Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe in matters of faith and practice. We do believe, however, that the Statement of Faith accurately represents the teachings of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members,
All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in complete agreement with Statement of Faith. In all conflicts regarding the interpretation of the Statement of Faith, the pastor and the Board, on behalf of the church, have the final authority.
(A) Beliefs on Doctrine
(1) The Authority of the Scriptures.
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspirited: that is truth without error. It is eternal and shall remain throughout all eternity. It is the only completed and final revelation of the will of God. For BIG Seminary specifically, the King James Version 2 known as the Authorized Version for English speaking people will always be the Bible that is use by the Baptist International Gospel Seminary.
- By “The Holy Bible” we mean that the collection of sixty –six books, from the Bible book of Genesis to Bible book of Revelation, which as originally written does not only contains the Word of God but is the Word of God.
- By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Holy Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Psa. 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Pro.30:5 6; Lk.24:25-27; 44-45; jn.12:49; 17:17; Rom.3:4; I Pet.1:23; Rev.22:19; Isa.8:20; Eph.6:17; Rom.15:4; Lk.16:31; Psa.19:7-11
(2) The True God.
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, that executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Ex.15:11; 31:2-3; Gen.17:1; I Cor.8:6; Eph.4:6; Jn.4:24; Psa.83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jer.10:10; Rev.4:11; I Tim.1:17; rom.11:33; Mk.12:30; Matt.28:19; Jn.10:32; 15:26; I Cor.2:1-11; 12:4-6; I Jn.5:7; Phil.2:5-6; Eph.2:18; II Cor.13:14
(3) The Person and Work of Christ.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, eternal with the Father was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner: born of Mary, a virgin. He is both the Son of God and the Son of Man: He is both God and man. We believe that faith in Jesus Christ alone is the only means of eternal Salvation. That salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and Lord. That Jesus Christ will return physical body as he promised in John 14:1-3. Isa.7:14; Matt.1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Jn.1:2, 12, 14, 14:6; Col.2:9; Heb.4:14 15. 1 The ss 4:16-17; Rev 20:4-6; Matt 24:21-29; Acts 1:11; Rev 1:7; Rev 20:4-6; Rev 21:1-4.
(4) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and with God the Son and of the same nature; that He is active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth: that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, helps the believer. 3 Jon 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26, 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Matt.3:11; 28:19; Heb.9:14; Lk.1:35; Gen.1:1-3; II Thess.2:7, 13; Acts 11:16; 30-32; Eph.1:13-14; Mk.1:9; Lk.3:16, 24:49; Rom.8:14, 16:26-27; I Pet.1:2
(5) The Angels.
We believe that Angels were created by God. That Angels are worshipers, and messengers of God. We believe that salvation is by God’s grace alone, by faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone not in Angels. That, Angels are messengers, protectors, and guardians. Luke 1:26-38, Psalm 148:1-2; Heb 1:14; Psalm 91:11; Acts 5:19; Matt 18:10; 1 Peter 1:12. Luke 2:13-14; Matt 25:13.
(6) The Devil or Satan.
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be the tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, and the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of the powers of darkness-he is destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isa.14:12-15; Ezek.29:14-17; Rev.12:9; Jude 6; II Pet.2:4; Eph2:2; Jon.14:30; I Thess.3:5; Matt.4:1-3; I Pet.5:8; I Jn. 3:8; Matt. 13:39; Lk.22:3-4; Rev.12:7-9, 10,11; II Cor.11:13-15; Mk.13:21-22; I Jn.4:3; 2:22; II Jn.7; Rev.13:13-14; II Thess.2:8-11; Rev.19:11, 16, 20:1-3, 10; Matt.25:41
(7) Creation.
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and that man’s creation was not matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind” Gen.1:1, 11, 24, 26-27; 2:21-23; Ex.20:11; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Col.1:16-17; Heb.11:3; Jn.1:3; Rev.10:6; Rom.1:20; Jerm.1012; Neh.9:6
(8) The Fall of Man.
We believe that man was created in innocence in the likeness of God under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. That in Jesus Christ God has provided his salvation, faith, hope, and grace to all mankind. Gen.3:1-6, 24; Rom.1:18, 20, 28, 32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19; Ezk.18_19-20; Eph.2:1-3; Gal.3:22. John 3:15-18.
(9) The Atonement of Sin.
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace alone; by faith alone; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Jesus Christ alone, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us for an example by his death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, that the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, he is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Saviour. Eph.2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom.3:24; Jn 3:16; Matt.18:11; Phil.2:7, 8; Heb.2:14; Isa.53:4-7; Rom.3:25; I Jn.4:10; I Cor.15:3; II Cor.5:21; Jn.10:18; Gal.1:4; I Pet.2:24; I Pet.3:18; Isa.53:11; Heb.12:2; I Cor.15:20; Isa.53:12; Heb.9:12-15; Heb.7:25; I Jn.2:2
(B) Beliefs on cultural Issues
(1) Marriage and Sexuality
(i) We believe that the term “marriage” has only one, legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture. Marriage ceremonies performed in any facility owned, leased or rented by this institution will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their genders were determined at birth. Whenever there is a conflict in marriage, the church’s statement of faith, doctrines and biblical positions will govern. Gen.2:24; Eph.5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; I Cor.7:1-9.
(ii) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as defined in (i) above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, are contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity. Gen.2:24; Gen.19:5; Lev.18:1-30; Rom.1:26-29; I Cor.5:1; 6:9-10; I Thess.4:1-8; Heb.13:4
(2) Family Relationships
(i) We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (Pastors and elders) of the church. Gal.3:28; Col.3:18; I Tim.2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12
(ii) We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a wonderful gift and heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate training and discipline. (Gen.1:26-28; Ex.20”12; Deut.6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov.19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk.10:6-12; I Cor.7:1-16; Eph.5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col.3:18-21; I Pet. 3:1-7)
(3) Divorce and remarriage.
5 We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce except on the grounds of adultery. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of Pastor or Deacon (Mal.2:14-17; Matt.19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Rom.7:1-3; I Tim.3:2; 12; Titus 1:6; I Cor.7:10-16.
(4) Abortion.
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. We welcome all children, born and unborn as a righteous gift from God, we deny the unexcused taking of unborn human life. (Job.3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Is.44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer.1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:36, 44)
(5) Euthanasia.
We believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, facilitates premature death, is assuming a decision that is to be reserved for God. We do not believe that discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome is euthanasia (Ex.20:13; 23:7; Matt.5:21; Acts 17:28)
(6) Love.
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions. (Lev.19:18; Matt.5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom.12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil 2:2-4; II Tim. 2:24-25; Titus 3:2; I Pet. 3:8-9; I Jn 3:17-18)
(7) Lawsuits within the church.
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits within the Church. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Cor.6:1-8; Eph.4:31-32)
(8) Protection of Children.
We believe that children are a righteous heritage from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the church, the body of Christ, from any form of abuse or molestation. The church has zero tolerance for any person, whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. (Ps.127:3-5; Matt.18:6; Matt.19:14; Mark 10:14)
SIMENARY OPERATION
- Certificate of Theology: A three year post elementary program.
- Diploma of Theology: A 2-year post-secondary program.
- Associate of Theology: A 2 year post advanced-level program.
- BIGS will not offer a Bachelor’s Degree program.
- Master’s Degree [Missions, Christian Education, and Arts; Divinity; and Theology]
- Doctoral Studies [D Min; PhD]
Once you have been acceptaed, you will recieve an acceptance letter us. which is to be submitted to your institution
Congratulations on getting to this stage.