Grace Bible Church - Statement of Faith

Grace Bible Church shall adhere to the following Statement of Faith in both its spirit and entirety.
We believe all (plenary) the words (verbal) of the 66 books of the Bible to be the inspired Word of God1, without error in the original writings2, the complete revelation of His will for mankind, and the final authority for Christian faith and practice3. (12Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:89, 160; 22Peter 1:20-21; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 3John 12:48, 17:17; Isaiah 8:19-20)

We believe in one living and true God4, Creator and Ruler of all things5, infinitely perfect6 and eternally existing7 in three Persons8: the Father9, the Son10 and the Holy Spirit11. (4Deuteronomy 6:4; 5Jeremiah 10:10-12; Isaiah 40:18-28, Isaiah 45:5-6; 6Matthew 5:48; Romans 11:33-36; 71Timothy 1:17; 8Matthew 28:19; 2Corinthians 13:14; 91Corinthians 8:6; 10Matthew 3:16-17; 11John 14:16-17)

We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son12, the only begotten of the Father13, eternally14 sinless15 and holy16, conceived by the Holy Spirit17 and born of a virgin18. We believe in His atoning death19 on the cross20, bodily resurrection21, ascension into heaven22, perpetual intercession for His people23 and personal24, visible25 and triumphant return26. (12John 1:1; 131:18; 3:16; 14Hebrews 1:1-2; 15Hebrews 4:15; 16Acts 13:35; Philippians 2:6-11; 17Luke 1:35; 18Matthew 1:18-25; 19Galatians 3:13; Romans 3:25; 1John 2:2; 20John 19:16-18; 211 Corinthians 15:3-5; Acts 2:31-33; 22Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:24; 23Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 24Acts 1:11; 25Matthew 24:30; 261Thessalonians 4:13-17)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person27; that He is truly and eternally God28, equal with the Father and Son29; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel30, and convicts mankind of sin, righteousness and judgment31; that He regenerates32 and indwells the believing sinner33, and guides34, instructs35, and empowers the believer for godly living and service36; and, that He is the means by which God the Son baptizes all believers into His Body—the Church37. (27Acts 5:3-4; Genesis 1:1-3; 28Hebrews 9:14; 29Matthew 28:19; 30John 15:26; 31John 16:7-11; 32Titus 3:5; John 3:3-8; 331Corinthians 6:17, 19; John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9; 34John 16:13; 35John 14:26; 36Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16; 37Acts 1:4-5; 1Corinthians 12:13)

We believe that mankind was created directly by God, sinless, in His image and after His likeness38, but fell into sin through disobedience39, thereby incurring both physical and spiritual death40; that all mankind are thus born with a sinful nature41, are separated from the life of God42, and can only be saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection43 through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit44; that those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord are born again and become children of God45—new creations in union with Christ46, who is our life47. (38Romans 5:12,19; Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7; 39Genesis 3:1-7, 24; 40Genesis 2:16-17; 41Psalm 51:5 42John 3:3; Isaiah 59:1-2; 43Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 4:10-12, 2:21; John 11:25, 26; 44John 3:3-8; 45John 1:12; Romans 10:9-10; 462Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; 47Philippians 1:21)

We believe that there will be a bodily resurrection of the dead48; the saved into everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord49, the unsaved into everlasting judgment50; that angels and demons exist51 and that Satan is a personal being52, the father of lies53, the great deceiver, accuser, and enemy of God54, and is destined to final defeat by the Lord Jesus Christ55 . (482Corinthians 5:1-8; Acts 24:14-15; 49John 5:28-29; 1Thessalonians 1:8-10; 50Matthew 25:46; 51Hebrews 1:3-7; Matthew 8:28-32; 52Matthew 4:10-11; 53John 8:44; 54Revelation 12:9-10; 55Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10)

We believe that the universal Church, of which Christ is the Head56, consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ57, who are redeemed through His blood58 and regenerated by the Holy Spirit59. The local church is a visible expression of the universal body of Christ60. (56Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23; 57Romans 10:9; 58Ephesians 1:7; 59Titus 3:5; John 3:5-8; 60Acts 9:31; 11:26; 1Thessalonians 2:14)

We believe that Believer’s Baptism in water is an outward symbol of an inward change, an act of obedience61, and a proclamation that we have, in fact, been united with Christ in His death and resurrection62. Likewise, participation in the Lord’s Supper (communion) is an act of obedience to the only other ordinance of the Lord to remember Him and to proclaim His death until He comes63. These two ordinances are not to be regarded as a means of salvation but rather speak of the realities of that salvation64. (61Acts 2:38,41; Matthew 28:19-20; 62Romans 6:1-11; 63Matthew 26:26-29; 1Corinthians 11:23-26; 641Peter 3:21; 1Corinthians 11:26)

We believe that God establishes governments as His servants for the good order of society65; that every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities66; and, that where in conflict, we must obey God rather than men67 because we are citizens of the kingdom of God68. We also believe that Christian liberty will allow for differences in matters of conscience, knowing that each will give account of himself to God69. (65Romans 13:1-7; 661 Peter 2:13, 14, 17; 67Acts 5:27-29; 68Philippians 3:17-21; 1Peter 2:11-21; 69Romans 14:4-15:7; 2Corinthians 1:12)

We believe that God created Eve to form a natural partnership with Adam70; that God established marriage to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman71; and, that He ordained the family to be the proper environment in which to raise children72. (70Genesis 2:18-24; 71Matthew 19:3-9; 72Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 6:20)