SI6NIFICANCE OF BIOLA’S DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
by S. H. Sutherland President of Biola
the following year, the question again is specifically asked, “Do you continue to subscribe to Biala’s doc trinal statement without mental res ervation?” By his signature, the in dividual is attesting to the fact that he unreservedly subscribes to Biola’s doctrinal statement. The same is true concerning our Board of Directors. There is this conscious effort to maintain the school’s doctrinal posi tion which remains the same today as it was at our founding more than six decades ago. Let me share with you some of these great verities of the faith: (1) The Bible (consisting of all the books of the Old and New Testa ments) is the Word of God, a super- naturally-given revelation from God Himself concerning Himself: His be ing, nature, character, will and pur pose; and concerning man: his na ture, need, duty and destiny. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testa ments are without error or misstate ment in their moral and spiritual teachings and record of historical facts. They are without error or de fect of any kind. Of course, it is to be understood that by this is meant the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in their original lan guages. (2) There is one God eternally existing and manifesting Himself to us in Three Persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (3) Our Lord Jesus Christ was supernaturally conceived by the pow er of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, a lineal descendant of David; He lived and taught and wrought many mighty works and wonders and signs exactly as record
B iola . has always held consistent ly to a very significant and clear ly expressed doctrinal position. There are thirteen cardinal truths which make up our creed. Doctrine means the orderly arrangement of biblical truth. The sum of these doctrines constitute one’s “creed.” That word comes from the Latin credo, signify ing, I believe. Anyone who reads his Bible and forms any conclusions, of necessity must formulate convictions concerning those facts. Everyone has to believe something about Christ. The Christian believes that our Lord is the Second Person of the Trinity; He was born of a virgin; He performed miracles; He died on the cross as a vicarious sac rifice or an atonement for sin; He rose bodily from the grave; He as cended to the right hand of God the Father from whence He is coming again. The liberal theologian believes that Jesus is not the Second Person of the Godhead; that He was bom of natural parents; that He did not perform the miracles which are re corded in the Gospel accounts; that He died on the cross as merely an example of the extent to which we should go, if necessary, for our ideals; that He did not rise bodily from the grave; that His spirit came forth and is in the world today; and that He is not coming again. You may be interested to know that whenever a professor applies for a position, the first question that must be answered is, “Have you read Biola’s doctrinal statement, and do you agree with it without any men tal reservation?” Each Spring, when faculty contracts are renewed for 8
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