Statement of Faith

This is the statement of faith of BCIS.

We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, was supernaturally inspired by God so that all its words are the true revelation of God; it is therefore without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith, life, and conduct.
We believe in one God, Creator, and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence but distinct in person and function.
We believe that the Father is the first person of the Trinity, and the source of all that God is and does. From Him the Son is eternally generated, and from Him, the Spirit eternally proceeds. He is the designer of creation, the speaker of revelation, the author of redemption, and the sovereign of history.
We believe that Jesus Christ, without any change in His eternal deity, became man through conception of the Holy Spirit and virgin birth, which He died on the cross, a perfect and complete sacrifice, in our stead and for our sin according to the Scriptures. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where at the right hand of the Majesty on High He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict of sin and regenerate the sinner upon belief in Christ; at the time of regeneration baptizing the believer into the one body of which Christ is the head and to sanctify, indwell, guide, instruct, fill, and empower the believer for godly living and service. He restrains sin and Satan until Christ comes again.
We believe that Adam, the first man was directly created by God in His own image, but willfully disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into the world. As a result, all persons are sinners from conception, which is evident in their willful acts of sin; and they are therefore subject to eternal punishment, under the just condemnation of a holy God. The entire human race is, therefore, lost and only through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
We believe that the atoning death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground of justification and salvation for all who believe and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by personal faith are born of the Holy Spirit and by Him sealed to the day of redemption.
We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the hope of His appearing has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe that each believer may receive what is due Him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We believe that the return of Christ for all believers is imminent and believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting and conscious punishment separating forever from God in hell.
We believe that a church is a local assembly of all believers who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the head. We believe that a church is, under the discipline of the Word of God and the lordship of Christ, to carry out the Great Commission into the world.
We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by a local church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. A local church is self-governing and functions through the ministry of gifts given by the Holy Spirit to each believer.
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as will honor and glorify and not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord and that it is commanded of God to remain separate from false doctrine, sinful pleasures, practices, and associations.