What We Believe

Members of the board of Bishops, recognize that any doctrinal statement is but a fallible human attempt to summarize and systematize the riches of an infallible divine revelation. But this in no way detracts from the importance of such a statement.

​

The affirmations which follow carefully specify our teaching position with regard to the major biblical doctrines, and thus provide a framework for ICU curriculum and instruction at its teaching institutions.

​

They also provide an anchor to protect ICU against theological drift. For this reason, members of the board of Bishops, are annually required to sign a statement affirming agreement with this Statement of Faith.

​

​

​

​

The Authority of Scriptures

We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to man, and thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

​

We teach that the Word of God is an objective, propositional revelation (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16), absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed.

​

We believe and teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their  individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man (2 Peter 1:20-21) without error in the whole or in 2 the part (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16)... Continued

Theology

​

We believe and teach that there is but one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), an infinite, all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience. 

​

God the Father

​

We believe and teach that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9). As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36)... Continued

​

Christology

​

We believe and teach that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies, and in these He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9). 

We believe and teach that God the Father created according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by whom all things continue in existence and in operation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2).

​

We believe and teach that in the incarnation the eternal Son, the second Person of the Trinity, without altering His divine nature or surrendering any of the divine attributes, made Himself of no reputation by taking on a full human nature consubstantial with our own, yet without sin (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26)... Continued

Pneumatology

​

Pneumatology has its origin in the Greek word. (Pneuma) meaning spirit wind, or breath. Therefore, pneumatology is the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. This doctrine 5 states the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit (for there is no difference between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit; both the words  "Ghost" and "Spirit" are rendered the same in the Greek and are used interchangeably) is the third person of the Trinity, proceeds from the Father and Son, is of the  same substance, equal in power and glory, and is together with the Father, and the Son, to be believed in, obeyed, and worshiped.

​

We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), emotions (Ephesians 4:30), will (1 Corinthians 12:11), eternality (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscience (Isaiah 40:13-14), omnipotence (Romans 15:13), and truthfulness (John 16:13)... Continued 

Anthropology

​

Anthropology comes from the Greek word "Anthropos" meaning man.
 

We believe and teach that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9).

​

We believe and teach that God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11). 

​

We believe and teach that in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual... Continued

Soteriology

​

Soteriology comes from the Greek word (Sotereo) meaning salvation. It deals with the application of the work of  redemption to the sinner and his restoration to divine favor and communion with God.

We believe and teach that salvation is wholly of God by race on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

​

Regeneration

​

We believe and teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through
the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24), when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit ... Continued 

Ecclesiology

​

The word "Church" which is derived from (Kuptakos), "of or belonging to the Lord" is represented in the New Testament by the Greek word (Ekklesia). It is this word ekklesia that was first applied to the Christian society by Jesus Christ himself
in St. Matthew 16:18. 

​

We believe and teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).

​

We believe and teach that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)... Continued

Holy Angels

​

We teach that angels are created beings and are therefore  not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9).

​

Fallen Angels

​

We teach that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his  Creator (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19), by taking  numerous angels with him in his fall (Matthew 25:41;  Revelation 12:1-14), and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:1-15).

​

We teach that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10); the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20); and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Isaiah
14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

Eschatology

​

The doctrine of last things deals with the final conditions of the world, or the end of time. Endeavoring to understand  what the Bible teaches, we begin with the premise that the Bible alone supplies us with the only authentic revelation of the future of Saint and Sinner alike, and it is our duty to  exhort all men, as Amos did, to "prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12).

​

We believe and teach the doctrine of last things is a powerful factor in shaping conduct, quickening conscience, and enforcing the obligations of service for God and man.

​

Death

​

We believe and teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8) that there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24)... Continued 

​