Doctrinal Statement
We believe in the right of every individual, or group, to have their own belief system. In accordance with this principle, what follows is a statement reflecting the position of Tacoma Bible College on the cardinal doctrines of our faith.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have been given by the verbal plenary inspiration of God and therefore are inerrant (Ps. 19:7-13; 119:89, 105). They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are fully inspired by God and, therefore, serve as the authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life, and ministry (II Timothy 3:15-17). The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded, or changed by tradition or any supposed later revelation (Isa. 8:20; Gal. 1:8-9). Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:29-33; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23). All redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the most accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition, and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating an understanding through the Word and applying the message to the heart (I Cor. 2:7-16).
God is triune. There is but one God, infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love (Deut. 6:4; I Cor. 8:4,6; Isa. 44:6-8; 57:15; I John 4:8; Gen. 17:1; Ps. 145:3). In the unity of the Godhead, there are three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are co-existent, co-equal, co-eternal (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; I Cor. 12:4-6; II Cor. 13:14). The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is true Deity. One God - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is the foundation of Christian faith and life (John 14:23,25; 15:26; 16:13-15).
God is the Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3; Ps. 33:9). By His Word, all things were made. And through the same Word, He daily sustains all of His creation (John 1:3, 10; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:2-3; Ps 147:13; Rom. 8:28; John 3:16). He made man for fellowship with Himself and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory (Rom. 11:36; Rev. 4:11).
Man was created male and female, in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Through the original sin of man (Adam and Eve), mankind has fallen from God and has become corrupt in his whole nature. By himself, he is totally incapable of returning to God (Rom. 5:12; 16-17; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:1-3; John 6:44). Fallen, sinful men, whatever their character or attainments, are eternally lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ (John 3: 3-7; Acts 4:12).
Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully man; the only Savior for the sins of the world (John 1:1, 20:28; Col. 1:19; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:14-18). He was the Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and was perfect in nature, teaching and obedience (John 1:14; Matt. 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:35; John 8:29). He died on the cross as the vicarious sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory (John 19:33-37; Rom. 4:24-25; I Cor. 15:1-3; II Cor. 5:21; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2; Acts 1:9-11; I Thes. 4:16-17). He is the Head of His body (the Church), and Victor over all the powers of darkness. He now reigns at the right hand of God the Father (Col. 1:8, 2:15; Heb. 1:3-4).
Salvation, the gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1; Acts 16:31). Turning from sin in repentance, looking to Christ and His vicarious death, man is born anew into eternal life by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:4-7; Acts 3:19-21). There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which man may be saved (Acts 4:12). Through His great redemptive act, there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world, and freedom in His Spirit (Eph. 1:17; Gal. 6:14-15).
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; unites man to Jesus Christ in faith; brings about the new birth; and swells within the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Holy Spirit, thus enabling them to grow in sanctification (John 15:8-10; I Cor. 12:13; John 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9-11; Gal. 5:22-23; II Cor. 3:17-18). The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges, and kings in ancient times; anointed Jesus Christ for His ministry, filled the church with Pentecostal power, and will transform the mortal bodies of believers into one like His own immortal body in the glory of the resurrection (I Peter 1:2, 10:12; II Peter 1:20-21; Luke 4:1, 18-21; Acts 2:4, 4:31; Rom. 8:11; Phil. 3:21; I Cor. 15: 51-52). The Holy Spirit is imparted to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior (Acts 2:38-39; Luke 11:13). The promise of the Father that the Holy Spirit would be sent in power was not only made to the early disciples, but continues through generations to come. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God's sovereign action for edifying the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:7-11, 28-31; 14:1, 13; Rom. 12:6-8; I Pet. 5:10-11). The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers were given by the Lord Jesus Christ for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for edifying the Body of Christ. These Holy Spirit directed gifts to the Body of Christ are the direct result of the Lord's promise to guide all believers into the truth (Eph. 4:7-16; Lk. 11:28; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).
The Church, which is the Body and future Bride of Christ, is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments or ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, as well as the practice of good works (Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:22; 5:23, 27; I Peter 2:5, 9-10; Eph 2:10; Titus 2:14). The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and to make disciples, bringing the Gospel into every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls. When God transforms human nature, this then becomes the chief means of society's transformation (Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 10:4-5).
The consummation of all things includes the visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, The judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth (I Thes. 4:13-17; Rev. 1:7; Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:11-15; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 21:1-4). Satan, with his hosts and all men outside of Christ, is separated eternally from the presence of God, enduring eternal punishment (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:47-48; II Thes. 1:7-10). All who have been redeemed by Christ from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be in the presence of God forever.
Special Creation: We believe the triune God created the universe apart from the pre-existing materials and without any evolutionary process. We believe in the historicity of the first eleven chapters of Genesis.
Satan: We believe that Satan was originally a perfect being. He rebelled against God (as a result, was depraved, the Devil and became adversary of God and His people, and the leader of a host of angels who fell with him). Satan has been judged and defeated at the cross and awaits his ultimate doom at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.