Northwestern’s educational programs and radio ministries are firmly founded upon definitely formulated and explicitly stated biblical doctrines as follows:
I. The Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally and plenary inspired of God, are inerrant in the original writings, and are the infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:16).
II. The Godhead
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 1:1,2). These three are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation and redemption (John 15:2).
III. The Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power (Gen. 1:1, Ex. 15:11, Job 12:13, Matthew 19:26). We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer (Matthew 6:6), and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 1:12).
IV. The Son, Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement for the sin of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His present high priestly intercession for His people (Hebrews 9:24), and His personal, visible, imminent (Hebrews 9:28), and premillennial return to this earth according to His promise.
V. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 16:7,8).
VI. The Salvation of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), that he sinned in Adam, and that all men by nature and by choice are sinners having incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God (Romans 3:23). We also believe that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Therefore, those who by faith, apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies, accept Christ as Lord and Saviour are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and become children of God. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust (I Corinthians 15:22, Acts 17:31). The saved will rejoice forever in God’s presence and the lost will be forever separated from God in everlasting conscious punishment. We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith (Jude 24).
VII. The Church
We believe in the Church — a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried with him in baptism and associated for worship, work, and fellowship (Ephesians 1:22,23). We believe that to these visible churches were committed for observance “till He come” the ordinances of baptism (Matthew 3:13-15) and the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26); and that God has laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We believe that human betterment and social improvement are essential products of the Gospel. We believe that Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other.
VIII. The Responsibility
We believe that we are under divine obligation to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints by proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master (Jude 3, Acts 16:30, Colossians 3:1-3).
Scripture References (NLT)
I. The Scriptures
II Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right
II. The Godhead
John 1:1,2
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
John 15:2
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
III. The Father
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
John 1:12
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
IV. The Son, Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.
Hebrews 9:28
So also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
V. The Holy Spirit
John 16:7,8
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate* won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
(*or Comforter, Encourager, or Counselor.)
VI. The Salvation of Man
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
Romans 3:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
1 Corinthians 15:22
Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
Acts 17:31
For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.
Jude 24
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
VII. The Church
Ephesians 1:22,23
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
VIII. The Responsibility
Jude 3
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.
Acts 16:30
Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Colossians 3:1-3
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
