Faculty Statement of Faith

Sources

From Article IV of the Articles of Incorporation of Lutheran Bible Institute in California:

We acknowledge and accept the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament as God's revealed Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as infallible rule, source and norm for all teaching, faith, and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16)

We acknowledge the Apostolic, the Nicene and the Athanasian creeds, as well as the Augsburg Confession, as true and faithful expositions of fundamental Christian doctrines. We acknowledge the further development of these doctrines as contained in other symbolic books of the Lutheran Church -- the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Small and Large Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.

Theological Commitments

We affirm the triune name of God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- as properly identifying the Creator, Savior, and Lord of Israel and the Church. The confession of the triune name is required in the sacrament of Christian baptism, and it properly structures the liturgy and prayer of the Christian community. (Matthew 28:19)

We affirm and confess that Jesus of Nazareth is God. He is the Word made flesh, fully God and fully human. In Him, the triune God is perfectly and definitively revealed. In His death by crucifixion, he bore the sins of the world, and in His physical resurrection he triumphed over sin, death, and the powers of evil. We confess Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior of humanity, and that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven ... by which we must be saved." We believe that Christ continues to be present with his people through the power of the Holy Spirit, comforting, blessing, and guiding. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Acts 4:11-12; John 15:26, 16:13)

On Christian Life and Practice

We affirm and teach that a saving relationship with Jesus Christ bears fruit in a life of goodness, moral and spiritual virtues, devotion and service. Therefore we encourage one another and hold one another accountable to live in accordance with Biblical moral and ethical standards; to worship, pray, and use the means of grace on a regular basis; and to serve Christ and advance His Kingdom, whatever our vocation. We affirm the Biblical way of dealing with sin -- repentance, forgiveness, and amendment of life. (John 15:8; Luke 13:5; Luke 24:47)

We affirm that God is the Creator of all life, and desires good for all his creatures. We therefore commit ourselves to be stewards of life and defenders of the weak, the unborn, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. We oppose the practices of abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide, and we commit ourselves to welcoming children into the world and caring for the weak and vulnerable. (Malachi 3:5; Jeremiah 1:5, 20:17; Psalm 139:13)

Though remaining sinners struggling toward the goal of faithfulness, and having compassion for all who know sexual brokenness, we affirm and promote the Biblical ideal for human sexual expression: Sexual intimacy exclusively within a faithful, life-long marriage relationship, and chastity (abstention) in singleness. We recognize marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman. We expect all pastors and church leaders to promote this idea with the example of their lives. We encourage modesty in behavior and relationships, and condemn all exploitation of human sexuality for profit. (Genesis 1:27, 2:22-24; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

We believe that all Christians are called to be "salt and light," bearing witness in their vocations in the world. We reject the idea that Christianity is a purely private matter and that Christian claims must be excluded from the public square. We do not believe, however, that the church has any special insight into governance and public affairs, nor that the church should publicly align itself with any particular government, political party or platform. We observe the principle, "When it is not necessary for the church to speak, it is necessary that the church not speak." (Romans 13:1-10; Acts 5:29)