Statement of Faith

Grace Baptist Church’s stand on:

The Bible:

1.  The verbal (every word), plenary (in its entirety) inspiration of the Scriptures and the preservation of the very words of the Bible through the King James Version (Authorized Version)

The Trinity:

2.  God is a triune being – three co-equal, co-eternal persons in one unified Godhead:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection:

3.  Jesus Christ has eternally existed as the Son of God and took on human flesh when the Holy Spirit overshadowed the virgin Mary.  Jesus lived entirely apart from sin in order to be the perfect “Lamb of God.”  His death on the cross was substitutionary for the sins of the whole world.  After dying on the cross, He was in the grave for three literal days and nights before bodily rising from the tomb, giving proof of His resurrection, and ascending to the right hand of the Father.

Hell:

4.  All of mankind fell into sin and will face a literal hell, apart from faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation:

5.  Salvation is through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone.

Creation:

6.  God created everything from nothing in six literal, twenty-four-hour days as recorded in Genesis.

The local church:

7.  Local churches are to be autonomous.  The “universal church” doctrine is a misinterpretation of Scripture.  Each local church is a true body of believers made of members who are saved and baptized by immersion, and who assemble together for edification, exhortation, and evangelism.

The rapture:

8.  Jesus Christ is coming at any moment to receive believers in the air (the Rapture).  Unbelievers left behind will suffer seven years of tribulation on the earth before Jesus Christ visibly returns to the earth for his one-thousand-year reign in the Millenial Kingdom.

Separation:

9.  Believers are to be separate from all ungodliness.  This standard includes both individual and ecclesiastical separation.

10.  The Grace Baptist Church also believes the following Biblical distinctives:
– Biblical authority – The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
– Autonomy of the local church
– Priesthood of all true believers
– Two ordinances:  baptism and communion (Lord’s Table)
– Individual soul liberty, and separation of church and state
– Saved, baptized church membership
– Two officers:  pastor and deacon
– Security of all true believers in Jesus Christ