The following Evangelical Confession of
Faith is binding upon all students, faculty, administrators, and Christian
workers affiliated with Christ Evangelical Bible Institute (CEBI). It is
open-ended to permit individuals to adopt their own particular understanding and
interpretation in areas such as eschatology, water baptism, spiritual gifts,
local church structure, etc. This confession emphasizes the basics or
fundamentals of the historic biblical faith, realizing that Christians often
differ in areas other than in the basics of orthodox Christianity.
Students may take individual correspondence courses through Christ
Evangelical Bible Institute without subscribing to the Evangelical Confession of
Faith. Students who are pursuing the Christian Worker's Certificate must
subscribe to the following Confession of Faith. Exception(s) to one or more of
the fine points in the Confession of Faith may be granted if the prospective
student details the Biblical basis for his/her exception(s) to the point.
A. The Bible
We Believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments consisting of
sixty-six books, is the divinely-inspired written Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2
Pet. 1:19-21; Ps. 119:89; Heb. 4:12); that the Bible is the final authority for
believers in all matters of faith, doctrine and practice (Jn. 20:30-31; Acts
17:11); that all doctrinal teaching must conform to the Bible rather than be
based upon the opinions and pronouncements of religious hierarchy or tradition
(1 Tim. 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15; 4:2-5; Tit. 2:1; 2 Jn. 7-11; Jude 3-4).
B. The Creator and Creation
We Believe that God alone is Creator (Gen 1:1; Jn 1:1-3; Acts 17:24-28;
Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2; 11:3; Rev. 4:11) and that human beings have been formed in
the image of their Creator (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7).
C. The Trinity
We Believe in the tri-unity (trinity) of God, i.e., one God in three
distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Dt. 6:4; 5:7; Gen. 1:26; Mt.
28:19; 1 Jn. 5:7-8; Jn. 16:12-15); that this God is Creator of the universe
(Gen. 1:1,26; Jn. 1:3-4; Col. 1:16-17).
D. The Deity of Christ
1. We Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-3,14; 8:58; Col.
1:15-17; 2:9; Rom. 1:3-4; Jn. 10:30); that He was not simply a representation of
God, that He was and is God.
2. We Believe in the incarnation of Christ (1 Tim. 3:16); in His virgin
birth (Is. 7:14; 9:6; Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:3,5; Jn. 1:14; Gal. 4:4); that His
miracles literally took place (Jn. 2:11,23; 3:2; 6:2; 7:31; 12:37; Acts 2:22);
that He lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21); that He is the only mediator between
God and people (1 Tim. 2:5); that He is the believer's high priest and
intercessor (Heb. chapters 9 & 10); that it is only through Jesus Christ that we
can reach God (Jn. 14:6); and that He alone is Savior and Lord (Acts 4:12; Jn.
3:36; 5:24; Phil. 2:5-11).
E. The Substitutionary Death and Blood Atonement We Believe in the
substitutionary death and blood atonement of Jesus Christ to pay for the full
penalty of sin (Lev. 17:11; Is. 53; Heb. 2:17; 7:25-27; 9:12-15,22,26-28;
10:4-14,17-18; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; 1 Jn. 1:7; 2:2); that the sacrifice of Christ was
once and for all time and can never be repeated. Therefore, we reject the
concept of the mass as an on-going unbloody sacrifice for sin as unfounded,
unscriptural and a violation of the doctrine of the atonement (Heb. 7:23-28;
10:10-18; 13:20-21).
F. Bodily Resurrection
We Believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, thus
overcoming the power and penalty of sin, death and hell for all eternity (Mt.
28:6-7; Lk. 24:6; Jn. 20:19-20,26-29; 1 Cor. 15:1-10).
G. The Universality Of Sin
We Believe in the universality of sin (Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Is. 64:6; Jer.
17:9).
H. The New Birth
We Believe in the necessity of the new birth, i.e., born again experience,
as the only means of eternal salvation (Jn. 3:3,5,7, 16-18; 1 Jn. 5:4-6; 1 Pet.
1:23); that salvation is by the Grace of God to all who personally receive Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 10;9-13; Jn. 1:11-13);
that justification is by faith in Christ alone without the aid of human effort,
e.g. good works, sacraments, religious rituals, church membership (Rom. 1:17b;
5:1; 1 Pet. 1:8-9; Gal. 2:15-16; Eph. 2:8-9); that all believers are given a new
nature upon their new birth (2 Cor 5:17).
I. The Maintenance of Good Works We Believe that the maintenance of good
works in the lives of believers is the result of salvation (Eph. 2:8-10; Jn.
15:16; Tit. 3:8,14); that a faith without works is a dead faith (Ja. 1:21-25;
2:14-26).
J. The Holy Spirit
1. We Believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit (Jn.
16:7-15; Lk. 3:22; Acts 5:3,4b); that He baptizes all believers into the Body of
Christ at the time of their regeneration (1 Cor. 12:12-13,27; Rom. 8:9b; Tit.
3:5-7); that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19).
2. We Believe that all believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the
day of redemption (Eph. 1:11-14); that He gives assurance to believers of their
adoption into God's family (Rom. 8:16-17); that He sovereignly bestows spiritual
gifts upon whomsoever He wills (1 Cor. 12:1,4); that the Holy Spirit guides,
illumines and gives understanding to the Bible (Jn. 16:13); that He alone
divinely inspired the writers of scripture to record what is needful for eternal
salvation (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Jn. 5:39-40; 20:30-31); that He presently
glorifies and lifts up Jesus (Jn. 16:14); that He joins the believer in
intercessory prayer (Rom. 8:26-27).
3. We Further Believe that all believers are commanded to be filled with
the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), thus producing personal lives that glorify God
(Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:1-3; 5:12; 1 Tim. 4:12). We believe that being filled with
the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) is demonstrated in a godly walk and holy life that is
lived by the believer in accord with biblical standards (1 Pet. 1:14-16; Heb.
12:14; Rom. 8:5-14; 1 Cor. 3:15-16; 6:18-20).
K. The Assurance of Eternal Life
We Believe that the assurance of eternal life is the present possession of
every believer (1 Jn. 5:11-13; Jn. 3:36; 5:24) and is guaranteed (Rom. 8:1);
that this salvation is fully secure to those who are "in" Christ (Rom.
8:1,16-17, 28-39; Jn. 10:27-30); that all believers are included in God's family
without distinction, discrimination, partiality and/or favoritism (Gal. 3:26-29;
Eph. 2:19-22; Col. 1:21-22; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-13,27; Mt. 23:8). We
acknowledge that believers are the elect of God (Eph. 1:3-12; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom.
9:11-12; 11:4-6; Jn. 15:16).
L. The Return of Jesus Christ
We Believe in the imminent bodily return of Jesus Christ for His own (Acts
1:11; Jn. 14:3; Mt. 24; 1 Th. 4:14-18). We do not take a dogmatic position as to
the details of the Return of Christ, i.e., rapture, pre, mid, post-tribulation,
etc. We acknowledge room for differences of opinion and understanding in these
matters believing that what matters most is that Jesus will return for all those
who have personally received him as Savior and Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-52; Rev.
21:3-8).
M. The Future of All People
1. We Believe in the resurrection of the saved (Jn. 5:21; 1 Cor. 15:51-58;
Jn. 11:25) and the lost: the saved to life eternal with God (2 Cor. 5:8), and
the lost to eternal separation from the presence of God (Rev. 20:4-6; Jn.
5:28-29; 8:24; 2 Th. 1:7-9; Rev. 10:10-15); that there is a literal heaven
(Phil. 3:20; Jn. 14:2; Rev. 21:1-4,9-22:5) and a literal hell (Lk. 12:5; Rev.
21:8).
2. We Further Believe that so-called universalism, i.e., that everyone
will eventually be saved, is contrary to biblical teaching (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:36;
5:24; Acts 16: 30-31; Rom. 10:9-13). We also reject, as heresy, the teaching
that Christians will bring in Christ's rule through the establishment of a
Christian civil government, i.e., kingdom now/reconstruction theology (1 Th.
5:1-12; 2 Th. 2:1-12; 1 Ti 4:1; 2 Ti 3:1-5). We uphold the complete separation
of Church and State as an important biblical principle to the vitality of both
Church and State (Mt. 22:16-21).
N. The Devil and His Own
We Believe in the reality and personality of Satan (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Lk.
4:1-13; 22:31-32; Gen. 3:1-5; Rev. 20:10); the reality of a host of unseen
spirit beings in subjection and allegiance to him (Mk. 5:8-9); that believers
are to actively resist the devil and his host (Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Pet. 5:7-9; Jas.
4:7; Mk. 16:17); that all manner of occult practices, including so-called New
Age philosophy, concepts and practices are to be rejected and carefully avoided
by biblical Christians (Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Dt. 18:10-12; Is. 8:19: Rev. 21:8;
22:15).
O. The Church
1. We Believe that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ (Mt. 16:18), who
alone is its only rightful Head (Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23b); that the Church is
being built upon Christ (1 Cor. 3:11); that the Church-Universal [catholic] is
the Body of Christ in which all believers are included (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:16; 1
Cor. 12:12-13,27); that local churches are companies of born again [regenerate]
believers who have joined themselves together in common shared biblical faith,
doctrine, fellowship, practices and purpose (Acts 2:41-42,47; Heb. 10:23-25);
that scriptural local churches are fully autonomous, having called-out ministers
[servants] to equip, instruct, preach, teach, edify, and encourage (Eph.
4:11-16; Acts 6:1-6; 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; 1 Ti 3:1-13; 1 Ti 4; 1 Ti 5:17-20;
2 Ti 4:2-5); that the pulpit of the local church is to be kept free from all
religious apostasy, unbelief, and heresy (Jude 3-4; Gal 1:6-9); that
thanksgiving, praise, worship and prayer are to focus on the triune God rather
than on humanly devised structure, rituals, liturgy and forms (Jn 4:20-24; Eph
5:19-20; Col 3:15-17; 4:2; Ps 95:1-7a; Ps 100).
2. We Believe that the Church was a mystery hidden from the prophets of
the Old Testament but revealed in the New Testament and that the apostle Paul
was especially chosen to reveal the secrets of this mystery to us through his
writings (Eph 3:1-12; 5:32; Col 1:24-27).
3. We Believe that the true Church is the Body of Christ and is not
confined to any one particular sect or denomination but is made up of all born
again believers in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Gal 3:26-28).
4. We Believe there is a need for local churches to fellowship with one
another without developing a sectarian spirit. We reject a narrow
denominational-ism as unscriptural and divisive to the Body of Christ (1 Cor
1:10-18; 3:1-11), but we acknowledge the need to work together with others of
commonly-shared faith in fellowship and united mission.
P. The Great Commission
We Believe that the Lord's commission [command] to the Church is to share
the gospel in love (Mt 22:37-39) with all who will listen (Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15;
Lk 24:47-48; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16-17; 10:14-15); that evangelism should have
priority among biblical Christians (Is 6:1-8) followed closely by discipleship
(Mt 28:19-20); that "agape" love is the sign of true discipleship (Jn 13:34-35).
Q. The Scriptural Ordinances
1. We Believe that local churches are to practice the scriptural
ordinances of the Lord's Supper, i.e., communion/breaking bread (Lk 22:19-20; 1
Cor 11:23-31) and believer's baptism (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Rom 6:1-5; Col
2:12) according to New Testament practice (with baptism preferably by immersion
in the Name of the Lord). We do not believe that these ordinances or any other
religious ceremonies, rituals or observances impart salvation. Salvation is
entirely by grace through faith and that is not dependent on "works" [human
effort] (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5).
2. We Believe that these observances are to be reserved for those who have
already been born again, i.e., believers only.
R. The Priesthood of All Believers
We Believe in the Priesthood of all Believers (1 Pet 2:4-5,9; Rev 1:6);
that the people of God are to be one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28; Eph 2:11-13,19; Jn
13); that religious hierarchy violates this principle and, therefore, that there
should be no distinction among the people of God between "clergy" and "laity"
(Mt 23:1-12); that all believers are called by God into ministry within the
local church (1 Cor 12-12-17); that God calls some in the body of Christ to
special aspects of ministry (1 Cor 12:28-30; Eph 4:11-16). In that we are all
priests, we are commanded to offer unto God a sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15)
and to present our bodies to God as an act of spiritual worship (Rom 12:1-2).
S. God's Call to Holy Living
We Believe that God's call to every believer is to live a holy life (1 Pet
1:15-16); that biblical holiness is not a system of rules and regulations (Col
2:13-3:4) but, instead, clothing oneself with Christ (Rom 13:14) and crucifying
the old nature (Gal 2:20; 5:24), for believers are new creations in Christ (2
Cor 5:17); that believers are to subdue the old nature by taking positive action
(Gal 5:16-21; Eph 4:17-5:3; Phil 4:4-8; Col 3:1-17), which includes being filled
with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18) and, then, walking in step with God's Spirit
(Gal 5:25); that living a holy life is a life of fullness (Gal 5:22-23).
T. Responsible Sexuality
We Believe that Christians are called to live their sexuality in a
responsible manner; that monogamy is the biblical principle and, therefore,
precludes serial monogamy and promiscuous behavior; that lust in one's life can
be brought under control by the power of God (Prov 25:28; Gal 5:23; Tit
2:11-12); that homosexuality and heterosexuality are both acceptable to God when
lived and acted upon in a responsible manner (Tit 1:15; Col 3:17; Eph 2:11-22;
Rom 8:1; 1 Pet 2:10).
U. Accountability and Scriptural Discipline
1. We Believe that there is a need for Christian accountability applicable
to individual believers as well as to church leadership in local churches and
ministries (Rom 14:12; Heb 4:13; 13:17; Mt 7:1-5).
2. We Further Believe that all discipline is to be carried out in love and
only in proper scriptural order (Mt 18:15-17; Gal 6:1; 1 Ti 5:19-20; 1 Cor
5:1-6,8).
My signature below indicates that I have read The Evangelical Confession
of Faith (Articles A through U) and that I subscribe, without reservation, to
all of the tenets contained therein.
Signature_________________________________
Date_____________________________________
My signature below indicates that I have read The Evangelical Confession
of Faith (Articles A through U) and that I subscribe, without reservation, to
all of the tenets contained therein with the following exception(s): (Exceptions
may be detailed on the back side of this page when it is printed or in a
separate Email.)
Signature_________________________________
Date_____________________________________
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