Statement of Faith

The Biblical Studies Center Statement of Faith

Introduction

The Biblical Studies Center (BSC) faith statement affirms those areas of doctrinal agreement widely considered to be the historic Christian faith. The BSC is a religious studies institution of higher learning within a non-denominational context. We define non-denominational as follows:

A non-denominational Christian is a person or a group that associates with Christianity without being affiliated with any particular Christian denomination or religious institution. This belief system emphasizes the importance of the Bible as the primary source of guidance in matters of faith and conduct. Non-denominational Christianity is not a uniform entity, but rather encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and customs within the broader Christian framework. Despite sharing fundamental Christian principles, non-denominational communities may vary in their understandings and implementations of biblical teachings.

There are additional components of our faith statement that are important to the BSC mission. Freedom of belief is permitted on other matters of doctrine, as long as such interpretations do not impede our ministry. Christians who disagree with a significant portion of our statement of faith, as well as those with no or alternative religious beliefs, may participate in non-leadership roles. BSC faculty and staff must affirm our statement of faith to be a suitable fit for the BSC. If there are disagreements on certain nuances, they should be addressed on a case-by-case basis during the hiring process and throughout the individual's service with BSC. Ultimately, the BSC Executive Director or board of directors will determine the suitability of the individual for the organization. The levels of affirmation of the statement of faith mentioned above must also be accompanied by attitudes and actions consistent with those doctrinal affirmations. Discussions about doctrinal differences are encouraged to promote understanding of Christian diversity.

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired in all their very words¹ by God, and inerrant² in the original manuscripts (autographs). These sixty-six books alone are the final authority in faith and life.

1 “In all their very words” means the same as “verbal plenary.” That is, the inspiration is in the specific words and for the full extent of the text (as originally written). “Verbal” does not mean God audibly spoke each word to the human author.
2 For details on biblical inerrancy see the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. We recognize that this doctrine is not necessary either for salvation or for use in many approaches to apologetics. Rather, it is the final result of the apologetics enterprise in recognizing Jesus as God and His view of the complete accuracy of the Bible. Biblical inerrancy was assumed by the early Christian creeds, and for a good reason, because it is necessary as a foundation for all other Christian doctrine.

We believe in one God who is Creator of heaven and earth. He is infinite Spirit, eternal, almighty, and infallible, including His omniscience and knowledge of all future events. He is unchangeable in His essence, and all wise, just, and holy. The triune God eternally exists in one essence and three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God intervenes in the universe in many ways.

We believe in the special creation of the universe out of nothing and in the supernatural creation of many diverse biological categories. We also believe in the historicity of the biblical record, including the special creation of Adam and Eve (the first human male and female) as the literal progenitors of all humans.

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Eternal Word manifested in the flesh. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and He is fully God and fully man, having two distinct natures co-joined in one Person. Jesus died as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice for human sins and offers salvation by grace alone. He arose from the dead in the same physical body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died, and His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which will be given to each believer. Christ ascended into heaven, showing the perfection of His redemptive work. He will literally and bodily return to earth to finalize the divine plan for humanity.

We believe that humans were created in God’s image, and that in a discrete historical event Adam and Eve fell from their good relationship with God through sin. As a consequence of his sin, there is a divine curse on “the whole creation” (Romans 8:18-25 ESV) and all descendants of Adam became spiritually dead through having inherited a corrupt nature, Christ being the exception.

We believe that marriage is a conjugal, covenantal and non-incestual union ordained by God, of one adult biologically born male and one adult biologically born female, and historically understood by the Church, to be the most basic societal institution and the exclusive institution appointed by God for sexual intimacy. The BSC recognizes that only two sexes exist, male and female, and that each person’s sex or gender is settled by being born a biological male or a biological female. Sexuality and gender can be determined in no other way.

We believe that all human life is created by God in His image, including fetuses , the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to protect and value all human life.

We believe primary human identity lies in being made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27) and this bestows intrinsic dignity that is worthy of Christian compassion and justice. Sin is the ultimate problem and Christ’s redemption the ultimate solution. Redeemed people should promote genuine Social Justice within a biblical framework (Col. 2:8). So-called Critical Social Justice is corrupted by a focus on power and privilege rather than truth as the way to understand human relationships. “Social Justice” corrupted in this way misconstrues justice, grace, and compassion, and ultimately undermines the mission of the church and its gospel. We reject as anti-biblical any interpretation of Social Justice as a metanarrative inspired by the false components of Critical Theory (or Cultural Marxism). This views primary human identity in terms of opposing oppressor/oppressed groups along the axes of race, class, sexuality, gender, etc., granting special knowledge found only in the “lived experience” of the oppressed.

We believe that only those who come to the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior by faith alone, apart from good works, are justified before God, have become God’s children, and inherit eternal life with God.

We believe that the Holy Spirit, being the Third Person of the Trinity, convicts humans of sin, regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, and sets believers apart to a holy life; that He keeps and empowers believers.

We believe that Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead. The righteous will inherit eternal life and the kingdom prepared by God from the foundation of the world. The lost will inherit eternal punishment and be cast into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:31-46). The BSC recognizes that there is no unanimity about the timing or the specifics of Christ’s return. We do not affirm any eschatological position beyond that stated in the previous paragraph yet acknowledge that some Christians hold variations to this position. Free and open academic debate on these issues is encouraged.

We believe that the universal Church of Jesus Christ is composed of those who have been redeemed and washed in His blood, regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and that they are saved to worship and to serve. It is the responsibility and privilege of all who are saved to seek to win others to Christ and live a holy life.

The BSC Faith Statement does not exhaust the extent of our Christian belief. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, is the authoritative source of Christian doctrine. With respect to faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the board of directors is the final arbiter on the Bible’s application for the purposes of BSC as an organization.

While not a doctrinal issue, our ministry is eclectic in its methodology of apologetics and evangelism. Christianity can be supported in many ways, including classical and presuppositional apologetic methods (exclusive reliance on one approach is unwise). Humans, though corrupted by sin, can acquire important, but limited, knowledge from nature that points to God. Accordingly, we affirm the use of both natural revelation (nature) and special revelation (Scripture) to reason toward Christianity.