Grace Baptist Church - Article III

ARTICLE III - DECLARATION OF FAITH

A. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. God directed the human authors of Scripture so that without destroying individuality, personality, or writing style, His complete thought toward man was recorded, without error, in the actual word forms of the original manuscripts of the sixty-six books. The written word of God is wholly trustworthy and reliable. It needs no complement. Scripture is the final authority in the rule of faith and practice in the church and is all-sufficient for Christian living. (II Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 4:25; II Peter 1:20-21).

B. We believe that God is a self-existent, self-conscious, personal being, infinite and unchangeable. God is one indivisible being but consists of three individual Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with the whole being of God belonging to each Person. (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 40:5; Malachi 3:16; Matthew 28:19; John 19:30).

C. We believe in God the Father: an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, that He hears and answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:3-6; Galatians 1:3-5; II Timothy 1:2; John 3:16-17)

D. We believe that the divine Son of God, pre-existent with the Father, became the man, Jesus Christ, through the virgin birth. In Christ, undiminished deity and true humanity are united in one Person without mingling of attributes. It is the Son of God who reveals the Father. (Colossians 1:15-16; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:18, 6:46, 10:30).

E. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, the third member of the triune Godhead (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit alone reveals Jesus Christ through the Word of God (John 14:26; John 16:12-15), convicting and regenerating sinners, comforting and instructing saints whom He came to permanently indwell at the moment of new birth (Acts 2:38; John 16:7-8; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9).

F. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the edification and unification of the body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-13; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10). We believe that the apostolic age of signs (including the gifts of miracles, healing and tongues) ceased with the ministry of the apostles chosen personally by Christ and with the completion of the written Word of God (1 Corinthians 13:8-11; 1 Corinthians 14:20-22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:2-4). Even though wondrous signs are no longer given to people as gifts, we still see God doing great works of power as we minister in Jesus’ name. (John 15:16-17)

G. We believe that man was created in the image of God and that he voluntarily chose to disobey God, thus introducing sin into the human race. This incurred for man not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, therefore needing redemption. (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12, 17, 18, 6:23; Colossians 3:10).

H. We believe that marriage is a union, established by God, between a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:18-24; Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27).

I. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose bodily from the dead. He is the only Savior through whom fallen man can find forgiveness and salvation. (John 1:29, 14:6; I Corinthians 15:3-8)

J. We believe that the forgiveness and salvation, made possible by the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross, came to man through personal faith in Christ. Salvation is by grace alone, not by any good works. Those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God are saved for eternity. (Romans 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:8-10; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:38-39).

K. We believe that, following regeneration, the believer’s new life is maintained and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. This is accompanied by the believer’s intelligent, voluntary activity to obey Christ and conform to the standards of God’s Word. Thus, growth in holiness and doing good works are evidences of faith. (I Thessalonians. 5:23; II Thessalonians 2:15; Philippians 2:12-13; James 2:17-18; Hebrews 13:16).

L. Angels constitute a vast company of incorporeal beings created to worship and serve God (Hebrews 1:14, Psalm 148:2, 5; Revelation 5:11-13). Though invisible, they have often appeared to men in a recognizable form to bring a message from God (Acts 8:26). Satan is an angel who desired to exalt himself above God and be worshiped. He is leading a rebellion against God and will ultimately be judged (Isaiah 14:7-21; Ezekiel 28:11-19). He seeks to blind men's eyes to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:3-4) and continually accuses believers before God, seeking to destroy their lives and testimony (Revelation 12:10). Angels were created innocent and some fell through rebellion prior to the creation of man (Revelation 12:9; Matthew 25:41). These evil angels (demons) oppose God's purpose and the ministry of good angels (Daniel 10:12-13). They seek to cause injury to mankind through sickness (Job 1:7-11; Luke 9:38-42), possession (Mark 5:1-5), and solicitation to sin (Matthew 4:3).

M. We believe that Jesus Christ will, personally and bodily, come in the clouds to remove His church from the world and to reward its members for their works. We believe His return is imminent and we believe it will occur prior to the Tribulation. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52; II Corinthians 5:10).

N. We believe that the period of the Tribulation will be climaxed by the physical, bodily return of Christ to the earth with His saints. During the one thousand years following His return, Christ will rule the world in righteousness. This will be His kingdom on earth. (Revelation 19:11-20:3; Revelation 20). Satan will be loosed at the end of the one thousand years and will gather many against God. After deceiving many, Satan will be defeated at Gog and Magog, and banished forever in hell (Revelation 20:7-10). The unrighteous dead will be raised to face the White Throne Judgment. Satan, his demons, and the unsaved, face everlasting torment in hell (Revelation 20:10-15) while God's children, having received their glorified bodies, enjoy everlasting life in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-3).

O. We believe that the local church is an organized, autonomous assembly of immersed believers who unite together for the maturing of the saints and the spreading of the Gospel. (Philippians 1:1, I Corinthians 5; Acts 2:40-44).

P. We believe that the church and state have different responsibilities under God, both being God’s servant to accomplish His will in the world. (Romans 13:1-7; I Timothy 2:1-4).