Blackaby Ministries International blackaby.org
OUR DOCTRINAL BELIEFS
The Bible is God’s word to people. Recognizing the importance of knowing and obeying its truths, BMI studies, teaches, and preaches the Word with diligence and accuracy. We teach and apply the Scriptures so people may experience God, know His will, and obey Him fully.
- THE SCRIPTURES
The entire Bible, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments, are inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the Bible has been protected and preserved and is the only infallible, authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
A quick search tells me there have been 900 different translations of the Bible. Could it be they all reflect the “inerrant in the original writings”? If yes, does one version do a better job than another or, even more subjectively, could one Bible translation “speak” more effectively to one person than another. And, if so, why?
And, this is only for English, which is third, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, as the most spoken language in the world.
And, of course, the Bible wasn’t originally written in any of these languages but in Hebrew, Aramic and Koine Greek.
The idea that the Bible is the only “infallible, authoritative rule or faith and practice” negates all other religious scriptures or any other writings as a means of discovering “truth” or a window into God. This is incredibly dismissive. In Philippians, Paul writes:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
In writing this, is he suggesting that writings and thoughts on the matter of God can and might be found in other sources than the Bible? Truly, one would hope so. If not, it could be argued that anything but the Bible, including your commentaries on it, could contain errors and be misleading and should be disregarded.
And what of writings that seem to support the teachings of the Bible? For example, Jesus in John 17 makes clear that we are One with God.
22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
When the Hindu scriptures, the Upanishads state, “Thou art That”, is this a statement of the truth about our central unity with God, and therefore a support of what John says? If yes, and yes is a reasonable conclusion, then this part of the Upanishads could be said to be mirroring and supporting the Bible. And, in so doing, be regarded as Biblical scripture.
One last point, although many more could be made, the decision to include the 66 current books of the Bible was not a simple one. It was made by the Catholic Church, which eliminated a number of books, but also included the Apocrypha.
- GOD
There is only one true, living, sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. He exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each being a distinct person with a distinct function, but all of one essence and all possessing the same nature, perfection, and attributes. The triune God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, trust, and obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31).
III. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, shed His blood on the cross as a vicarious substitute, was buried, bodily resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return literally, visibly, and personally in glory and power (John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Acts 1:11).
The central tenet of mainstream Christianity is that Jesus died on the cross as a “vicarious substitute” for our sins. However, it can be reasonably argued from a number of fronts, that this was not the purpose of the Crucifixion.
Article V. states: In the beginning God created people in His image. People were originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God’s glory (Genesis 1:17, 31).
If we accept this, it can be logically argued that what was created out of the perfection of God can never become corrupted in Truth. As children of God, we have the ability to imagine we are sinful but, again, in Reality that is impossible.
One of Jesus’ most powerful parables, reflects this Truth. Let’s look at it in this context. I use the King James Version of the Bible. In Luke 15 beginning with verse 11 we are told.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
That this parable speaks of our earthly life and our Heavenly life with God is stated in the parable, lest that be misunderstood.
The younger son journeys to “a far country” essentially separating himself from his father but the two lands, Heaven and earth, can’t really be separated, there is a link, a bridge between them. The younger son “wasted his substance with riotous living” and while we are told later it included spending time with harlots, you are free to imagine any sin you like, robbery, murder, drunkenness, pedophilia, rape, sodomy and bestiality, for example.
(As an aside, what “sin” do you most abhor, which causes you to judge against your brother?)
Whatever he engaged in the youngest son ultimately realized he’d essentially forgotten who he was and “began to be in want”. While food is the metaphor here, I would argue he was in want of his father’s love and his completion and return through that love to a state of perfection, where a sense of want is impossible.
And this is his realization, I would argue, when he “comes to himself” but he erroneously concludes that he has “sinned” and is no longer worthy to be considered his father’s son and determines to go to his father and admit his sinful nature. And when he reaches is father the son says as much to him.
But note, the father (God) makes no such judgement on his son. He does not acknowledge he has sinned, because he hasn’t. I repeat, God sees no sin in his son because there is none. Sin is our judgment we pass on ourselves and others but it is not the judgement of God.
If sin was real and needed the intercession of Christ’s death on the cross to “forgive” it, then Jesus at this point in the parable would have to have made that clear. He would have had to lay out the process that mainstream Christianity does in stating the only way back to Heaven is through the acknowledgement of Christ’s death on the cross for the younger son’s (and our) sins.
The only “sin” in this story and the only “sin” in life is for us to forget our true nature as Sons and Daughters of God. We become “dulled” to our true nature, the vitality of life is lessened and we forget how to love ourselves and others when we become preoccupied with our material, physical existence within a body.
This misunderstanding is emphasized by the elder son’s upset at how his younger brother could be welcomed home without any castigation. The father invites his eldest son in welcoming his younger brother home saying, “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
- THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God, co-existent with the Father and the Son. He convicts people of their sin and is the chief agent of regeneration and sanctification. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and empowers every believer to live a godly life. Through His gift of the Holy Spirit, God equips each believer to accomplish His will. (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9, 11; Titus 3:5; Eph. 4:11-16).
- HUMANITY
In the beginning God created people in His image. People were originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God’s glory (Genesis 1:17, 31).
- SIN
Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of all of humanity. Therefore, everyone has sinned and lost their ability to reflect God’s glory. Humanity’s fall has incurred both physical and spiritual death on all until an individual receives forgiveness and salvation by God’s grace (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23).
VII. SALVATION
Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace apart from human works to all who believe. Salvation is based solely upon Christ’s vicarious and atoning death, effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received only through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
VIII. ELECTION
Election assures that those divinely chosen will be saved, but it alone does not save them. People are saved by God’s grace, as they trust in the substitutionary death of Christ. Individuals must repent, place their faith in Christ, and yield to Christ’s lordship to be saved (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 10:9-10, 13).
- PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Since God grants eternal life through Christ, believers are secure in that salvation forever. One’s salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the efforts of the believer. Someone who is truly born again cannot become “unborn” at a later time but will persevere in their faith in Christ (John 10:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 5:11-13).
- THE CHURCH
The church is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is made up of regenerate and baptized believers who regularly join together for worship, fellowship, and ministry (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25).
- EVANGELISM
It is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
XII. THE HOME
We believe marriage is intended by God to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman, and sexual relations are to be confined within the marriage relationship. (Gen. 2:18-25)
God has given parents the crucial responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4;Proverbs 22:6). Parents should not abdicate this responsibility.
XIII. ETERNITY
People were created for eternity, not time. They will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To reside eternally with God is heaven (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15).
XIV. BAPTISM AND LORD’S SUPPER
Jesus instructed His followers to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders. These are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Neither of these ordinances contains any saving grace. Baptism by immersion is a one-time act of obedient identification with Jesus as Lord. It serves as an outward sign of a conscious confession of repentance and faith. The Lord’s Supper is a symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection, and promised return (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).