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:
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)
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)