In order to help others understand the Biblical position of the Boys JIM Club of America, we offer the following Statement of Faith. We recognize the limitations of any such summary.
The Bible
We believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings — historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical — as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error. We believe that all the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read, or understood, until it leads to Him. We also believe that all Scriptures were designed for our practical instruction. (Mark 12:26,36; 13:11; Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
God
We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three in one, coequal, which is the Trinity. (Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. (John 1:1,14; 3:13,16; Philippians 2:6-11)
Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, Who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He is the life of the believer, and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the Gospel. He is a Person of the Godhead and not just a power or force. (Genesis 1:2; John 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-4; 5:3-4)
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in thought, word, and deed. (Romans 5:12,14,17; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:22) God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders reflect the image of God. Rejection of one’s at-birth biological sex is a rejection of God’s intended design for that person. Marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, outside of which sexual activity is sinful. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18-25; Mark 10:6-8; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4)
Atonement
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood. (Matthew 20:28; Romans 3:25; 8:3; 1 John 2:2)
Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven and His present life there as High Priest and Advocate for us. We also believe in the resurrection of believers. (John 20:1-18; Acts 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:14; Hebrew 1:3; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
Return of Christ
We believe in “that blessed hope”; the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:27-31,36; 25:31; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Titus 2:13; Jude 14)
Eternal Life
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby they become children of God and heirs of eternal life. (John 6:47; 10:28; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:11-13)
Judgement
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost, and the eternal joy of the saved, which demand a literal heaven and hell. (Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16)
Satan
We believe in the existence of Satan, the deceiver, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men and that he and all his angels and all who receive not Christ as their Saviour will perish in the lake of fire. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 25:41; Luke 4:6-7; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8)
Church
We believe in the church, the body of Christ, whose mission it is to worship God, equip the saints, and preach the Gospel to all the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13; 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18,24; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5)
Ordinances
We believe that the ordinances of the church, given by our Lord, are baptism and the Lord’s supper. (Matthew 3:13-15; 26:26-30; 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:18-32; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21)
Adopted by Board of Directors, Boys JIM Club of America, Bemus Point, NY, 14712 – March 2, 1985