GRACE
BAPTIST CHURCH
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Scripture
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore is the truth without error. We accept a natural and literal interpretation and believe the Bible to be relevant for today as the only rule for what we believe.
2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
God the Father
We believe that there is only one living and true God,
perfect in holiness; that in the unity of the Godhead there are
three personal distinctions- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit- yet one in substance and equal in every divine
perfection.
Exodus 20:2,3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7
God the Son
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no man can be, being
very God of very God, existing from all eternity coequal with
the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for
one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying
aside His deity; that as man He was miraculously begotten
of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
John 1:1,2, 14;1 John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person,
equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance
and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and
judgement, bears witness to the truth, is the Agent of the
New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches,
witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling
every true Child of God.
2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16; Romans 8:14-27
God
Creation
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth,
including all life, “each after its own kind,” in six literal, 24
hour days, by direct act, and not by the process of
evolution. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God; because of this, the only legitimate marriage is between a man and a woman.
Genesis 1:2, 26-27; 2:22-25; Colossians 1:16,17 ; John 1:3
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The Fall
We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was
created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell into
sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and
death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in
iniquity and become willful sinners with the first expression of
personal choice, and so are without excuse before God.
(Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19)
Creation
&
The Fall
We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament
institution and is manifested through the local Church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the rights and privileges invested in it by His Word; and that its officers are pastors and deacons. The local Church has absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence the will of the local church is final.
Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Matthew 18:15-17;
1Corinthians 1:2; 6:4,5; 7:17; 11:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-15
The Church
We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism. ”It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him. We practice "close" communion and those who participate should carefully examine themselves.
Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-32
Baptism
&
Communion
The Return of Christ
We believe in the bodily, personal return of Jesus Christ in
two events: First, He will come before the seven-year
tribulation period to catch away His church, coming only into
the air(the rapture). He will come with His church at the close
of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His
millennial kingdom on earth.
I Thessalonians 4 :13-18; Matthew 25: 31-46; Revelation 19:11-21
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The Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead
Believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of
Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living
saints to meet the Lord in the air (rapture) The wicked dead
will be raised at the close of the Millennial kingdom and
stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne of judgement
to receive their final doom.
John 5:21-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15