Bible Center Church Doctrinal Statement

 

Article III

    DOCTRINE: We believe the whole Bible (66 books) to be the inspired, infallible, inerrant (in the original manuscripts) Word of God. The Bible is the final source of authority in matters of faith, principle, and practice (II Timothy 3:16-17). We subscribe to the dispensational interpretation of Scripture (Ephesians 1:10). We abide by the following statement of faith:

    1. GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Triune God...one person manifest in three personalities;    Father (Isaiah 64:8); Son (John 1:1,2,14); and Holy Spirit (John 14: 16-26).

    2. JESUS CHRIST. His virgin birth and deity (Luke 1:35); His death, burial and bodily resurrection (I Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 2:32-36).

    3. HOLY SPIRIT. He is a person. He strives with and convicts the unsaved. He regenerates, indwells at the time of salvation, seals, enlightens, guides and comforts the believer. (John 16:8; I Corinthians 6: 19-20).

    4. SATAN. The personality of the Devil as the enemy of Christ, saints and angels (Job 1: 6-7).

    5. CREATION. The literal seven-day Genesis account of creation (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1: 16-17).

    6. MAN. He was created in the moral image of God. He fell (Genesis 3). The universal depravity of the human race. By nature man is separated from God by sin and is therefore lost (Romans 3: 19-23).

    7. SALVATION. Man is saved by the grace of God through faith in the sacrificial death, and blood atonement of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25;10:9-13). Justification and eternal life according to Acts 13: 38-39; Romans 6:23; and John 10: 28-29. We believe that all who are truly born again are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the sealing of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 1:6; I Peter 1:3-5; I John 5:9-13).

    8. THE CHURCH. We believe that all believers in this age comprise the Church in its universal and invisible aspect and are a part of the Body and bride of Christ. We further believe in the local manifestation of the church, which is the center of God's methods and plans for this age. The local church consists of a group of born again, baptized believers who have organized themselves according to the Scriptures for the purpose of edification, fellowship, observance of the ordinances, and evangelization of the world (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 12:12-13, 27). There are two ordinances given to the local church by its Head, Jesus Christ. These ordinances give witness to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and our identification with Him by faith.

       A. Baptism. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, showing forth in a solemn and beautiful picture our identification with a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. (Matthew 28: 19; Acts 8: 36-39).

       B. Lord's Supper. This symbolic communion of Christians with Christ at the Lord's Table is open to all born again believers who are in fellowship with God. The Lord's Supper shall be commemorated at least once a quarter. (Mark 14:22-25; I Corinthians 11: 23-32).

    9. THE SECOND COMING. We believe in a pre-tribulational rapture (catching away) of the Church. We believe in the personal and pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth. We believe in the establishment of the Kingdom or Millennium during which Christ will reign for one thousand years on and over the earth in fulfillment of the promises to God's Old Testament covenant people, Israel. (I Thessalonians 4: 13-18; I Corinthians 15: 51-53; Philippians 3: 20-21; Acts 1:9-11; Zechariah 12:10; 14:4-9; Revelations 20:4-6; Isaiah 9: 6-7).

    10. HEAVEN AND HELL.

     (1) Heaven. The eternal home of bliss and glory for all who through faith have been made righteous before God. We believe that those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, and will be eternally with Christ. We further believe that all of the righteous will be raised from the dead to reign with Christ and share in His glory. (John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:20- 23; Romans 8:16-18; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 21-22).

     (2) Hell. The eternal punishment of all the lost and guilty without Christ. We believe that the lost, because of their unbelief and sin, are under the just condemnation of God and will suffer everlasting, conscious punishment for sin. We further believe that they will be raised from the dead to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God to receive their final judgment. (John 3:18; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15).

    11. SEPARATION AND SERVICE.

     (1) All believers are called unto a life of separation to God from the world, sinful habits and practices.  (Romans 12:1-2: James 4:4; I John 2:15-17; II Corinthians 5:17; 6:14).

     (2) Every Believer is obligated to witness by deed and word, to intercede for others in prayer, and to proclaim the Gospel to all the world. (Philippians 1:29; I Timothy 2:1; I Thessalonians 5:17; Acts 1:8).

     (3) We recognize our charismatic brethren as fellow believers in Christ, yet we do not ascribe to the charismatic teaching of prophecy, tongues, healing, and the raising of the dead as gifts of the Spirit employed today. These gifts were foundational sign gifts for the establishment of the Church and ceased with the completion of the New Testament Canon (I Corinthians 13:8-13)

   12. HUMAN SEXUALITY.

 As a wonderful gift from God, sexual intimacy is to be expressed between a man and woman within the commitment and love of a marital relationship. (Genesis 2:24-25; Proverbs 5:18; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Hebrews 13:4) Therefore, we believe that any other form of sexual intimacy is both immoral and a perversion of God's perfect gift. (Leviticus 18:1-30; Proverbs 6:32; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Romans 1:26-27)