Illiana Christian High School Statement of Faith 

This statement of faith, affirmed by the Board of Directors of Illiana Christian High School, provides a summary of Biblical doctrine that is consistent with the three forms of unity: the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort and the Heidelberg Catechism. The three forms of unity are widely accepted by Reformed churches as official statements of doctrine. We also believe in the Five Solas, which originated from the Protestant Reformation. These Latin phrases – Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria – tell us that Scripture alone is our highest authority and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone. All aspects of the governance of Illiana Christian High School by its board and administrators, and all Christian instruction provided by its faculty and staff, are provided in accordance with these beliefs.

Illiana believes it is primarily the parents’ responsibility to educate their children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. We partner with parents and their churches in this responsibility. The bulk of what we believe, we hold in common with the Christian church around the world. Our faculty teaches from a Reformed Christian perspective; however, we welcome students and families from various Christian denominations. We celebrate the beliefs that we hold in common, namely salvation through Jesus Christ. Even though a variety of denominations are represented among our staff and school families, God has blessed Illiana with much unity. We are exhorted in Ephesians 4 to walk worthy of the position that we have in Christ, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Deut. 6:6-7; Galatians 3:26-28; Eph. 4:3).

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Word of God is His revelation, inspired in every word, absolutely without error in the original documents, infallible and God-breathed (I Cor. 2:7-14; Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We believe the Bible is the Word of God for all times and places. Scripture affirms the belief that the opening chapters of Genesis present creation in six days (Gen. 1:31; Ex. 31:17; Is. 40:8; 1 Pet 1:25).

GOD

We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Is 45:5-7; Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 8:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

GOD THE FATHER 

We believe God the Father is creator of all things. He has revealed Himself in the Bible and in Creation, is sovereign and sustainer of the universe, and is sanctifier and redeemer of His people (Ps. 145:8-9; Ps. 103:19; John 1:12; John 8:38-47; Rom. 8:14-15; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 4:6).

GOD THE SON 

We believe Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, is true God and true man, existing in one person and without sin (Is 7:14; Matt. 1:25; Luke 1:26-35; John 10:30; John 14:9-10; Col. 1:15-17; Col. 2:9).

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, triumphing over all evil, and all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood and forgiven of all their sins (John 1:29; Rom. 3:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 7:25-26; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 Pet. 2:24).

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven and in His present life there for us as Lord of all, High Priest and Advocate (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-32; Rom. 4:25; Heb. 9:24-26; 1 John 2:1).

We believe Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth, personally, visibly and unexpectedly, in power and great Glory, to gather His elect, to raise the dead, to judge the nations and to bring His Kingdom to fulfilment (John 5:26-29; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:20-26; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20).

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit indwells and gives life and comfort to all believers, enables them to understand the Scriptures, sanctifies them for godly living, and equips them for service and witness (Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:6, Eph. 1:13).

MAN

We believe God directly created Adam and Eve, the historical parents of the entire human race, and they were created in His own image, not evolved, distinct from all other living creatures and created free from sin (Gen 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9).

We believe that in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, humans lost their innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. The penalty of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Rom. 3:23, 6:23; I Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-3; I John 1:8).

SALVATION

We believe salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19).

We believe out of deep gratitude for the grace of God granted to us and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our love to God (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17).

THE CHURCH

We believe all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, the bride of Christ of which Christ is the head (1 Cor. 12:12-13; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 4:15; Col. 1:18).

We believe two sacraments have been instituted by Christ to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism is a sign and seal that our sins are washed away through Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He returns (Acts 2:38-42; Rom. 6:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:23-29).

SIN

We believe Satan introduced sin into the human race through his temptation of Adam and Eve. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Satan has been defeated. Satan and all unbelievers shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire upon the final judgment of God (Gen. 3:1-15; Rom.3:23-24; Rom. 16:20).

GENDER, MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY AND THE FAMILY

We believe God created each person in His image, wonderfully made as male or female. In a broken and fallen world, God’s Word continues to affirm the sanctity of one’s biological sex (Gen. 1:27, 5:2; Ps. 139:14).

We believe marriage was the first institution ordained by God. We believe God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity or cohabitation be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, incest and the use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Gen 2:20-24; Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10, 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4).

We believe God gives us the pattern and principles for raising our children in a secure environment in His Holy Word. By teaching our children about the Creator and sovereign Ruler of the universe, we are equipping them to live this temporal life for an eternal purpose that glorifies God. We believe children are a blessed gift from God. Children of believers are holy and it is the responsibility of Christian parents to raise their children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Scripture clearly teaches that parents are to continually impress upon their children the Word of God. It is the duty of parents to continually pray for their children (Gen. 28:3; Deut. 6:4-9; I Chron. 29:19; Job 1:5; Ps. 127:3; Eccles. 12:1; Mark 10:16; I Cor. 7:14; Eph. 6:1-4, 10-17).

SANCTITY OF LIFE

We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life (Ps. 139:13-16).