The basis of faith of the Lima Evangelical Seminary is a brief statement of essential evangelical principles. This statement makes it possible for brethren of different denominations and evangelical traditions to work together and also to conserve continuity with historic protestant evangelicalism.
All the missions and churches who are members of the seminary association are in agreement with the basis of faith. All seminary professors have to sign this statement and the student body is limited to members of churches that accept it. The basis of faith does not include everything the professors believe and teach, and seminary professors have the freedom to maintain their own opinions within the common agreement.
The founders of the seminary chose not to adopt a detailed doctrinal statement in the style of the historic creeds and confessions, such as the Calcedonian or Westminster, but rather opted for a contemporary statement acceptable to the different evangelical traditions.
In 1919 the International Declaration of Defence of evangelical fundamentals, in nine short paragraphs, was adopted by millions of evangelicals around the world. The founders of the seminary adopted their own version of this declaration, and by doing so, proclaimed their identification with the historic evangelical churches, and their controversial stance with respect to the liberalism and modernism of the time.
This same attitude is also evident in the adoption of the seminary’s guiding principles: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) and “knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:16)
The authorities and teachers of the seminary believe that the health and the future of the Peruvian churches depend on their obedience on the word of God, given to the church in a definitive form through the agency of the biblical authors. We recommend and defend this position with academic rigour, discipline and courtesy. Within this framework we encourage debate, theological reflection, and relevant and responsible investigation, with the purpose of better preparing evangelical leaders for the future. |
BASIS OF FAITH
We believe, and teach:
- The Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God in his eternity and three persons equal in power and glory.
- The universal state of sin and guilt of humanity.
- The death of Jesus Christ the incarnate one as the unique and all sufficient propitiation for sin.
- The bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit as the unique agent of regeneration, who lives in the believer and sanctifies him.
- The divine inspiration and infallibility of the Scriptures as they were given originally and their sufficient authority in matters of faith and conduct.
- The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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