All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
GBC Statement of Faith
1. We believe the Scriptures, including both the Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, and are the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of man, and the Divine and final authority for the Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matt 28:19)
3. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He rose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God and is now our High Priest and Advocate. (Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:15, Matthew 1:18-25, 1 Peter 2:23-24, Matthew 28:1-6, Mark 16:19, Hebrews 9:24, 1 John 2:1-2)
4. We believe at the moment of salvation, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the third Person of the Godhead, and are sealed until the day of redemption. We believe that every Christian is commanded of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18)
5. We believe that God has given to every believer spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the church. When these spiritual gifts are properly used according to the scriptures, the focus will be on glorifying God and not on self-edifying of the individual believer. Although no specific verses tell us when these spiritual gifts will end, the scripture does give very clear directions as to the purpose and criteria for use of these gifts. All use of gifts at Grace Bible Church will be in direct accordance with these principles and guidelines so as not to create confusion in this body of believers. (1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:11-16)
6. We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and now, therefore, is lost. Only through confession of our sin and believing that Jesus Christ is Lord can salvation and eternal life now be obtained. (Genesis 1:26, 2:7, Romans 5:12, 3:23, Romans 10:9-11)
7. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only means for justification and salvation to all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born of the Holy Spirit and have thus become the children of God. (Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:24-25, John 1:12)
8. We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. (Ephesians 1:20-23, 5:23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
9. We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this belief should have a vital bearing on the personal life and service of each believer. We recognize there are differing views on the timing of the pre-millennial rapture. We give each other Christian liberty and respect in this matter. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 20:2-7, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
10. We believe in an eternal state of hell for the lost and an eternal state of heaven for the saved and both are conscious and everlasting. (Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 20:15, 22:3-5, Matthew 25:46)
11. We believe that baptism is an outward testimony of the inward work of salvation in the believer. It is not a part of salvation, and it does not add to the believer’s salvation, but it does attest to the faith and obedience which the believer has placed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To fulfill the meaning of baptism as the believer sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that the scriptural mode of baptism is by immersion in water (Romans 6:3-5, Matthew 3:6, John 3:23, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39)
12. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance and not a sacrament. It is to be shared in only by those who are consciously in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. The Lord’s Supper shall be served to the assembled church by one of the Pastors or church leaders, or someone authorized by the Pastor or church leaders based on the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3. All who have been born again by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and who are living in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 are welcome at His table. (Luke 22:1-20, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Timothy 3:1-16)
13. We believe that the only marriage prescribed in God’s Word is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23). We believe God has commanded that intimate sexual activity be engaged in only within a Biblically recognized marriage. Gen 2:24, 19:5-7 and 13, 26:8-9: Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29, I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
2. We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matt 28:19)
3. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He rose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God and is now our High Priest and Advocate. (Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:15, Matthew 1:18-25, 1 Peter 2:23-24, Matthew 28:1-6, Mark 16:19, Hebrews 9:24, 1 John 2:1-2)
4. We believe at the moment of salvation, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the third Person of the Godhead, and are sealed until the day of redemption. We believe that every Christian is commanded of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 5:18)
5. We believe that God has given to every believer spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the church. When these spiritual gifts are properly used according to the scriptures, the focus will be on glorifying God and not on self-edifying of the individual believer. Although no specific verses tell us when these spiritual gifts will end, the scripture does give very clear directions as to the purpose and criteria for use of these gifts. All use of gifts at Grace Bible Church will be in direct accordance with these principles and guidelines so as not to create confusion in this body of believers. (1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:11-16)
6. We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and now, therefore, is lost. Only through confession of our sin and believing that Jesus Christ is Lord can salvation and eternal life now be obtained. (Genesis 1:26, 2:7, Romans 5:12, 3:23, Romans 10:9-11)
7. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only means for justification and salvation to all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born of the Holy Spirit and have thus become the children of God. (Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:24-25, John 1:12)
8. We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. (Ephesians 1:20-23, 5:23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
9. We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this belief should have a vital bearing on the personal life and service of each believer. We recognize there are differing views on the timing of the pre-millennial rapture. We give each other Christian liberty and respect in this matter. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 20:2-7, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
10. We believe in an eternal state of hell for the lost and an eternal state of heaven for the saved and both are conscious and everlasting. (Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 20:15, 22:3-5, Matthew 25:46)
11. We believe that baptism is an outward testimony of the inward work of salvation in the believer. It is not a part of salvation, and it does not add to the believer’s salvation, but it does attest to the faith and obedience which the believer has placed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To fulfill the meaning of baptism as the believer sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that the scriptural mode of baptism is by immersion in water (Romans 6:3-5, Matthew 3:6, John 3:23, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39)
12. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance and not a sacrament. It is to be shared in only by those who are consciously in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. The Lord’s Supper shall be served to the assembled church by one of the Pastors or church leaders, or someone authorized by the Pastor or church leaders based on the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3. All who have been born again by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and who are living in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 are welcome at His table. (Luke 22:1-20, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Timothy 3:1-16)
13. We believe that the only marriage prescribed in God’s Word is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23). We believe God has commanded that intimate sexual activity be engaged in only within a Biblically recognized marriage. Gen 2:24, 19:5-7 and 13, 26:8-9: Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29, I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)