Our Doctrinal Statement

The doctrinal foundation of Carpe Vitam Institute is built upon classical evangelical theology and fivefold ministry principles. Carpe Vitam Institute firmly upholds the absolute integrity and inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and accepts the foundational doctrines of the historic Christian faith.

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God and the supreme, final authority for faith and life. They are inerrant in all matters in the original manuscripts, infallible, and God-breathed, reflecting the truth of a God who cannot lie (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Titus 1:2).

Inerrancy means that the original manuscripts were entirely free from error. Inspiration means that God the Holy Spirit supernaturally guided human authors, so that every word written was precisely what God intended (2 Peter 1:20–21). Although God used human instruments with unique personalities, the resulting text remains His complete, inspired Word.

The Triune God

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three co-equal persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are distinct in personhood yet unified in essence, equal in power and glory, and possessing the exact same divine attributes (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:9).

God is one indivisible essence expressed in three distinct persons. The Father is unbegotten and originates from none, the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20). They operate in perfect harmony across the divine works of creation, redemption, and sanctification.

God the Father

We believe that God the Father, the First Person of the Godhead, is unseen by human eyes yet shares one essence with the Son and the Holy Spirit. He possesses all divine attributes, including omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, holiness, justice, love, truth, and goodness (Matthew 6:8; 1 Corinthians 8:6; James 1:17).

He is worthy of all worship, and He is the Father with whom believers enjoy a direct relationship through Jesus Christ (John 4:23; John 14:6). God the Father resurrects the dead and holds ultimate sovereign control over the timeline of human history (Acts 1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28).

God the Son, Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead, is eternally self-existent God who became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary to reveal God and redeem sinful humanity (Luke 1:35; John 1:1–2, 14).

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, existing as the Alpha and the Omega. As the eternally begotten Son of God, He possessed divine omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence prior to His earthly birth and retains these attributes forever (John 3:16; Colossians 1:15–17; Revelation 22:13).

We believe that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His substitutionary death on the cross as the unblemished Lamb of God. Our justification is made secure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24–25; 5:8; 1 Peter 1:18–19). Following His resurrection, He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where He serves as our High Priest, Advocate, and Intercessor (Acts 1:9–11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, is a divine person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He reveals Christ to humanity, regenerates the believer, baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ, and seals them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Ephesians 1:13–14).

The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth, teaches the Scriptures, and anoints believers with spiritual gifts (John 16:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 2:20). He is co-equal, co-eternal, and omnipotent with the Father and the Son. He actively participated in creation and was the primary divine agent in the inspiration of Scripture (Genesis 1:2; 2 Samuel 23:2).

Creation and Humanity

We believe the Book of Genesis presents a historically accurate account of creation and the origins of humanity. We reject macro-evolutionary theories and affirm that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal 24-hour days (Genesis 1–2; Exodus 20:11).

We believe God created a vast host of sinless angelic beings. Lucifer, now called Satan, led a rebellion against God and drew one-third of the angels with him, bringing sin into creation. Satan was decisively defeated at the Cross of Calvary (Ezekiel 28:12–17; Colossians 2:15).

Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God. Through Adam’s original disobedience, humanity fell into sin, inherited a sinful nature, and suffered spiritual alienation from God. Humanity is utterly incapable of remedying this lost condition apart from divine grace, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1–9).

Salvation

We believe salvation is a free gift of God brought to humanity by grace and received solely through personal faith in the blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

All who receive Jesus Christ by faith are justified by His shed blood, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, made new creations, and adopted as children of God (John 1:12–13; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Life and Mission of the Believer

We believe believers are called to live holy lives set apart from worldly practices, sinful associations, and compromising mindsets (Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 1 John 2:15–17). Sanctification is accomplished through continuous reliance upon the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers for effective witness and faithful service (John 14:16–17; Ephesians 4:1–3).

It is the sacred obligation of every believer to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all humanity through word and action (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).

The Church and Ordinances

We believe the universal Church is the spiritual Body and Bride of Jesus Christ, composed of all born-again believers, with Christ serving as the supreme Head (Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:25–27).

We recognize two scriptural ordinances for the Church:

1. Water Baptism: Administered by immersion as a public declaration of identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36–38).
   
   

2. The Lord’s Supper: A symbolic commemoration of Christ’s broken body and shed blood, observed regularly by believers until His return (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
   
   

Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

We believe in the operational continuity of fivefold ministry gifts, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, given to equip believers for ministry today (Ephesians 4:11–12).

We believe that all charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit remain fully active and operational for the Church today, including prophecy, speaking in tongues, divine healing, and the working of miracles (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11).

We believe that God answers the prayer of faith and that divine healing is provided through the Atonement (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:17). Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to exercise spiritual authority, lay hands on the sick, and cast out demonic entities in Jesus' name (Mark 16:17–18; Luke 10:19).

Angels, Satan, and Demonology

We believe that angels are created spiritual beings who possess intelligence, emotion, and will, sent by God to minister to believers (Psalm 148:2; Hebrews 1:14).

Satan is a fallen, created angelic being, the author of sin, and the declared enemy of God and humanity. He and his fallen angels face eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 20:10). We affirm that believers possess delegated spiritual authority to recognize and drive out demonic oppression through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:8; Ephesians 6:10–18).

The Rapture and the Second Coming

We believe in the sudden, bodily catching away of the Church, known as the Rapture, prior to the seven-year Tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The indwelling Holy Spirit within the Church acts as the primary restraining force against the Antichrist until the Church is caught up to meet the Lord.

Following the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will physically, visibly, and gloriously return to the earth to establish His millennial kingdom (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11–16; 20:4–6).

The Eternal State

We believe in the physical resurrection of all humanity: believers to everlasting life with God, and unbelievers to final judgment (John 5:28–29; Revelation 20:12–15).

At physical death, the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of the Lord, awaiting the resurrection when body and soul are reunited in everlasting glory (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). The souls of unbelievers descend to Hell after death, awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment, after which they will be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer conscious, eternal punishment (Matthew 25:41–46; Luke 16:19–31; Revelation 20:11–15).