At Grace Bible Church we believe that the following statements are essential as a basis of faith and practice.  These are the critical items one needs to believe to be a part of Grace Bible Church:

1.    Redemption:  God justifies ungodly sinners by His Grace, upon the grounds of the blood of Christ, through the means of faith.  This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man's work.  (Romans 3:24-28; Romans 4-5; Ephesians 2:8,9)

2.    Christian Actions: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God the Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."  (Ephesians 4:1-6)

While we realize that there are many differences in doctrinal positions that do not affect either salvation or fellowship, the official doctrinal position if this church shall be as follows:

1.   The Bible:  The entire canon of scripture in its original writings is verbally inspired by God and of plenary authority.  (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:21)

2.   The Godhead:  There is one God, eternally existing in three persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Ephesians 4:6)

3.   The Person of Christ:  Jesus Christ, who was in the form of God, was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.  He is the true God and true man.  (Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:6-9; Romans 1:3,4)

4.  Total Depravity:  All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sin, and are therefore totally unable to do anything pleasing to God.  (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 8:7,8)

5.   Eternal Security:  All the saved are eternally secure in Christ.  (Romans 8:38,39; Colossians 2:9, 3:1-3; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 4:30)

6.   Personality and Work of the Holy Spirit:  The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.  (John 16:8-14)  By Him the believer is regenerated, baptized, sealed, indwelt, enlightened and empowered. (I Corinthians 4:1, 2:7, 12:13,27; Romans 2:16, 12:4,5, 16:25; Ephesians 1:22,23, 3:6, 4:4)

7.    Gifts:  The gifts in operation today for the Body of Christ are included in Ephesians 4:7-17 and Romans 12:6-8.  All of the sign gifts of the Acts period such as tongues, healing and prophecy, being temporary in character, have ceased.  (I Corinthians 12:31, 13:8-11; Colossians 1:25,26)

8.    Walk:  By reason of Christ's victory over sin and the indwelling Holy Spirit, all the saved may and should experience progressive deliverance from the power of sin by dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit.  We deny that man's nature of sin is ever eradicated during this life.  (Romans 8:37; II Corinthians 2:14, 10:2-5; Galatians 5:15-25)

9.    The Lord's Supper:  The communion of the Lord's Supper as revealed through the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 11:23-26 is for members of the Body of Christ to observe "until He comes."

10.  Baptism:  All saved persons have been made members of the Body of Christ by one divine baptism.  Every member of the Body of Christ is identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.  In the light of Colossians 2:22, Ephesians 4:5, and I Corinthians 1:17, we affirm that the only baptism in God's spiritual program for today is that divine baptism of the Holy Spirit spoken of the I Corinthians 12:13 by which all believers are made members of the Body of Christ.

11.  Resurrection:  Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead.  (Luke 24:39-43) therefore, all men will have a bodily resurrection,  (I Corinthians 15:20-22)  the saved to everlasting glory, and the unsaved to everlasting punishment.  (John 5:29; revelation 20:11-15)

12.  Appearing of Christ:  The appearing of Christ for the Church will be personal and pre-millennial.  His appearing will be for the receiving of the Church unto Himself.  (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:21; Titus 2;13)

13.  Second Coming of Christ:  Christ's coming to establish His earthly millennial kingdom over which he will reign is in contrast to His appearing for the Church.  (Revelation 19:11, 20:1-6)

14.  State of the Dead:  The scriptures never extend the hope of salvation to the unsaved dead but instead reveal that they will ever continue to exist in a state of conscious suffering.  By contrast, all the saved dead will ever continue to exist in conscious fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. (Luke 16:23-28; John 3:36; Romans 1:21-32; Ephesians 5:5 II Thessalonians 1:9; II Corinthians 5:6-8, 12:3,4; Revelation 14:11, 20:14,15)

15.  Mission/Commission:  The mission and commission of the present Church Age is to proclaim the message of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5;14-21) and to endeavor to make all men see the "dispensation of the mystery."  (Ephesians 3:7,8)  We are to strive to reach those in the regions beyond with the good news of salvation where Christ is not yet named.  (Romans15:20; II Corinthians 10:16)  We are commanded to follow the pattern given by the risen Christ to the Apostle Paul through successive revelations which is distinct from that given to the twelve apostles for building the Kingdom.  (Galatians 1:11,12)  The Apostle Paul refers to this message as "the gospel of the grace of God" or "my gospel" and instructs us to follow him as he follows the Lord in discharging the debt of witnessing to the lost.  (Romans 1:14; I Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:17; I Timothy 1:11-16; Romans 11:13, 15:16, 16:25; Acts 20-24; Philippians 4:9, I Corinthians 14:37)