Doctrinal Statement
We wish to set forth a declaration of those things which are believed among us. Bible Baptist Seminary of the Philippines, Inc. requires the members of the faculty to hold the following tenets of faith in its entirety.
Of the Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired. It has truth without any inclusion of error in its matter. We believe that it shall remain to the end of the age. It is the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be compared and tested. We also believe that those books are being preserved by God until today. That preservation is in the form of the King James Bible today.
1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean the collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but Is the very Word of God.
2. By “inspiration” we mean the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, 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.
Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19
Of the True God
We believe there is one and only one, living and true God. An infinite, intelligent Spirit. The maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth. Glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love.
In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. They are equal in divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5;Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
Of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person of the same nature and is equal with God the Father and God the Son. He was active in the creation. He restrains the evil one (Satan) in this evil and unbelieving world, until God’s purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness. He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in the New Birth. He convicts, seals, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Acts 5:30-32;11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2
Of the Devil, or Satan
We believe Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors. But through pride and ambitious desire to be the Almighty, he fell and brought with him a host of angels. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the Antichrist and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1 Peter 5:8; 2Peter 2:4; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10;13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10
Of the Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation. It is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively. Man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness. The creation of man was not evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher form. All animal and vegetable life was made directly. God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
Since God created the mankind into genders distinctly male and female, we believe that God rejects any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is between a man and a woman. God has commanded that no intimate, sexual activity is to be engaged in outside of marriage. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; 2:21-23, 24; 19:5, 13;26:8-9; Exodus 20:11; Leviticus 18:1-30; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24;17:23-26; Romans 1:20, 26-29; 7:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6
Of the Fall of Man
We believe man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker. However, by voluntary disobedience to Gods’ law, man fell from his sinless and happy state. The consequence is that all mankind are now
Sinners. Not because of being forced into it, but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation all mankind is without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3
Of the Virgin Birth
We believe Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner. He was born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman. He was both the Son of God and at the same time, God the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:47; 1 John 5:20
Of the Atonement for Sin
We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the office of the Son of God as our mediator. That Son of God, by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature but he was without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience. By His death, were two results. One, He satisfied the Holiness of God. Also, by grace, He made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. His atonement was not just an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place. It was the Just dying for the unjust. Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. Then, He rose from the dead. He is now enthroned in heaven. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2
Of Grace in the New Creation
We believe that salvation means that a sinner must be born again. To be born again means that the person is a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is instantaneous and not a process. In the new birth, the one who is dead in trespasses and in sins, is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life. We believe that it is the free gift of God by His Grace. The new creation is brought about in a method we cannot understand. It is not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man. It is completely and only by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth. A result of this new birth is our voluntary obedience to the gospel. The evidence of this new birth, appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 5:1
Of the Freeness of Salvation
We believe in God’s grace. The blessings of salvation are made free to all who will accept the gospel. It
is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, repentant and obedient faith. Nothing
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except for his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel..
Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17
Of Justification
We believe that the great blessing that Christ secures to everyone who believes in Him, is Justification; Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life that is based on the principles of righteousness. It is given, not because of any works of righteousness that is done; but completely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. Because of that belief, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 4:1; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38
Of Repentance and Faith
We believe Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations and also are inseparable. They happen in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. Being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with genuine contrition, confession and request for mercy. At the same time receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13
Of the Church
We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of believers who have accepted Christ as their Lord and savior and are baptized in a Baptist Church and are associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church is to be the citadel and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace of Salvation, observing the ordinances of Christ, exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His laws contained in the Holy Bible. Its officers of the church are pastors (sometimes known as elders and bishop) whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures.
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in their relation before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor by the church.
We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission:
First, to make individual disciples;
Second to teach and instruct as He has commanded
Third, to build up the church;
We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only superintendent of the Church is Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel. Every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, or methods of function, the will of the local church is final.
Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2;12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:22-24; Colossians 1:18; 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:1-15, 12; Hebrews 13:4
Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a person who has accepted Christ as his personal savior. Baptism is performed in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church. It has a two part purpose. First. it is the solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Secondly, it is the key for the entrance into the Local Church. It is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation including the Lord’s supper. In that ceremony, participated in by the the members of the church, by the use of bread and the fruit of the vine commemorates the dying love of Christ. It is preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12
Of the Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that real believers will endure unto the end. Their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20; 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:19
Of the Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and absolute difference between the righteous and the wicked. That difference is a result of their faith in Christ and are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God. Because of that relationship, they are truly righteous in His concept. Also, everyone who continues in impenitence and unbelief, are wicked in the site of God and are under His curse. That distinction is consistent among men both in and after death. The result is the everlasting happiness and bliss of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17; 6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:18; 1 John 2:7,29; 5:19
Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment. It is established for the interests and good order of human society. Those in leadership of the government are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed. The exception only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17
Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures at their face and full value, concerning these subjects. About the Resurrection, we believe Christ rose bodily “The third day according to the Scriptures”. He then ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”. He is our only “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,” bodily, personally and visibly; the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.”
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2
Of Missions
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and,lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
John 20:21, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Romans 10:13-15, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Of the Grace of Giving
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith.
2 Corinthians 8:7, “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”
Under Grace we give and do not pay, the tithe – “Abraham GAVE the tenth of the spoils,” – Hebrews 7:2,4 – and this was four hundred years before the law and is confirmed in the New Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, “these ought ye to have done”, Matthew 23:23.
We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church.
Leviticus 27:30, “The tithe … is the Lord’s.”
Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
In the New Testament, it was the common treasury of the church.
Acts 4:34,35,37, “And brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles’ feet … Having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET.”
The following Distinctive clarify the historic, Bible Baptist Seminary of the Philippines, Inc. Position (given the current nuances of theological thought). It is expected that the faculty will uphold both the doctrinal statement and these Distinctive, as well as follow the approved Bible text.
Doctrinal Distinctives
1. We are historic fundamentalists rather than neo-evangelical.
2. We are separatists rather than ecumenical.
3. We hold that gifts of signs and revelations, have ceased. (e.g. apostleship, tongues and the interpreting of tongues).
4. We hold that Christ died for everyone and this atonement is unlimited.
5. We hold to classic dispensationalism as opposed to progressive dispensationalism.
6. We hold to a literal, premillennial return to and reign of Christ on the earth and a pretribulational rapture as opposed to posttribulationism or midtribulationism in our eschatology.
7. We are committed to the concept of a literal hell. We refuse any belief of a conditional, metaphorical or purgatorial view of hell.
8. We hold to exclusivism (for someone to be saved, he/she must be exposed to the gospel) rather than inclusivism or pluralism. (Inclusivism holds that one can be saved without hearing the gospel. Pluralism holds that Jesus is one of many saviors.)
9. We are committed to a literal-grammatical-historical hermeneutic rather than a reader