven years of tribulation (also known as “Jacob’s trouble”), a one thousand year millenium prior to Satan being completely overthrown and banished to the eternal abyss. In the end, all evil powers will be defeated, those trusting in a righteousness apart from Christ will suffer an eternal punishment, and the saints shall enjoy eternal bliss in the presence of God in a renewed creation completely free from the presence and effects of sin.

Is. 2:4; 61:1-11; Mt. 25:13, 31-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:22-23; Jn. 5:25-29; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:21-58; Phil. 1:21-24; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Tit. 2:11-14; 2 Pet. 3:3-13; Rev. 1:15, 20-22.

Langley Christian Assembly is a Christian non-denominational assembly of like minded believers.