Doctrinal Statement - Baptist Bible Translators Institute, Bowie Texas

Of the Scriptures

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired by God and what they wrote is truth without any mixture of error and is therefore the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to mankind. We believe the King James Version to be this Holy Bible, the inspired, preserved Word of God in the English language. We do not mean that the English language translators were inspired as they translated. However, because what they translated is an accurate and faithful translation of the inspired Hebrew and Greek texts, the King James Version is therefore the inspired, preserved Word of God in the English language. We believe the Masoretic Hebrew text and the Textus Receptus Koine Greek text to be the inspired, preserved Word of God in the Hebrew and Koine Greek languages. (II Peter 1:19-21, II Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:160, John 12:43)

Of the True God

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(Exodus 20:2-3, I Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, John 4:25)

Of the Son

We believe that Jesus the Christ, is the Son of God and God the Son; that he is divine and equal to the Father and was human in every sense except that he had no sin.
(Hebrews 4:15, John 14:9, John 5:18)

Of the Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, and that he is God’s divine Son.
(Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, Galatians 4:4, I John 5:20)

Of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal to God the Father and God the Son. He exalts Christ and convicts lost sinners. He indwells all believers and baptizes them into Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation. We do not agree with the Pentecostal and Charismatic doctrines of the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 4:30, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, Romans 6:3; 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:13)

Of Satan

We believe that Satan is a real person who is the enemy of God and His Christ.
(Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Revelation 12:9)

Of Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of the seven days of creation of the world by God and that this account is not figurative and that mankind was created directly by God in the image of God.
(Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:11, Genesis 1:11, Acts 17:23-26)

Of the Fall of Mankind

We believe mankind voluntarily sinned and fell from a sinless state into a sinful one, in consequence of which, all people are now sinners under the just condemnation of God.
(Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19, Ephesians 2:1,3)

Of the Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by the grace of God; through the mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ who by his death on the cross made a full and vicarious atonement for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, there is salvation only in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 15:11, Romans 3:24-25, John 3:16, Hebrews 9:12-15, Acts 4:12, I John 2:2)

Of Grace in the New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is instantaneous and not a process.
(John 3:3, II Corinthians 5:17, I John 5:1, Romans 6:23)

Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe in God’s grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all in the gospel message; that it is the responsibility of all to accept by faith the promise God has made to save all who believe in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians 1:4, Colossians 3:12, I Peter 1:2, Titus 1:1)

Of Justification

We believe that the gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification before God and includes the pardon of sins, and the gift of eternal life; that a person can be justified only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 13:39, Isaiah 53:11, Acts 5:1-2, Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7)

Of Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are the result of the convicting power of the Spirit of God whereby we turn to God for mercy and, at the same time, by faith receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
(Acts 20:21, Mark 1:15, Romans 10:9-11, Acts 16:30-31)

Of a Local Church

The believer is instructed to be baptized in water and unite with a biblically sound local church where he can assemble, receive instructions, exercise his spiritual gifts, participate in the work of the Great Commission, and provoke others to love and good works (Matt. 18:17; Acts 2:41; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 10:24-25).

Each church is to be autonomous, holy, and free from entanglement with worldly ecclesiastical organizations. Its leaders are pastors (also called elders and bishops) and deacons. Leaders are to be known and chosen by the congregation and are to live an exemplary life (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:3-9).

The mission of God’s churches is the evangelization of the world and the establishment of churches among all nations (Matt. 28:18-20).

Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; that such baptism should only be done with the authority of a local church; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship and to the Lord’s supper; in which the members of a local church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine commemorate together the broken body and the shed blood of Christ.
(Acts 8:36-39, Matthew 3:6, Romans 6:3-5, Acts 2:41-42, I Corinthians 11:23-28)

Of the Eternal Salvation of the Saints

We believe that the saved are kept by the power of God unto salvation. We believe that the Christian’s salvation depends totally upon the finished work of Christ on the cross in behalf of sinners.
(John 8:31-32, I John 2:19, John 5:24, Romans 8:35, Hebrews 9:11,12)

Of the Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as are justified by faith in Christ are truly righteous and all others are in God’s sight wicked and shall suffer punishment forever in the Lake of Fire.
(Romans 6:17-18, I Peter 4:18, John 3:36, I John 5:12)

Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, and is for the good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for and obeyed: except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 13:7, Acts 23:5, Titus 3:1)

Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ to Earth

We believe that Christ rose bodily from the grave, that he ascended to the right hand of God, and that He will come again. We believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. We believe that Christ shall reign a thousand years on earth until he puts all enemies under his feet.
(Matthew 28:6-7, John 20:27, I Corinthians 15:4, I John 2:1, I Thessalonians 4:16)

Of Missions

We believe the command of Christ to preach the gospel to all nations is clear and that this commission was given to the churches to carry out.
(Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Romans 10:13-15)