The Michigan School of Apologetics 

Our Mission, Vision and Doctrinal Statement 

Mission Statement: To equip Christians to share and defend the Gospel. 

Vision Statement: To equip Christians and train instructors worldwide to share and defend the Gospel. 

Doctrinal Statement

Scripture

We believe the Bible is the Word of God.  As a “God-breathed” revelation, it is thus verbally inspired and completely without error (historically, scientifically, morally, and spiritually) in its original writings (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While God the Holy Spirit supernaturally superintended the writing of the Bible, that writing nevertheless reflects the words and literary styles of its human authors. Scripture reveals God's being, nature, and character, the nature of God’s creation, and especially His will for the salvation of human beings through Jesus Christ. The Bible is, therefore, our supreme and final authority in all matters that it addresses.

God

We believe in one infinitely perfect, eternal, and personal God, the transcendent Creator and sovereign Sustainer of the universe. This one God is Triune, existing eternally and simultaneously as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons in the Godhead share equally and ultimately the one divine nature and are, therefore,  the same God, coequal in power, nature, and glory.   (Isaiah 44:6–8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26–27; 3:22; Matt. 28:19; Luke 9:35; 2 Cor. 13:14)

Our Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is both the true God (the second Person of the Trinity) and true man (the Incarnate Son of God). We also believe in the incredible events surrounding Jesus Christ’s life and ministry, including His eternal preexistence, His virgin birth, His attesting miracles, His sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross, His glorious bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His present work in heaven as High Priest and Advocate. He will return in glory to resurrect and judge all humankind (John 1:1, Col. 2:9, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 24; John 2:19; 1 Cor. 15). 

Person of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is indeed a Divine Person, coequal with the Father and the Son. We also believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in salvation, a ministry which includes anointing and glorifying Christ, convicting men of their sin, and indwelling believers and empowering them for godly living and spiritual service  (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 3:16–18, Acts 5:3-4).

Mankind and the Fall

We believe God created humankind in His image and likeness (having rational, moral, relational, and spiritual capacities) to fellowship with Him and give Him glory. Human beings are, therefor,e the crown of God’s creation (possessing inherent dignity and moral worth), and thus distinct from all other life on earth (Genisis 1:26-27). Adam and Eve, the first human beings, chose to rebel against God and go their own autonomous way. As a result, all of humankind became separated from God, the image of God in humanity distorted, and the sinful nature passed on to all their progeny. The only remedy for humankind’s pitiful predicament is redemption through faith in Jesus Christ (Genesis 1-3, Romans 3-5). 

Salvation

We believe God has acted sovereignly to bridge the gap that separates people from Himself. He sent His Son, born of a virgin, attested by miracles and by a sinless life, to bear the full penalty for humanity’s sin. Jesus Christ suffered and died in the place of sinners, thus satisfying the Father’s just wrath against human sin, and effecting true reconciliation between God and humankind for those who believe. In the atoning death of Christ, both God’s love and God’s justice are fully manifested. The righteousness of Jesus Christ in perfectly fulfilling the law of God has been graciously credited to all believers. Redemption is solely a work of God’s grace, received exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ and never by works of human merit (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24, John 3:16-18). 

The Great Commission

We believe that God's mission is to redeem a people for Himself from every tribe, nation, and language and to restore creation for His glory. Just as the Father loved the world and sent the Son, and the Father and the Son sent the Spirit, the Triune God now sends the Church into the world to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and pursue God’s justice and reconciliation throughout the earth (John 20:20-22, Matt. 28:18-20, Luken 24:45-49, Acts 1:8). 

Resurrection

We believe Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, conquering sin, death, and all the powers of Satan. The resurrection is God’s historical affirmation and vindication of Jesus Christ’s unique identity, mission, and message. Historical evidence of the resurrection is manifest in Christ’s empty tomb, His many resurrection appearances, and the emergence of the Christian church. Jesus Christ now resides at the right hand of the Father and lives to indwell all who recognize their sinfulness, who repent, and who turn their lives over to His authority (1 Corinthians 15) 

Second Coming of Jesus

We believe that Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will return bodily to earth in power and glory at a time appointed by the Father and unknown to the Church. He will raise the dead,  judge the world, and bring the Kingdom to the earth to rule and reign with believers that know and trust him as Lord and Savior (Isaiah 25, 1 Thess. 4, Acts 1, Revelation 20-22). 

The Church

The Church is composed of all the regenerate, wherever they may be found. It is the body and bride of Christ, deeply loved by Him, for whom He gave Himself. (Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 21:2; 2 Cor. 11:2)

Creation

We believe that the physical universe, the realm of nature, is the visible creation of God (Genesis 1:1). It declares God’s existence. It gives a trustworthy revelation of God’s character and purpose. In Scripture, God declares that through His creation, all humanity recognizes His existence, power, glory, and wisdom. An honest study of nature—its physical, biological, and social aspects—can be helpful in a person’s search for truth. Properly understood, God’s Word (Scripture) and God’s world (nature), as two revelations (one verbal, one physical) from the same God, will never contradict each other (Genesis 1, Romans 1). 

Biblical marriage consists only of a faithful, heterosexual union between one genetic male and one genetic female. Biblical marriage is the only legitimate and acceptable context for a sexual relationship. (Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4-7)