Theological Statement

The only complete statement of faith is contained in the whole of Scripture. Listed below is a summary of the major truths we consider vital to the work of Biblical Counseling Ministries.

1.      We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of God in its totality and that it is the only inerrant, infallible rule of faith and practice for every believer.

2.      We believe that there is but one God, who is the Maker, preserver, and Ruler of all things, infinitely perfect in all ways, and fully worthy of our highest love, reverence, and obedience.

3.      We believe that God is personal, and He reveals Himself as the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is the witness of the Scriptures, confirmed in Christian experience, that the God Who creates and sustains us is the God Who redeems us in Christ, and the God Who works in our hearts as the Holy Spirit; and we believe that this threefold revelation manifests the true nature of God.

4.      We believe that God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures, and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the responsibility of man.

5.      Election is God's eternal choice of some persons into everlasting life with Him- not because of their own merit, but of Christ's mercy for them - by which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.

6.      We believe that every man is a sinner and condemned in the sight of God and deserves eternal hell.

7.      We believe in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God Who was crucified for our sins and buried and rose again for our justification; we believe He ascended bodily into heaven and is coming again.  He is: the only mediator between fallen man and God; the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church; and Sovereign Lord of the universe.

8.      Regeneration is a work of God's free and special grace in which the Holy Spirit changes the hearts of those who have been forgiven of their sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly so that they may understand the Word of God, and practice His will in love and holiness as a new creation.

9.      We believe that repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person, being by the Holy Spirit made aware of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it with Godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, and with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God, so as to please Him in all things.

10.  We believe that saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

11.  Justification is an act of God's grace, by which He fully acquits us from all sin- not by any merit of our own works- but by faith in Jesus Christ, who has satisfied the just penalty for sin.  

12.  Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them.  By supplying His grace and strength, those who have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ are conformed into the character and likeness of Christ, seeking to live a holy and heavenly life, and fully enabled to live in obedience to His will.

13.  Those whom God has accepted through His Son Jesus, and sanctified through the Holy Spirit, will never totally or finally fall away from salvation, but will persevere to the end through his abiding and unchanging grace.

14.  We believe Jesus to be the head of the Church, which is made up of all born-again believers in Him throughout the ages. As the body of Christ, the Church as led by the Holy Spirit, is the instrument through which God continues to proclaim and apply the benefits of His redemptive work and to establish His Kingdom.

15.  We believe that baptism in water and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus which is obligatory for every believer. This water baptism is a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of the remission of sins and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in a newness of life. This ordinance shall be a prerequisite to church membership.

16.  The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance commanded by Jesus Christ in which we eat unleavened bread and wine in remembrance of Him. Such observance shall continue among His Church until the end of the World. This is in no sense a sacrifice but designed to commemorate His death with the intent of confirming the faith as a bond, pledge and renewal of the believer’s communion with him and of their church fellowship.

17.  The Lord's day , or Sabbath, the first day of the week, in which Christians are to commemorate the Lord's Resurrection by keeping the day holy with public worship, private devotion, and rest.

18.  We believe in liberty of conscience in which God alone is Lord of the conscience; and he has left us free from the doctrines or commandments of men, which are in any way contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates ordained by God are subject to all lawful things commanded by man and man is to yield to such commandments in the Lord, not in wrath, but for conscience sake.

19.  After death the bodies of men return to dust; the spirits of righteous men return immediately to God to rest with Him. The wicked man shall be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

20.  God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ and when everyone shall receive glory according to their deeds. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment. The righteous shall enter into everlasting life.