Statement of Faith
The Holy Bible
We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible to be the infallible written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant and the final authority in matters of faith and conduct.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 17:19; Psalm 19:7-10; Luke 21:33; John 5:39, 16:13-15; Acts 17:11; Romans15:4; II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2, 4:12; II Peter 1:19-21
Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and became Incarnate through the virgin birth. He unites eternally, in His person, perfect Deity and true humanity.
John 1:1-15; Luke 1:26-33; Philippians 2:6-8
We believe in the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. His shed blood is the foundation and means of our salvation.
II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; I Peter 1:19
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His ascension in that body to the right hand of God.
I Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 1:3, 9:24
We believe in the three personal pre-millennial coming of Jesus Christ at which time we are to be caught up in bodies like unto His gloriously body.
I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Acts 1:10-11; I John 3:1-3; Luke 12:40; Titus 2:13
Salvation
We believe in the new birth by the Spirit of God whereby we are made the children of God.
John 1:12; 3:3, 6, 8
We believe in the eternal salvation of the regenerate and the eternal condemnation of the unregenerate.
John 10:27-29; Romans 8:28-29; II Thessalonians 1:7-9
The Trinity
We believe in the Unity of the Godhead, eternally existing in three Persons:
- Father
- Son
- Holy Spirit
Each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality.
Mark 1:9, 11; Romans 8:14-15; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7
We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit and in His work of conviction of sin. His regenerating work and His indwelling to give victory over sins and ministry in the believer to glorify Christ.
John 14:16-17, 16:7-11; Romans 8:9; Titus 3:5; Acts 1:8
We believe that God equips the Church with spiritual gifts. We also believe that the miracle gifts were for a sign to authenticate the message of the New Testament Church and that the activities exercised by the Neo-Pentecostal movements are not necessary for the church today.
I Corinthians 12:13; I Corinthians 14:21-22
Christian Life
We believe that the chief occupation of the Christian is to do the will of God, to preach the Gospel of saving grace to the lost, and to build up the saints in the faith.
John 4:34, 17:18; Mark 16:15; Acts1:8; Luke 22:32
We believe that Christians should be separated unto the Lord and abstain from all appearance of evil.
Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:14-18; I Thessalonians 1:9
We believe the Lord’s Supper is the symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Body of Christ, through partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of Jesus the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17, 26:26-30; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 10:16, 21; Colossians 2:12
We believe the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 24:1-3; John 4:21-24; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; Revelation 1:10
Baptism
We believe Christian Baptism is the immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in: a crucified, buried and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a public testimony to the christian’s faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38–41; Acts 16:31-34
Giving of Tithe and Offering
We believe God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtoring stewardship in their possessions. They are under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents and material possessions and should recognize all these as entrusted to them for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically and proportionately for the furtherance of the Gospel.
Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 12:16-21; Acts 2:44-47; Romans 6:6-22
Missions and Missionaries
Grace Baptist Church supports its own missionaries through individual gifts and through the cooperate body of the Church. The Missionaries visit the Church when on furlough and give testimony of what Christ is doing through his/her ministry. 100% of every offering plate dollar given goes to the work.
(Monies are designated to the Missionaries to which we support.)
I Chronicles 16:23-24; Mark 16:15; Luke 10:2; Acts 13:47
Elders
The office of the Elder is scriptural and is a position to be desired by qualified men. The Elder serves alongside the Senior Pastor and provide a plurality of shared, spiritual leadership for the church.
Qualifications are outlined in: I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-3
The main function of the Elder is to provide spiritual watch-care for the members and to serve and protect the doctrine of the church. The Elder Board will appoint new men to serve as Elders and then present them to the church. The Elders will also serve as Trustees of Grace Baptist Church and will execute legal documents as required. They shall also care for the property of the church. Decisions requiring new buildings, major repair, maintenance and renovation of existing structures will require the approval of the entire Board of Elders.
Deacons
The office of the Deacon serves the Lord by conducting the caring ministry of the church – doing the benevolence work, visiting the sick, being alert to the spiritual needs of the congregation-for the purposes of freeing the pastoral staff to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word, promoting unity within the church and facilitating the spread of the gospel.
“Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 3:13