We Believe
the Bible is the Infallible
Word of God

SUMMARY

Lucent university is a multi-denominational evangelical school. We believe that the original manuscripts of the Bible are without error or fault. We also believe in the principals of Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, and God’s Glory alone. We are aligned with the historical teachings of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Assemblies of God, and independent Bible Churches. Lucent University's Statement of Faith is partially based on the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000.

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GOD

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11 ff.; 20:1 ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Ps. 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9 ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1 :9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1 :17; Heb. 11 :6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1 :17; 1 John 5:7.

Jesus is the eternal Son of God. in His incarnation as Jesus, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of humanity, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and humanity. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

Gen. 18:1 ff.; Ps. 2:7 ff.; 110:1 ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1 :35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11 :25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11, 16:15-16; 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-25; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1 :3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24:28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1 :20; 3:11; 4:7-1 O; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1 :13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1 :7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Jesus. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. He cultivates character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Jesus. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Ps. 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1:14; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1 :1 O; 22:17.

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SCRIPTURES

The Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to humanity. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It is inerrant and infallible in its original manuscript which is to be taken as verbally inspired. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of the believer union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and theological opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus.

Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Ps. 19:7-10; 119:11, 89,105, 140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21 :33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

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HUMANITY

Humanity was created by God, in His own image, with the purpose of fellowshipping with Him. in the beginning, humanity was without sin and endowed by the Creator with freedom of choice. By free choice, humanity disobeyed God and brought sin into the human race. There is a single race under one blood, that is the human race. The concept the human race is divided into separate breeds is a result of our sinful nature in an attempt to justify the decision to deny love to others. The human race has two distinct genders, male and female. Man and woman are unique biological persons created to complete each other in marriage. The term marriage means a lifetime commitment between a naturally born man and a naturally born woman. Marriage is the foundation of the family and the basic structure of humanity, therefore human sexuality is to be enjoyed within the context of marriage. Man and woman are brought together to fellowship in love to reproduce and provide their offspring with the love, care, support, education, examples of dignity and honor, and hope for the future. Provide children with a proper upbringing is the way to secure the stability and prosperity of the human race. The Bible also teaches that insertion into the human race is a privilege acquired during the conception of the individual and that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth, including pre-born babies, the elderly, the physically or mentally challenged, and any other human condition from conception through death.

Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, Matthew 28:19, Proverbs 24:23, James 2:8-9, Genesis 1:26-27, James 2:9, 1 John 2:11, 1 John 3:15-16, Colossians 3:25, Galatians 3:28, 1 John 4:19-21, Ephesians 4:32, 1 Timothy 5:21, John 7:24, Romans 2:11, Romans 10:12, Romans 12:3, Deuteronomy 10:17-35, Acts 10:34-35, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Mark 12:31, John 12:34, 2 Chronicles 15:7, 1 Samuel 16:7, Acts 17:26, Proverbs 22:2, Exodus 22:21, Revelation 7:9-10, Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10.

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MEN AND WOMEN

Men and women have equal rights, but different responsibilities, characteristics, and values. Both men and women are gifted for service in the church. The Scripture claims the office of pastor is limited to qualified by men as and the ministry roles of women in the church must be valued, appreciated, and encouraged. Women can and should serve in many ministry roles.

1 Tim. 2:12, 3:1-2; Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephe. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Phil 1:1; Col 1:18; 1 Tim. 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Heb. 11:39-40; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.

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COMMANDMENT

Love for God and others is the greatest of all the commandments and the fulfillment of all the law. By loving God and others according to the Scriptures, one demonstrates if he or she truly is from God. When loving God, one expresses his or her commitment to Him. This commitment translates into obeying all His commandments. Loving others as, one loves himself or herself, also translates into living according to His Commandments. The commandment to love produces sanctity in all those who claim to follow Him. No sin or impurity dwells in the body, mind, or spirit of those who truly love God and his or her neighbors.

Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-37; Rom. 13:9-10; Gal. 6:10; Ex. 19:5,6; 1 John 4:20-21; Eccl. 12:11; Isa. 22:24; Jer. 8:2; Jdg. 18:24; Ps. 103:1.

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GRACE

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of humanity, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Jesus, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Jesus, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31 ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-29; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12, 2:10, 19; Heb. 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

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SALVATION

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole humanity, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. in its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

I. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus.

Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God.

Faith is the acceptance of Jesus and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Jesus. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

II. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the

believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.

III. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22 to 28:6; Luke 1 :68-69; 2:28-32; John 1 :11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3 ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1 ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1 :2-23; 1 John 1 :6 to 2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21 :1 to 22:5.

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LAST THINGS

According to His promise, Jesus will return personally and visibly in glory. The dead in Jesus will rise first, then we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. After the judgments of God upon this sinful world in the Great Tribulation, Jesus our Lord will come with his saints to establish His millennial kingdom.

Jesus will judge all men in righteousness. The redeemed, by Jesus' sacrifice, in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their rewards and will dwell in heaven forever with their Savior. The unsaved will be separated from the kingdom of God and will be cast into the lake of fire.

Isa. 2:4; 11 :9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21 :27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1 ff.; 2 Thess. 1:7 ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7 ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:11; 20:1 to 22:13.

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