Doctrinal Statement
Carey International University of Theology (CIUT) accepts the Holy Scriptures as the only supreme and complete authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. We also recognize that certain Confessions of Faith can be helpful in expressing those things we believe. Although we are sensitive to areas outside the Baptist tradition, it is prudent that we publicly state our belief:
1. The Bible
We believe the Bible – the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the complete Word of God: as originally written, they were verbally inspired by the Spirit of God, and therefore entirely free from error. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. 2 Pt. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; Ro. 15:4; I Th. 1:13; I Tim. 3:13.
2. God
We believe in one God, creator of all; holy, sovereign, eternal; perfect in all his ways; existing in three distinct, equal persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ge.1:1; Is. 6:3; Ro. 11:36; Jo. 1:1,14, Jo. 14:9-11.
3. Christ
We believe in the full deity and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; in His eternal existence with the Father in preincarnated glory; in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return. Jo. 1:1,14; He. 4:14-15; Lu.1:35-37; Ro. 5:6-10; I Co. 15:3-8; He. 9:26-28.
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the full deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin, regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates, comforts and indwells those who believe in Jesus Christ. Jo.14:15-17, Jo. 16:7-11; Jo. 3:5-8; Ro. 8:9; I Co. 6:19-20.
5. Satan
We believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, the originator of sin, the archenemy of God and man. Mt. 4:1-11; Ge. 3:1-4; Job 1:6; 2 Co. 11:14; Re. 12:9.
6. Man
We believe that Adam and Eve were divinely created in the image of God: that they sinned, becoming guilty before God, and plunging the whole human race into sin: that the human race is now depraved in all their faculties: they cannot please God of themselves, and can only be saved by the grace of God. Ge. 1:27, Ge. 3; Ro. 3:9-18; Ep. 2:8-9.
7. Salvation
We believe that salvation is by the grace of God, through faith and not by works: that by the appointment of the Father, Christ suffered a substitutionary death for sinners: that salvation is by faith alone in the all sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ: and that those whom the Father saves shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of the Lord. Ep. 2:8-9; Ac. 2:23-24; Ro. 5: 1-2, 18-19, 8:30, 37-39; Jo. 10:25-30.
8. Holiness of life
We believe that those whom the Father has saved will show that their faith is genuine by walking in obedience to the commands of the Lord: that although perfection is not attainable in this life, the desire of the believer is to be conformed increasingly to the likeness of Christ. Ep. 1:4; I Co. 1:2; He. 12:14; I Pt.1:14-16, 2:9-12; Re. 1:5-6.
9. Future things
We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ: in the bodily resurrection of the righteous and the wicked: in the judgment of all: in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed, and in the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. Mt. 24; 1Th. 4:13-17; Re. 20: 11-15, Re. 21:1-8.
10. The local church
We believe the church is a company of believers, baptized by immersion, called out from the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ, voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word of God, the mutual edification of its members, the propagation of the faith and the observance of the ordinances. We believe it is a sovereign, independent body, exercising its own divinely appointed gifts, precepts and privileges under the lordship of Christ the Head of the church. We believe that its officers are pastors (elders) and deacons. We also believe there is great benefit in fellowship with other churches of like beliefs. Mt. 28:18-20; Ac. 2:41-47; 1Co.11:23-26; Ep. 4:1-3, 11-16; 1Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Pt.2:9.
11. Ordinances
We believe that there are only two ordinanc.es for the church regularly observed in the New Testament. They are commanded by the Lord, but have no efficacy in themselves.
· Baptism, which is the immersion of a believer in water, whereby he or she obeys Christ’s command and sets forth his or her identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Mt. 28:18-20; Ac. 2:37-39; Ro. 6:1-4.
· The Lord’s Supper, which is a unique nourishing of the believer by faith, as well as a memorial wherein believers partake of bread and wine symbolizing the Lord’s body and shed blood, proclaiming his death until he comes. Lu. 24:28-32; Jo.6:28-36; I Co.11:17-34.
12. The Lord’s day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day, given by the Lord specifically for public worship. It is the believer’s privilege and duty to attend the regular meetings of the church on that day. Lu. 24:1; Ac. 20:7; 1Co. 16:2; He. 10:24-25.
13. Church and state
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the benefit of society. We believe that leaders, lawmakers and those who enforce the laws are to be prayed for and conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except in any matter opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the King of all earthly rulers. We believe that every person has the right to practice and propagate their beliefs. Ex.22:28; Mt. 12:13-17; Ac. 23:5; Ro. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1-4.
14. Cultural Mandate
We are a community concerned about our world and we embrace the cultural mandate seeking to bring through Christ light, salt, and wholeness to a darkened world. Ge. 1:26-28; Mt. 28:19-20 .
15. The Solas of the Reformation
We believe in the 5 SOLAS of the Reformation: The Scriptures, being the only source of divine revelation (Sola Scriptura), teach us that salvation is by Grace Alone (Sola Gratia), through Faith Alone (Sola Fide), in Christ Alone (Solus Christus), to the Glory of God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria). 2 Tim. 3:14-17; Ep. 2:8-9; Ro. 10:1-4; He. 9:11-15, 23-28; 1 Co. 10:31.
More complete statements of the doctrines believed and taught are found in the historic Baptist Confessions known as the First London Confession (1644), and the Second London Confession (1689).