STATEMENT OF FAITH

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.

We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. Because of the specialized calling of our movement, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

1. There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
2. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
3. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.
4. Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation.
5. Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight.
7. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word.
8. The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith.
9. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
10. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
11. At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing.
12. At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation.
13. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth -- personally, visibly and bodily -- to consummate history and the eternal plan of God14. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of                  that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave                      Himself for us."

ECCC&S DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

The following Doctrinal Statement sets forth the theological position of this school. This statement provides a basis for doctrinal agreement and unity. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all we believe. This statement of doctrine is to serve as an outline to define our general interpretation of Scripture. It is a framework which we conclude consistent with the whole of scripture.

1. The Scriptures: We believe the scripture, both the Old and New Testament are verbally and plenary the inspired Word of God, without error  in its original documents. We also affirm the scripture to be the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of mankind.  The divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. The scripture is the ultimate expression of God's revelation. (11 Timothy 3:16 ‑ 17; II Peter 1:20‑21)

2. The True and Living God.: We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We believe that those three persons are of one essence, equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation and redemption.  (John 1:1‑2; 15:2)

3. The Father: We believe that God is eternally existent as three persons in one essence, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Father is the first person of the Godhead, creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power, and that He hears and  answers our prayers and saves us from sin and death. All come to Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Matthew 6:6; John 1:12)

4. Jesus Christ: We believe in the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only‑begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and that He is fully man.  We believe He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again bodily, ascended into heaven, sits on the right hand of  the Father as savior, redeemer, justifier, reconciler, and one day He will come again to judge the living and the dead. (John 3:16; Matthew 1:18‑23; Acts 1:9‑11; 1 Peter 3:22; John 5:25‑30)

5.  The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit from eternity is the third person of the God Head. We believe that the Holy Spirit is neither made, created, nor,                begotten, but is one and the same essence, majesty and glory with t1he Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates, teaches, equips, empowers,        and fills the believer. (John 16:7‑11; John 14:26)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, co‑equal with God in all his attributes. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God Head, is sent by the Lord Jesus Christ from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; to regenerate, seal, indwell, guide, and teach the believer; and to empower Christians to live in victory over sin. (Romans 8:9; John 14:26; John 16:7‑11)

6. Man: We believe that humankind was created by God, and in his image and likeness, that man fell through disobedience and willful sin, and comes under the condemnation of a holy God, and is utterly helpless to remedy his lost condition apart from the grace of God, and the only way man can be forgiven is by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:26; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:12)

7. Creation: We believe the Genesis account as being a historical record of  creation. It is accepted literally, not allegorically nor figuratively and it is believed that the universe with all that is in it was created by God, apart from pre‑existing materials and without evolutionary process. (Genesis 1: 1 ‑2)

8. The Way of Salvation: We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by one's own works or merit. We believe salvation is a gift from God and the Son of God, and is received solely by faith in the Lord  Jesus Christ, who accomplished complete redemption by His substitutionary death and shedding of His precious blood. We believe the full assurance of the believer is in his salvation, and those who have a true saving knowledge of Christ shall persevere. (John 3:18; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8‑9; Galatians 2:16; 1 John 1:9; Romans 6:18)

9. Satan: We believe that Satan was originally created perfect, as all things that a perfect God would create. He was a perfect being until sin entered him and he rebelled against God. As a result, he and the host of angelic beings that fell with him became depraved and enemies of all righteousness and the plan of God. They have been judged and defeated at the death and resurrection of Christ, and are ultimately doomed. Satan will face his punishment at the final rebellion described in Revelation. (Genesis 3:1‑19; Ephesians 6:13­17; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelations 20:10)

10. The Last Days: We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ; that Christ will return in the rapture and revelation, rescuing the saints before the tribulation to translate His church from the earth; and between this event and His glorious return with His saints, He will reward believers according to their works. (I Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51‑53; I Thessalonians 4:5‑11; I Corinthians 3:11‑15; II Corinthians 5:10)

11. Christian Ethics: We believe in the necessity of Christian ethics and the integrity that is within all believers; and in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and by whom the church is empowered to carry out Christ's great commission.

ECCC&S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Eastern Carolina Christian College & Seminary (ECCC&S) believes that students can actualize their potentialities and gifts by studying in a thoroughly Christian and nurturing environment. When students have been exposed to a supportive and challenging learning environment, one that is non-threatening and conducive to building up their self-esteem, they will become able leaders and scholars.

Eastern Carolina Christian College & Seminary has an educational program that displays its mission. The program's philosophical and theological foundation is the Word of God as presented in the Holy Scriptures. The Godhead (Father) is the source of all truth; therefore, all educational programs are Christ-centered led by the Holy Spirit. Our program formats itself under the fact that God created humankind in His image and likeness at creation. We are firm believers of the fact that we are saved by grace through faith.

Eastern Carolina Christian College & Seminary feels that God created all people for the purpose of glorifying His name through their service to others. The faculty and administration believe that they are all glorifying God by providing a Christian education to all students to help them actualize their spiritual, academic, and vocational potentialities in a complex and globally diverse society.

Eastern Carolina Christian College & Seminary believes that, in addition to campus instruction, distance learning programs and field experiences provide an efficient, inexpensive, and convenient means to deliver an education to students who may not otherwise seek a college degree.