Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc.
EXALTING JESUS CHRIST, EXTOLLING THE GOSPEL, EDIFYING THE BELIEVER
BY SERVING WITH EXCELLENCE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE!
“To glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by accurately and passionately
proclaiming the message of salvation, stimulating true Biblical fellowship among the people of God,
and serving with excellence that reflects Godliness and Christlikeness
in our homes, churches, vocations, and communities.”
STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Behold the Lamb Ministries Statement of Faith defines the core Biblical doctrines and standards of the ministries. BTLM is by choice a non-denominational ministry with volunteers and staff of various Christian denominations. BTLM recognizes that the responsibility for instructing volunteers in denominational differences that are outside the Statement of Faith resides primarily within the family and secondarily with their local church.
The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. Since we believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, the Bible is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).
God
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30).
Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Christ (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9); His resurrection (John 11:25; I Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19; Ephesians 1:20); and His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-13).
Human Condition
We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that men are justified on the single ground of personal faith in Jesus Christ based on his all sufficient sacrificial death for our sins. It is only by God’s grace through faith alone we are saved (John 3:16-19, 5:24; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
Life after Death
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15).
The Unity of Believers
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12, 13; Galatians 3:26-28).
Sanctity of Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 139:13-16).
Marriage, Gender, and Human Sexuality
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.) We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. as a local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Human Sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22.) We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.) We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. We believe that God has uniquely created us male and female, and we affirm that God’s plan and benevolent intentions for human sexuality are found within the context of marriage between one man and one woman. We affirm the goodness of sexuality in the context of marriage, the importance of purity, fidelity, and the sacredness of marriage (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-9).
Christian Living
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Romans 8:13-14; I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18).
Mediation
Participants of Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. agree to submit any legal dispute with BTLM for mediation before a mutually agreed-upon mediator, or if none can be agreed upon, one selected by the Institute for Christian Conciliation, affiliated with ICC Peace, LLC. Lawsuits between believers, or threats of lawsuits between believers, are a matter of grave concern for a religious organization, are contrary to biblical and church teaching, and mediation is an effort to resolve disputes in a biblical fashion. (1 Corinthians 6: 1-7.) Mediation will be governed by the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation (ICC Rules), unless modified as stipulated by the parties. (Visit: http://www. peacemaker.net/site/c.nuIWL7MOJtE/b.5335917/k.D8A2/Rules_of_Procedure.htm to access the ICC Rules.) In particular, subject to the more detailed provisions of the ICC Rules, mediator(s) will attempt to assist us in reaching a voluntary settlement of any disputes through mediation. The confidentiality of the mediation process will be protected and these matters will not be discussed with people who do not have a necessary interest in them. If settlement can be agreed upon, the conciliators may, at their discretion, issue an advisory opinion. Neither the opinion, nor any communications exchanged in the mediation process, will be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent legal proceeding.
Final Authority on Matters of Faith and Conduct
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc.’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, board of directors is Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
I have reviewed the statements above and am in agreement with Behold the Lamb Ministries, Inc. Statement of Faith.
Signature ________________________________________________________________
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Date _______________________________________________________________
Approved March 16, 2017