VALUES AND BELIEFS

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We Believe...

...there is one God eternally existing and manifesting Himself to us in three persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

...Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest.

...the Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach and empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.

...the Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.

...man was originally created in the image and likeness of God; he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only though the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

...salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe on Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life and become the children of God.

...the church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the head of the body, the church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into the entire world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.

...the local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and the observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

...there shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, and a resurrection unto judgment.

...the second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, and visible. This is the believer's hope and is a vital truth, which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.

VALUES FOR LIVING:

As a Christian Bible college, we are committed to using the Scriptures as our final authority in every area of life. The Bible presents absolutes that are rooted in God's character; they are timeless and apply in all cultures and under all circumstances. These biblical absolutes help to direct our thinking and behavior. The Bible calls us to be transformed in Christ, loving all people and treasuring mercy, justice, and humility. The Bible also directs us to be full of the Holy Spirit, and to speak to one another with kindness and respect. In addition to absolutes, the Bible is full of principles to guide our decision making and behavior. At the City of Hope Bible College, we are intentional about fostering a campus culture that is characterized by our love for Christ and others. This love expresses itself through the principles of holy living, purity in relationships, respect for peers and authority, and good stewardship of resources.

HOLY LIVING:

One of the marks of a believer is the transforming work of the Holy Spirit leading us from sinfulness to holiness. Before God created the world it was His desire that we would become holy (Ephesians 1:4). To be holy means that we are no longer enslaved to all that is sinful, impure, and morally imperfect. Rather, in Christ, we are free to honor God with our life as we are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As we -5- surrender to the Lordship of Christ, we fulfill God's instruction to "be holy, because I am holy" (2 Peter 1: 16).

PURITY IN RELATIONSHIPS:

In every relationship Christians should strive to maintain high standards for purity. The principle of purity governs not only our behavior, but also our thoughts and motives. At the CHBC, we encourage you to examine your heart and the motives that affect your speech and behavior toward others. Ephesians 5:3 reminds us that "among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."

RESPECT FOR PEERS AND AUTHORITY:

Part of being a Christian is to live in peace and harmony with those around you. II Peter 2: 17, for example, tell us: "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." CHBC is a gathering place for people from many different backgrounds and perspectives. When you join the City of Hope Bible College community, we ask that you make it your ambition to respect all individuals, including those who are different from you. We also ask that you comply with the City of Hope Bible College community standards, even if they go beyond your personal preferences or convictions. Scriptures also instructs us to honor those in authority. Please respect the faculty and staff members, who are responsible for guiding and instructing you during your time at the City of Hope Bible College. Address your professors by their highest title. If they are a doctor, refer to them as "doctor.