Phoenix Seminary’s resident faculty and senior administration hold to the following Teaching Position. Board members, staff and students affirm only the Statement of Faith.
Concerning the Bible
We believe the Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired word of God, without error in the words of the original writings. The Scriptures provide the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of humanity and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. [Joshua 1:7–8; Psalm 19:7–11; 119:97–104, 160; Matthew 5:17–18; Mark 12:36; Luke 24:44–45; John 16:13–14; 1 Corinthians 11:23; Galatians 1:11–12; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:11–12; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 3:15–16]
Concerning God
We believe there is one true and infinitely perfect God who is the creator and sustainer of all things. He eternally exists in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [Genesis 1; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 6:3; Isaiah 45:5; Matthew 28:18–19; Mark 12:29–32; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:1–6; Colossians 1:16–17]
God the Father
We believe the Father, the first person of the Trinity, sovereignly created and providentially upholds and governs all creatures and events according to His own purpose for His glory. Through His plan and in His wisdom He has graciously provided salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ. [Psalm 103:19; 135:6; Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 45:7; Daniel 4:34–35; Romans 11:33–36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:4–14; 1 Peter 1:1–5]
God the Son
We believe Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life as the God–Man. He died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the world, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He has been seated at the right hand of the Father and now serves as the believers’ High Priest and Advocate. [Luke 1–2; John 1:1–18; 1:29–34; 3:16; 8:58; Romans 1:3–4; 3:21–25; 5:17; 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Colossians 1:13–22; 2:3; Hebrews 1:1–4; 2:14–18; 4:14; 9:11–15]
God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, convicts the world of sin, and regenerates the believer. He indwells the believer and illumines the Scriptures. He empowers and encourages believers for spiritual growth, godly living, and Christian service. [John 3:5; 14:16–17, 26; 16:7–15; Acts 5:1–11; 13:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10–16; 12:11; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; 5:17–18]
Concerning Humanity
We believe God created man and woman in His image, free from sin. They became sinners by voluntarily and personally choosing to disobey God’s command. As a result of their sin, the human race is alienated from God and subject to His wrath. All people are sinners by nature and by practice. [Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-19; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18, 23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-5; 1 John 1:8, 10]
Concerning Salvation
We believe that salvation in the Scriptures is a multifaceted truth. The primary uses of this biblical term give greater depth, insight, and understanding of the character of God and the believer’s past, present, and future aspects of salvation.
Justification
We believe that due to the sinful nature of mankind, it is impossible to enter into a right relationship with God or to earn the forgiveness of sins through one’s own efforts. However, because of God’s great love and mercy, He has graciously paid the penalty for sin through Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross and has provided new life through His resurrection. The forgiveness of sins is an act of God’s grace. It is a free gift to be received by faith in Christ alone. Only those who receive this gift become children of God and have eternal life—a relationship in which they are kept forever. [Isaiah 53:6; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:21–31; 5:1–19; 8:6–8; 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16–20; 3:11; Ephesians 2:4–10]
Sanctification
We believe the process of spiritual growth begins at the point of justification. It is normative for believers to be conformed progressively to the image of Jesus Christ in attitude and action. Spiritual growth is increasingly demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit and by obedience to the will of God due to a love for Him and others. Believers who walk in the Spirit in obedience to Him will receive eternal rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God disciplines believers who disobey Him with temporal consequences and the loss of eternal rewards. [Leviticus 20:7–8; Psalm 51:7–10; John 3:16–21; Romans 6:15–23; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 3:16–19; Colossians 3:5–17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13; 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 12:4–13; 1 John 3:2; 2 Peter 1:5–11]
Glorification
We believe the ultimate glorification of believers is assured on the basis of the immutable character of God and His sovereign work in their lives. God glorifies all whom He has called and justified. His character and work guarantee the believer’s final conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. [John 17:24; Romans 8:17, 28–30; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2]
Concerning the Church
We believe the true Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head. All those in this age who believe in Jesus Christ are baptized into the body of Christ, the universal Church. [Acts 1:5; 11:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:21–23; Ephesians 2:20–22; 3:1–10; Colossians 1:18] We believe the local church is an organized, autonomous gathering of believers. The local church assembles for the purpose of instruction in the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, worship, exhortation, encouragement, and the observance of the ordinances. Believers are to recognize their spiritual interdependence in the body of Christ and to be witnesses to God’s saving grace in the world. [Acts 2:42; 6:1–6; Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:1–20; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; 4:13; Titus 1:5–9; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 2:9] We believe the Scriptures prescribe two ordinances for the church: water baptism and the Lord’s Table. Believers are to be baptized in water as a testimony to their spiritual identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. In corporate worship, believers are to celebrate regularly the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His death on the cross and in anticipation of His return. These important physical reminders of the work of Christ are not prerequisites to justification. [Matthew 28:16–20; Luke 22:19–20; Acts 2:38–41; Romans 6:1–11; 1 Corinthians 11:23–32]
Concerning Angels and Satan
We believe angels were created by God as sinless spiritual beings. They worship and serve God in heaven and minister to God’s people on earth. We believe that Satan was created as the highest angelic being, but because of his pride, God removed him from his position. Satan, the archenemy of God, endeavors to frustrate the purposes of God through all types of deception. Having been defeated at the cross, he and his demonic followers will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire. [Genesis 3:1–4; Ezekiel 28:12–19; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 4:1–11; 25:41; Mark 3:23–27; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 3:6; Hebrews 1:67, 14; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9; Revelation 20:10]
Concerning the End Times
We believe in the personal, premillennial and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This hope plays a significant role in motivating believers to a godly life and service on behalf of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. [Mark 13:24–27; John 14:2–3; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–12; Titus 2:11–13; Rev 20:1–6; 22:7, 20] We believe the dead will be raised bodily. The believer will be resurrected to eternal, unbroken fellowship with God and the unbeliever will be resurrected to eternal, conscious punishment. [Daniel 12:2; Mark 9:43–48; John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:50–53; Philippians 3:20–21; Revelation 4:1–11; 20:11–15; 21:1–4]
