statement of faith
Adopted by the Arizona Bible College Board of Trustees on October 18, 2021.
We believe there is one living and true God that has eternally existed in perfect unity as three equally divine persons known as the Trinity– God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30, John 17:3.
We believe the Scriptures of the sixty-six books of the Bible to be the only inspired and authoritative Word of God, without error in the original autographs, and sufficient for life and godliness.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21.
We believe that man was created by God in His image and made distinctly male or female. We believe man was tempted by Satan, fell, and sin entered the world. We believe all people are sinners by nature and thus alienated from God.
Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21, Ephesians 2:3.
We believe God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, is the creator and sustainer of all things and His kingdom rules over all according to His will and for His glory alone. We believe that by His will He graciously provided salvation and reconciliation to mankind through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1, Psalm 103:19, 135:6; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:4-14; 1 Peter 1:1-5.
We believe God the Son, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God. We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death on the cross, His burial and resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven, and His future second coming in power and glory.
John 10:33; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 4:15, 7:26; John 2:11; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9; John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11; Philippians 2:5-8.
We believe God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, regenerates and dwells within all believers, convicts the world of sin, and guides and empowers believers and the Church toward godly living and service. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is necessary for salvation from sin and reunification with God. We believe salvation is possible only by the gift of God’s grace and only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18; John 3:16-19, 5:24; Romans 3:23, 5:8-9, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3-5.
We believe in and anticipate the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ and the final judgement of both the saved and the lost. We believe the dead will be raised bodily and be judged with the living. We believe those who are saved will be resurrected to eternal life and those who are lost will be resurrected to eternal damnation.
Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11, John 5:28-29.
We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation become members of the Body of Christ, the one universal Church, in which Jesus Christ is the head. We believe that Scripture instructs believers to gather locally for teaching of Scripture, prayer, worship, fellowship, observance of ordinances, which include baptism and the Lord’s Table, and making disciples throughout the world through outreach.
Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 22:19-20.
We believe God created and established marriage as an institution defined only as a lifelong union between one man and one woman. We believe that marriage reflects Christ’s love and sacrifice for the Church, with Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride.
Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33.
We believe God created and purposed sexual activity to be reserved only between one man and one woman who are married to each other. We believe any other sexual activity outside of God’s intended purpose would be contrary to His will and sinful.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 15:18-20.
We believe that God created human beings in His own image and in two distinct and equally important biological sexes, male or female. We believe that rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s sovereign plan for one’s life.
Genesis 1:26-27.
We believe that sin can distort human understanding and practice of marriage, gender, and sexual activity. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that all people must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.
Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.