About Long Beach California Stake
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At Long Beach California Stake, Long Beach in California, we believe what The Bible tells us, and The Bible says that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross of Calvary for us, then being raised from the dead the third day. Do you believe He paid the full debt for your sin? Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. The Bible says that we can have eternal life, by simply receiving the free gift God offers through his son. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
We believe that Adam, made in the image of God, distorted that image and forfeited his original blessedness - for himself and all his progeny - by falling into sin through Satan's temptation. As a result, all human beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being (e.g., physically, mentally, volitionally, emotionally, spiritually) and condemned finally and irrevocably to death-apart from God's own gracious intervention. The supreme need of all human beings is to be reconciled to the God under whose just and holy wrath we stand; the only hope of all human beings is the undeserved love of this same God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself.
About Mankind: We believe that mankind was originally created good but fell into a state of sin through disobedience. We inherit a sinful nature from Adam and we commit individual sins. This sin separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to earn salvation by works.
About Separation of Church and State: We believe that each local church is self-governing, and must be free from interference by any external ecclesiastical or political authority; that every human being is ultimately responsible to God in matters of faith and life; and that each person is free to worship God according to the dictates of his/her conscience. We further believe that governments are established by God; that Christians, as good citizens, should be subject to governing authorities insofar as possible, recognizing our greater allegiance to God and His kingdom in matters wherein human authorities conflict with clear, biblical mandates.