Introduction

As those who know God, we believe it necessary to set forth in a concise fashion the foundational truths of our church as guided by Scripture.  Grace Bible Fellowship’s statement of faith is intended to summarize essential Christian beliefs, show unity in Christ and guard the church from error. We as members are responsible for believing and living in accordance with it. We believe this statement is in accord with the Historic Baptist Confession of 1689 and most importantly outlines accurately what the Scriptures teach.

I.               Scripture , The Word of God – We believe the Bible (containing 66 books) is the Word of God.  It was written by men divinely inspired by God (II Peter 1:20,21; II Timothy 3:16). The Scriptures are the truth without mixture of error (Psalm 12:6; John 17:17; Psalm 119:128, 160). The Bible is the supreme authority by which all human conduct, creed, and opinions should be evaluated (Proverbs 30:5,6; Romans 15:4).

II.             God – We believe that there is only one living true God, infinite in every excellence, maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all worship, confidence and love (Exodus 15:11; 20:2,3; Revelation 4:11). That in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every Divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices (Matthew 28:18; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:18; II Corinthians 13:14).

We believe that God the Father is recognized as Father by the Old Testament saints (Jeremiah 3:19; Matthew 1:6) and by the New Testament apostles (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 4:6). He is revealed as our Heavenly Father by the Son (Matthew 5:16)

Concerning the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in His absolute Deity, that He was Divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing for all eternity and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 2:8-10; Hebrews 1:3,8; Micah 5:2).  In His voluntary humiliation, He did not lay aside His Deity (Matthew 1:21-22, 28:18; Mark 14:61,62; John 10:30,32,33, 14:19, 20:28; w Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:15-17; I John 1:1,2, 5:20). At His incarnation, He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary as no other man was or can ever be born.(Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14).

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, that He is a Divine Person, equal with God the Father and Son, and the same nature (Matthew 28:19; John 14:16,17,26; Hebrews 9:14). He was active in creation (Genesis 1:1-3). In His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled (2 Thessalonians 2:7). He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness (John 16:8-11). He bears witness to and empowers the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony (John 15:26,27; Acts 5:30-32). His purpose in this age is to glorify the Son (John 16:14). He is the agent of the New Birth (John 3:5,6). He indwells, seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps believers until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13,14, 4:30; John 14:26, 16:13; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:9,14,16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26,27). He never depreciates the completeness that is in Jesus Christ by exalting anyone or anything above, or as an addition to, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3; Colossians 2:10). He gives to the believer at salvation gifts of service according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and to be used only for the edification of the body (1 Corinthians 13:5b; Ephesians 4:16).

I.               Creation – We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively, (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23- 26; Jeremiah 10:10). Man was created directly by God and in God’s own image and after His own likeness (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:7). Man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species or development through long periods of time from lower to higher forms (Genesis 2:7,21-23; John 1:3). All animal and vegetable life was created directly and is to reproduce “after its own kind.” (Genesis 1:11,24; Colossians 1:16,17).

II.             Man – We believe man is the special creation of God made in His own image.  He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. Man was created in innocence (Genesis 1:27), but by voluntary transgression man fell from his original innocence (Genesis 3) resulting in all his posterity inheriting a nature now dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1,5). Consequently all men are now sinners by inheritance and by individual choice (Ephesians 2:1-33; Romans 5:12, 19; Romans 3:10-19; Galatians 3:22).  Man’s only hope of eternal life is through redemption in Jesus Christ (John 3:3,5; John 14:6; Acts 4:12, Acts 17:30,31; Ephesians 2:8,9).

III.           Jesus Christ, our Substitutionary Atonement – We believe God the Father so loved man that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Jesus, the Word, became man (John 1:1,14), bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), the just dying for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), and died in our place, suffering the consequences of breaking the law (1 John 3:4) which is physical and spiritual death (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2). His sacrifice was the legal substitution for us (1 John 2:2; John 19:30; I Peter 2:24). It was legal since sin is breaking God’s law (1 John 3:4) and substitutionary since Christ took our punishment (Isaiah 53:4-6). As a result God’s justice was satisfied, Christian’s are released from eternal wrath (Matthew 1:21, 25:46; John 3:36; Romans 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2) and the debt that sin brings upon us has been cancelled (Colossians 2:14).

Having risen bodily from the dead (Acts 1:3), He ascended bodily into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11). He is now enthroned in Heaven at the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69; Acts 5:31; Colossians 3:1) and interceding for His people (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14; 1 John 2:1).

IV.          Salvation – We believe salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace and received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on the basis of His work on the cross, shedding His blood and atoning for the sins of men (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-20).

In order to be saved, a person must be born again (John 3:3; I Peter 1:23).  This new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is an instantaneous event and not a process (John 3:5-7). In the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is made partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God (2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1,4-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5). This change of heart is made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit through the conviction of sin, to which the sinner is enabled to respond in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Romans 1:16,17, 2:4, 3:23-25, 4:5, 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation’s proper evidence is seen in repentance and faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is fully and sufficiently able to save (Romans 10:9-13; 1 John 5:1-5).

The sinner is justified or made righteous, pardoned from sin and given eternal life on the basis of Jesus Christ’s righteousness and the blessings secured for him by the atonement of Jesus Christ (Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:1, 9, 8:1). Justification is bestowed without consideration of an individual’s good works (past, present or future) but solely by grace through faith (Titus 3:5; Romans 4:24,25; Galatians 3:11).

Sanctification is the result of justification. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with a person’s standing (in Christ), not on his present walk or condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2,30, 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11, 10:10,14, 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2).

A second aspect of sanctification for the believer is being set apart progressively in his walk day by day as he grows in grace toward the likeness of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God,  yielding to the Holy Spirit through Biblical change and the local church  (Matthew 18:15-20; John 17:17; Acts 2:41-27; Romans 8:13, 12:1,2, 8:28,29; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:11-16, 22-24; Hebrews 5:12-14; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:3).

A third aspect of sanctification is when the believer will be totally sanctified, bearing the image and likeness of Christ at His coming (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Romans 8:17,18; Philippians 3:21).

Security of the believer in salvation was planned by God so that all the redeemed once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 5:24, 6:37,40, 10:27-30; Romans 5:9,10, 8:1,31,39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25, 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24).

Eternal security does not mean that the believer has a license to sin (Romans 5:21-6:2) and God’s Word clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (Romans 6:15,22, 13:13,14; Galatians 5:13,25,26; Titus 2:11-14; James 2:14-20).

V.             The Church – We believe all who are redeemed by God are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one unified spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12,13; Ephesians 4:4-6). The Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8) of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18).

The formation of the church was prophesied by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18) and began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ when He returns for His Bride (1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The establishment and continuation of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23-27, 20:17-28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and that members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (2 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25).

The one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor teachers; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1 13; Titus 1:5 9; 1 Peter 5:1 5). We teach that these leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17 22) and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19 20; 2 Timothy 2:2), mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5 14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matthew 18:15 22; Acts 5:1 11; 1 Corinthians 5:1 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6 15; 1 Timothy 1:19 20; Titus 1:10 16).

We teach the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The leadership should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well (Acts 15:19 31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4 7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1 4).

We teach that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building people up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13-16), by instruction of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16 17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38 42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42).

We believe In God’s electing grace (1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2) and that salvation is freely offered to all by the Gospel (Romans 10:9-13; Revelation 22:17).  Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, a rejection which brings upon man the condemnation of God’s wrath (John 3:18,36; Romans 1:18,20; 2:1,4,5).

We teach the calling of all saints to the work of service (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:12; Revelation 22:12).

We teach the need of the church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7 12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5 8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

We teach that there were two kinds of gifts given the early church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles' message (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a preacher's message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a pastor-teacher or evangelist or his message (1 Corinthians 13:8-12). Miraculous gifts can be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even believers (1 Corinthians 13:13-14:12; Revelation 13:13-14). The only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (Romans 12:6-8). We teach that no one possesses the gift of healing today but that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted (Luke 18:1-6; John 5:7-9; 2 Corinthians 12:6-10; James 5:13-16; 1 John 5:14-15).

We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:38-42). Christian baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36-39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1-11). It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42).

We teach that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self examination (1 Corinthians 11:28-32). We also teach that whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord's Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16).

VI.          Marriage – We believe the marriage of a man to a woman is the plan of God and sacred in His sight (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Ephesians 5:18-32; 1 Timothy 3:4,5,12; Malachi 2:13,14). The roles of husband, wife, parent and child are clearly defined in Scripture (Ephesians 5:21-32; Colossians 3:16-21; 1 Peter 3:1-7). The sexual relationship is created by God and is only to be fulfilled and enjoyed within the bonds of marriage and is condemned outside the marriage relationship (1 Corinthians 7:3,4; Hebrews 13:4). Children are a blessing from God; the responsibility for raising them rest solely upon the parent; the children are to be brought up in loving, structured control and conscientious instruction in the truths of God found in the Bible (Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Psalm 78:4-7; Proverbs 17:6).

VII.        Last Things/Future Things – God in His own time and in His own way will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the Earth, the dead will be raised and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord (Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 16:27, 18:8-9, 19:28, 24:27,30,26,44, 25:31-46, 26:54; Mark 8:38, 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48, 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27,28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11, 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5, 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5, 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, 5:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, 2:1-17; I Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7-10; 1 John 2:28, 3:2; Revelation 1:18, 3:11, 20:1-22).