OUR APPROACH
IABC Statement of Faith
Because of the specialized calling of the International Association of Biblical Counselors, we desire to allow for freedom of convictions on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based on the Bible alone and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry of biblical counseling to which God has called us.
IABC Members and Certified Biblical Counselors are Asked to Affirm the Following:
1
We believe that the Bible was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error in the original manuscripts. We accept the Bible in its entirety, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the sufficient and final authority for guiding man to faith in God then to walk in victory (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13, 10:11; John 19:35).
2
We believe that there is one true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of these Persons possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and thus the characteristics of personality (Matthew 18:19; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
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 that God the Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to mankind. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ. From the moment of spiritual birth, He imparts new life to them, and seals them until the day of redemption. He is the source and power for all acceptable worship and imparts a diversity of enabling gifts for service. He enlightens us to understand the infallible Word and seeks to occupy us with Christ alone (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18; Titus 3:5).
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 work, in whole or in part, of human works, effort, or religious ceremony. We believe that God imputes them in His sight. 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 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 caused 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).
Member Services
Warren Lamb, Vice President
(877) 583-3033
PO Box 60573
Irvine, CA 92602-6019
memberservices@iabc.net
Headquarters
Jeff Christianson, President
(877) 583-3033
PO BOX 3021
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
admin@iabc.net