BCCI MEMBERS AND CERTIFIED COUNSELORS ARE ASKED TO AFFIRM THE FOLLOWING:

1. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The Bible, including all the books of the Old Testament and New Testament, is Holy Scripture and the inspired true word of God. It is fully authoritative and our only absolutely trustworthy guide for life and faith (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31).
2. We believe that there is one true, good, and living God who is of one substance, power, and eternal purpose yet eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Trinity is without division of nature, essence, or being (I John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; II Corinthians 13:14). The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6). The persons of the Trinity are equal in every divine perfection. They execute distinct but harmonious functions in the work of creation, history, providence, and redemption. God the Trinity possesses all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of Himself (Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; 4:24; 5:26; Matthew 28:19; Acts 7:2; Romans 1:19,20; 9:5; Ephesians 4:5,6; Colossians 2:9).
3. We believe that God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, is the functional head of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 6:9; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 John 3:1).
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became fully man without ceasing to be fully God, through His miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died. He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, as the Advocate of those who trust Him for salvation. (Matthew 1:16, 20, 23; Luke 1:34; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 15; 1 Peter 2:5-9; 1 John 2:1) We believe that Jesus Christ will come again to the earth, personally, visibly, and bodily to consummate history and the eternal plan of God (Acts 1:10-11; John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 22:20).
5. We believe in the Holy Spirit, eternally one with the Father and Son, who convicts and convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. The Holy Spirit is the divine agent by whom believers are born into the Kingdom of God. As our abiding helper, the Spirit effectually calls, sanctifies, empowers, baptizes, indwells, guides, teaches, and equips all believers for service and witness. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit guides, governs, and protects the child of God from spiritual defeat and oppression (Ephesians 6:11-18). He enables believers to live in union with Christ and God the Father (John 14:16,17,26; 15:26-27; John 16:9-14; I Corinthians 12:13; I Corinthians 2:10-11; 3:16; 6:19; II Corinthians 3: 6; Galatians 5:22-26; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9,12-13; Ephesians 6:11-18).
6. We believe that man was originally created in the image of God, and that man sinned by disobeying God and thus was alienated from his Father/Creator. Fallen man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. He is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Man cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of God until He is born again (Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3, 6-7; Romans 1:18, 3:20, 5:12, 7:21-25; Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:5-6).
7. We believe that the salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s grace and is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works, effort, or religious ceremony. Nothing can be added to the finished work of Christ (John 3:16; Romans 3:24, 6:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
8. We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is composed of all persons living and dead who have been joined to Christ through faith in His atonement. Every true believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). This relates believers to one another spiritually, regardless of church or denominational distinction. We believe the Scriptures affirm that the local church is a God-ordained instrument for worship, discipline, spiritual edification, and encouragement, and the assembling together for these purposes should not be forsaken by Christians (Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 2:15-16, 19-22, 4:1-3; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25).
9. We believe that the believer, upon physical death, enters immediately into the presence and conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing (John 12:26; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:23). We believe that the unbeliever, upon physical death, enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from God and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:12; Revelation 20:11-15).
10. We believe that all believers are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to disciple people from every nation (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-48).
11. We believe that the highest of the created angels, Lucifer, aspiring to displace God, fell from heaven, became Satan, and led man’s fall into sin, thus introducing sin into the entire human race. His objective today is to thwart the plan of God, deceive, if possible, the whole world, and create confusion among believers. We believe that through the sacrifice of Christ, Satan is a defeated enemy who will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 25:41; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10, Revelation 12:19-20, 20:10, 21:8).
12. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman and that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, which is the union, sanctioned by God, which joins one man (male from birth) and one woman (female from birth) in an exclusive personal relationship which includes sexual intimacy (Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and woman who are married to each other (Proverbs 5:18-19; Hebrews 13:4).

Limitations of Oversight

Because of the specialized calling of the Biblical Counseling and Coaching Institute, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on doctrinal matters not listed above, provided that,

• any interpretation is based on the Bible alone.
• does not contradict any portion of this statement.
• that no such interpretation shall become an issue of division that hinders the ministry of Biblical counseling to which God has called us.

BCCI offers certification based on its course curriculum and requires that all students agree with its Statement of Faith, Statement of Practices and Core Values, and Affirmations and Denials.

BCCI does not manage or oversee individuals regarding their church positions and/or ministry functions