BSM Doctrinal Beliefs
1. The Bible/The Holy Scriptures
BSM holds that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God. BSM holds that the Bible was written by men who were under the perfect supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit; thus the Bible is divinely inspired and complete in its revelation. BSM holds that the canon of Scripture is closed and inspiration has ceased. BSM holds that the Bible can only be understood through the illumination of the Holy Spirit and its meaning determined by the historical, grammatical, literary, and contextual use of the author’s written language, comparing Scripture with Scripture. BSM holds that the Bible’s chief theme is redemption through Jesus Christ. BSM holds that God’s intentions, commands, and truth as revealed in the Bible are inerrant and the supreme and final authority in all areas that it addresses, both directly and indirectly. Therefore, BSM holds that the teachings of Scripture are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, truths, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
(Deut. 12:32, Ps. 19:7-9; 33:4; 119:142, 151, 160; Prov. 30:5-6; Jn. 17:17; 1Cor. 2:9-14; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 1Pet. 1:10-12; 2Pet. 1:19-21)
2. God/The Holy Trinity
BSM affirms the tri-union of God, that is, one personal God, infinitely perfect Spirit, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, who eternally, equally, and completely exists in three persons/members: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence and characteristics but distinct in person and function; though their functions are interchangeable.
(Gen. 1:1, 26-27, Ps. 18:30; 90:2, Matt. 28:19, Jn. 1:1-4, 14-18; 4:24; 15:26, Rom. 8:9, 2Cor. 3:17; 13:14, 1Pet. 1:2, Rev. 1:5-8; 21:5-6; 22:12-13)
3. God the Father
BSM affirms God the Father, the first person/member of the Trinity, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, and same nature with the Son and the Holy Spirit. BSM holds that, though eternally equal in one nature, the Son and the Holy Spirit willingly and lovingly submit to the Father. BSM holds that the Father sent the Son as the Incarnate. BSM holds that the Father redeems those whom believe in the Son. BSM holds that the Father sends the Holy Spirit to dwell with those whom He redeems. BSM holds that the Father loves, sanctifies and prunes believers, and judges unbelievers.
(Matt. 15:13; 23:9; 24:36; 25:34; 26:29, 53, Lk. 10:21, Jn. 6:37-40; 8:38-42, 50, 54; 14:16, 26, 31; 15:1-2; 17:1-26, Acts 1:7, Col. 1:13-14, 19-20, 1Pet. 1:3-5, 17)
4. God the Son, Jesus Christ
BSM affirms the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person/member of the Trinity, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, and same nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit. BSM holds that the Son willingly and lovingly submits to the Father. BSM holds that Jesus Christ, sent by the Father, is forever fully God and fully man (two distinct natures inseparably united in one Incarnate Person), the preeminent One, was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, gave His life on the cross to atone for sin according to the Scriptures, arose bodily from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death, ascended into heaven at the right hand of God the Father, (where He is now, our High Priest and Advocate), saves and sanctifies all those who believe in Him, and will personally and visibly return to the world in power and glory according to His promise.
(Gen. 3:15, Isa. 9:6, Matt. 1:20-25; 11:27; 24:29-44; 25:31-46, Jn. 3:35; 5:18-23; 10:18, 36-38; 12:49-50; 14:31, Acts 1:9-11; 2:22-24; 3:13-15, Rom. 3:23-25; 5:6-10, 1Cor. 15:3-8, Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:15-18, 1Tim. 3:16; 6:14-15, Tit. 2:11-14, Heb. 4:14-15; 5:9; 7:24-27, Rev. 1:5-8)
5. God the Holy Spirit
BSM affirms the Holy Spirit, the third person/member of the Trinity, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, and same nature with the Father and the Son. BSM holds that the Holy Spirit willingly and lovingly submits to the Father and the Son. BSM holds that the Holy Spirit is given from the Father to exalt Christ, convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment, to regenerate, indwell, illuminate, sanctify, comfort, and seal forever those who believe in Jesus Christ. BSM holds that the Holy Spirit keeps and empowers believers day-by-day. BSM holds that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts in believers by which they serve God for His kingdom, divine will, and the building up of the Body of Christ. BSM holds that He also enlightens and empowers the believer and the Church in worship, evangelism, and service. BSM holds that the Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the Word of God and the ultimate Guide and Power for daily living.
(Jn. 3:3-7, 34; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15, Acts 1:2, 8, 16; 9:31, Rom. 8:2, 6-16, 26-27; 14:17; 15:13, 1Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 6:11; 12:1-7, 11, 13, 2Cor. 1:22; 3:17-18; 5:5, Gal. 4:6; 5:5, 16-18, 22-25; 6:8, Eph. 1:13-14; 3:18, 22; 4:30, Tit. 3:5-6, 1Jn. 3:24; 5:6)
6. Creation
BSM holds that God created all of Creation—angelic beings, the universe and all within it. BSM holds that God created the origin of everything in the heavens, the earth, and all the universe—ex nihilo—by His word. BSM does not affirm any theory or other belief that asserts itself different than the literal interpretation of the Genesis account of Creation. BSM holds that a proper understanding of science does not require that all phenomena in nature must be explained solely by reference to physical events, laws, and chance. BSM holds that all God created was perfect in its origin and then sin entered and has corrupted God’s perfect creation. BSM holds that God judged creation on earth with a worldwide flood. BSM holds that this particular aspect of God’s creation, the heavens and the earth, will be judged again and destroyed by God with fire on the last day.
(Gen. 1:1-31; 7:1-24, Ps. 98:9; 100:3; 102:25-26, Prov. 16:4, Isa. 34:4; 42:5; 51:6; 66:15-16, Jer. 27:5, 1Chron. 16:26, 2Chron. 2:12, Neh. 9:6, Matt. 24:35, 2Pet. 3:5-7, 10-12, Rev. 20:11; 21:1)
7. Mankind & The Fall
BSM holds that mankind (humankind) was created uniquely different from all other Creation as a living being (soul) in the image of God, possessing consciousness, cognition, volition (will), and emotions in order to have a relationship with the living God and one another. BSM holds that Adam—the first man—willfully disobeyed God bringing sin and death into the world, and as a result all people are born separated from God, with a “sin nature”, and under God’s judgment. BSM holds that every person is completely depraved from birth, which means that every aspect of one’s humanness (one’s entire character) is corrupted—one’s thoughts, motives, emotions, words and actions—and one has no sincere desire or ability to rightfully please God. BSM holds that no one is able to deliver one’s self from God’s righteous wrath on their sin, because all are “dead in trespasses and sins”. BSM holds that humanity does have free-will and can do good things, but one’s good works have no merit towards God nor can it alter one’s sinful condition.
(Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7, 21-23; 3:1-24, Job 15:14-16; 25:4, Ps. 51:5; 95:6; 143:2, Prov. 20:9; 21:10, Isa. 42:5, Jer. 13:23; 17:9, Mat. 7:11; 15:18-20, Rom. 3:9-20; 5:12-19; 6:19-20; 7:5, 13-25; 8:7-8, Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19, 1Jn. 1:8)
8. Salvation
BSM holds that the only remedy for mankind’s sin condition and penalty is salvation through the grace of God demonstrated in the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. BSM affirms, therefore, that all who personally trust in Jesus Christ and the salvific work He accomplished are saved from sin’s penalty and power, are instantaneously born again (a new creation/regenerated) by the Holy Spirit, and shall spend eternity in God’s personal presence. BSM holds that those who do not personally trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and their Lord reject the salvation of God and will remain a slave to sin and pay the penalty for their sin by their eternal separation from God. BSM holds that the true believer is secure in their salvation for all of eternity because the work of salvation has been completely done by God alone. BSM holds that salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of any person.
(Mk. 1:15, Jn. 1:12, 3:3-7, 14-18, 36; 5:21, 24; 6:37-40, 44, 47; 8:24; 10:26-29, Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:21-28; 5:1, 6-10; 6:23, Gal. 3:22-26, Eph. 1:3-14; 2:4-9, Col. 1:21-23; 2:13-15, 2Tim. 1:9-10, 12, Tit. 3:5-7, Heb. 7:25, 1Pet. 1:1-5)
9. Sanctification
BSM holds to positional and progressive sanctification. BSM holds positional sanctification as to be we who are born-again are positionally seated spiritually with Jesus Christ in the heavenlies and therefore completely sanctified in Him positionally because we are completely in Him. BSM holds progressive sanctification as to be the process, started by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, by which we who are born-again are becoming like Christ (i.e. our being discipled by our Lord into the character likeness of our Lord, and our pruning by our Lord to bear more fruit of the Spirit) here on earth until we fully become like Christ when we are glorified after our life is over here on earth. BSM does not affirm complete sanctification here on earth. BSM holds that our progressive sanctification will be complete when we who are born-again are glorified after our life is over here on earth.
(Jn. 17:17, 19, Acts 20:32; 26:18, Rom. 6:15-22; 15:16; 8:29-30, 1Cor. 1:2, 30-31; 6:11, 2Cor. 5:9, 14-21, Eph. 1:20; 2:4-7; 5:25-27, 1Thess. 4:1-7; 5:23, 2Thess. 2:13, 2Tim. 2:21, Heb. 2:11; 9:13-14; 10:10-14; 12:14; 13:12, 1Pet. 1:1-2, 2Pet. 3:18, 1Jn. 2:3-6)
10. Eternity & End-times
BSM holds that there is a literal heaven where the throne and personal presence of God resides. BSM holds that we who are born-again through Jesus Christ, when our life is over here on earth, will spend eternity with God. BSM holds that God, after He judges and destroys this present heaven and earth, will establish a new heaven and a new earth for us to occupy. BSM holds that those who reject the salvation of God through Jesus Christ alone are not born-again and, when their life is over here on earth, will be judged and spend eternity completely separated from God in a literal place of hell. BSM holds that there will be a great tribulation. BSM holds that there is a bodily resurrection of the dead for both the saved and the unsaved. BSM holds that there will be a millennial reign of Jesus Christ. BSM holds that, according to His promise, Jesus Christ will return again personally and visibly to judge all in righteousness.
(Ps. 11:4; 103:19, Isa. 66:1, 22, Matt. 5:34; 18:8-9; 23:22; 24:21, 27, 29-51; 25:31-46, Jn. 3:16-18; 5:25-29; 11:25-26, 1Cor. 15:50-57, 2Cor. 5:10, 1Thess. 4:13-17, Heb. 8:1; 9:27-28, 2Pet. 3:8-9, 13, Rev. 7:9, 13-14; 20:11-15; 21:1-8)
11. The Church/Body of Christ
BSM holds there is a universal Church (Body of Christ) that is comprised of every born-again believer in Jesus all over the world. BSM holds that the universal Church (Body of Christ) congregates in local churches of born-again believers in communities all over the world. BSM holds that the local church is united together for the purpose of the worship of God, the glory of God, the edification, fellowship, and care of believers, and the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ throughout the whole world. BSM holds that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the universal Church (Body of Christ). BSM holds that each local body of born-again believers has the right, under Jesus’ leadership, to decide and govern its own affairs in accordance with the Holy Word of God. BSM holds that God provides each local church with “overseers” (pastors/elders) who are to equip, shepherd, and guide it.
(Matt. 16:18; 18:15-17, Acts 1:12-14; 2:41-47; 8:1; 9:31; 11:19-26; 12:5; 13:1-3; 14:21-28; 15:22, 41; 20:17-36, Rom. 7:4; 16:16, 1Cor. 1:2, 10; 12:12-28; 14:12, 2Cor. 8:18-19, Eph. 1:20-22; 2:19-22; 3:20-21; 4:1-6, 11-16; 5:22-32, Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:18, 24, 1Thess. 5:12-13, 1Tim. 3:1-7, 15, Tit. 1:5-9, Heb. 13:3, 7, 17, Jam. 5:13-16, 1Pet. 5:1-4, Rev. 22:16)
12. Church Ordinances
BSM holds that water baptism (immersion) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (a public identification of the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection) after regeneration, and the Lord’s Supper/Communion (a memorial of the atoning death of Christ until He comes) are the ordinances Christ gave to the church. BSM holds that these ordinances are performed as acts of obedience and as a testimony of the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. BSM holds that they are both symbolic and are never to be regarded as a means of salvation.
(Matt. 28:19, Lk. 22:19-20, Acts 2:41, Rom. 6:3-5, 1Cor. 11:23-29, Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:12)
13. Marriage & Family
BSM holds that God created marriage between one man and one woman as His only ordained and sacred relationship institution, which He recognizes, sanctions and blesses, symbolizing the union of Christ and His Church. BSM holds that the husband is to be the servant leader in the home and is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. BSM holds that God created the family (husband, wife, and children) as the first and most important discipleship ministry. BSM does not affirm, condone, or recognize same-sex relationships as God ordained or God sanctioned.
(Gen. 2:18-25, Deut. 6:4-7; 11:18-19, Matt. 19:4-6, Eph. 5:22-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21, 1Pet. 3:1-7)
14. Human Sexuality
BSM holds God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity is to be engaged outside of the marriage of a man and a woman. BSM holds that any form of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, bisexuality, incest, pedophilia, pornography, and so on is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. BSM holds that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. Though God disapproves of the sinful perversion of sex and alteration of gender, He fully extends forgiveness through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Only through repentance can this grace be experienced.
(Lev. 18:1-30, Rom. 1:26-32; 7:2-3, 1Cor. 5:1; 6:9-10; 7:1-5, Gal. 5:19-21; 1Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4, Jude 7, Rev. 21:8)
Drafted 2012