It's important to be part of a local church. It's just as important to know what that local church believes. We have a detailed doctrinal belief page, but that can be a bit wordy. Below you can find our basic belief statements.
God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in these persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are God.
- The Father – He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. He reigns with providential care over the universe and the flow of human history goes according to His purpose and plan.
- The Son (Jesus) – Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus has eternally existed and became man at his Incarnation. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He bodily arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to Earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- The Holy Spirit – He is the third person of the Trinity. He guides men into all truth; exalts Christ; convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment; cultivates Christian character; comforts believers; bestows spiritual gifts by which believers serve God; and seals the Believer until the day of final redemption. His presence in the lives of Believers is the assurance of God to bring us into the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Scripture
The Bible is God’s word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it has salvation for its end and is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Human Beings
People are made in the image of God and are the supreme object of God’s creation. All of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Evangelism
It is the duty of every born again follower of Jesus Christ and of every church to make disciples of all people everywhere. It is the command of Christ for every believer to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. At Grace Bible Church, we believe our purpose is to know Christ and to make Him known.
Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The Church
A New Testament Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of born-again Believers who are associated by their common faith and fellowship with Jesus. A local church is to observe the two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Church should exercise their God-given gifts and extend the Gospel. The Church is an autonomous body serving under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. All members are equally responsible as they serve with the scriptural officers of the Church.
Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our sinful life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one received Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
We are eternally secure, because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true Believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” your salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort or works of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that give us this security. The question is not, did the person lose their salvation? It is was that person saved to begin with?
Ordinances
Baptism by Immersion – We believe that scriptural Baptism must be (1) by being completely immersed underwater and (2) after salvation. Jesus was immersed and all baptisms in the New Testament were by immersion. These two facts set the standard for Baptism today. Baptism has no saving power but is the first act of obedience symbolizing (1) the Believer’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (2) the Believer’s death to sin and resurrection to walk anew in Christ and (3) the Christian’s belief that he will die, be buried, and that Jesus will resurrect him from the dead.
The Lord’s Supper – The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby Believers remember the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate his second coming. The bread is symbolic of His body and the juice represents His blood.
Unity
To live in harmony with other Believers is clearly the teaching of the New Testament. It is the responsibility of each Believer to endeavor to live in fellowship with each member of Christ’s Church.