Statement of Faith

LaunchOut Reformational Ministries, Inc. Statement of Faith is our list of those Biblical concepts and principles we consider absolutely non-negotiable concerning our Faith:   

Monotheism; which means the belief in one God: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord:” (Deu.6:4).  There is but one God, Creator of heaven and earth and all that inhabits therein ( Gen.1). God is a Spirit Being ( Jn.4:24).  He is immaterial and incorporeal. God is also a Personal Being. In that He is a Person with self-consciousness ( Ex.3:6), self-determination ( Isa.55:11), will ( Rom.8:27), intelligence ( ICor.2:11) and feeling ( Gen.6:6). 

This one God exists in Three Eternally Distinct Persons thereby being ontologically a tri-unity or Trinity. The concept of the Trinity is not the belief in three Gods, but one God. They are distinguishable, but indivisible. This Trinity or Divine Unity is referred in Scripture as the Godhead ( Rom.1:20). The Scriptures do not attempt to explain the mystery of the Godhead; they simply declare it ( Col.2:2, ITim.3:16). The Godhead consists of: The Father (First Person of the Trinity), The Son (Second Person of the Trinity), and The Holy Spirit (Third Person of the Trinity). 

God did not become triune at the creation or at the Incarnation.  His tri-unity is as eternal as His Being ( Jn.7, 8, IJn.5).  He is one in Essence and three in Person from all eternity. Therefore, The Father is eternally; God the Father ( Jn.6:27). The Son is eternally; God the Son ( Jn.17:5, ITim.1:17). The Holy Spirit is eternally; God the Holy Spirit ( Mat.1:18, Luke 1:35, Jn.14) . God is absolute and eternal in His nature and attributes. By His attributes we mean His character and disposition.  In His attributes He is: holy, sovereign, self-existent, eternal, immutable, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, righteous, faithful, just, longsuffering and loving. 

SolaScriptura; the term used in demonstrating a belief in the supreme authority of Scripture. The Bible is God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word ( IITim.3:16).  We believe the Word of God to be only the sixty six books canonized and thereby referred to as the Greek name “Biblia,” meaning “books.” This in the fifth century began to be given to the entire collection of sacred books, the “Library of Divine Revelation.” The Bible is divided into two major sections the Old Testament and the New Testament which are relative to the two major covenants, the Covenant of Law, and the Covenant of Grace. The collection and canonization of these sacred writings are commonly referred to as “Sacred Scriptures,” or “Holy Scriptures.” It is the ultimate source of knowledge about God, as well as the definitive guide for our daily lives. The Word of God consists of all things pertaining unto life and Godliness ( IIPet.2:3) .  It sets the standard for morality and Righteousness.  It stands as the final authority and judge over all that claims to be of God.  It is our barometer of Truth ( Heb.4:12).  There should be nothing added or omitted from Sacred Scripture ( Deu.4:2, Prov.30:6 , Rev.22:17-18). 

Jesus Christ is the object of the Scriptures. Being the object of the Scriptures He is the embodiment and personification of the Word of God ( Jn.1:1,14). He is also the chief subject of Scripture. In that all of Scripture was written of and declares Him ( Ps.40:7, Luke 24:44 , John 5:39, Heb.10:7).  Though Jesus is God, He Himself is not the Father, but He expresses the nature and character of the Father ( John 14:9, Heb.1:3). The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God ( John 17:5).  

We believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ through divine conception of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Scriptures ( Mat.1:18-25).  He is the only member of the Trinity Who possesses two natures (God and man). He is 100% God and simultaneously 100% man; the ‘God-Man.’ Jesus Christ lived a sinless life ( Heb.7:25), fulfilled the requirements of the law ( Mat.5:18) and was crucified on a cross for the remission of the sins of man-kind ( ICor.15:3).  His death actualized God’s plan of redemption and reconciliation of mankind to God.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ! We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the Scriptures ( Mat.28:6). As our Lord, He offered His Body as propitiation through the shedding of His Blood ( Rom.3:25). This same Body which died was physically and literally resurrected from the dead ( John 10:18) bearing the evidence of His death in the scars on His hands and on His side ( Jn.20:24-27).  The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the consummation of the Atonement and the seal of the authenticity and declarations of Jesus Christ ( ICor.15:13-22) .  The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ presents to each believer the hope and assurance of our incorruptible bodily resurrection unto eternal life ( Mat.5:25-29, ICor.15:53).  

The Holy Spirit also referred to as the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is a Person not an object. He is as much a Person as the Father and the Son. Though He is God, He is neither the Father nor the Son. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity. He is the Comforter which is sent from the Father to declare the Son. The Holy Spirit teaches, He guides, convicts us of our sins, enables and empowers the believer to live a life of Godliness and Righteousness ( Jn.14:16-17).  He witnesses to our spirit concerning son-ship ( Rom.8:14-16).  He interprets our prayers and intercedes to the Father and the Son on our behalf. He also reveals the Father and the Son in sanctification and holiness.

Man (as in mankind) is a created being ( Gen.1:26). He was created for the pleasure of God ( Rev.4:11). Man was created in the image of God in that he is a triune being comprising of a spirit, soul and body.  Man also possesses the communicable attributes of God. Those attributes are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance ( Gal.5:22).

Man was also created with a free will. In that he has the ability to think and reason ( Isa.1:18).   Meaning that he has the ability to choose or to choose otherwise ( Deu.30:19, Josh.24:15).  The first created man Adam chose to disobey God thereby introducing sinfulness in humanity ( Gen.3).  As a result man has consistently chosen to dwell in a lifestyle of constant sin, which is against the nature and character of God ( Rom.3:23).  Sin disrupts man’s relationship with God and results in man’s eternal separation from God.  The penalty of sin is death ( Rom.6:23).  Man cannot restore that fellowship with God on his own accord.  Therefore God sent His Son as a substitution to pay that penalty for the sins of men in order to restore the fellowship He once had with Adam ( John 17). 

Therefore man must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atoning death, Burial and Resurrection in order to receive salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit ( Rom.10:9-10).  This act of believing requires repentance from sin and acceptance of the Word and principles of God as contained in the Scriptures.  This act also necessitates a believer to be baptized by emersion in water symbolizing his death and burial of the old sinful, Godless man and a resurrection of a new creature in Christ Jesus ( Mat.28:19, Acts 2:38, IICor.5:17) .