Grace Bible Church

Doctrinal Statement

THE BIBLE The entire Bible in its original writings is inerrant, being verbally inspired by God and is of plenary authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5), eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

THE PERSON OF CHRIST Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35) and is true God (Philippians 2:6-9) and man (Romans 1:3).

TOTAL DEPRAVITY All men by nature are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3) and are, therefore, totally unable to do anything pleasing to God (Romans 3:9-12).

REDEMPTION God justifies ungodly sinners by His grace through the blood of Christ by the means of faith (Romans 3:24-28, 5:1-9). This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man's works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

ETERNAL SECURITY All the saved are eternally secure in Christ (Colossians 1:3; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29, 38; John 10:27; Ephesians 1:13).

PERSONALITY AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is a Person, Who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8) and Who regenerates (Titus 3:5), baptizes (1 Corinthians 12:13), indwells and seals (Ephesians 1:13-14), enlightens (Ephesians 1:17), and empowers (Ephesians 3:16-19).

THE CHURCH In the present dispensation there is only one true church, which is called the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22, 3:6; Colossians 1:18). The historical manifestation of the Body of Christ began with the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first epistle (I Thessalonians 2:14 cf. Acts 13:45; Philippians 1:5-6 cf. Acts 16; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 17 cf. Acts 18).

GIFTS The ministry gifts of the Body of Christ are enumerated in Ephesians 4:4-11, Romans 12:6-8, and I Corinthians 12:1-31. Some were of the nature of ministers given to the church and some were individual enablements for spiritual services; some of these gifts were permanent in nature and some were to pass away. Since the New Testament canon was completed through the ministries of apostles and prophets, we believe these two offices have been fulfilled and no longer exist. Likewise, the sign gifts, such as tongues, miracles, and healings, which were addressed primarily to the nation Israel (1 Corinthians 14:22) have fulfilled their purpose and have passed away according to I Corinthians 13:8-11.

WALK By reason of Christ's victory over sin and of His indwelling Spirit, all of the saved may and should experience deliverance from the power of sin by obedience to Romans 6:11. However, we deny that man's nature of sin is ever eradicated during this life (Romans 6:6-25, 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:14, 10:2-5).

LORD'S SUPPER The communion of the Lord's Supper as revealed through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is for members of the Body of Christ to observe until He comes. There is no place in Scripture where the Lord's Supper and water baptism are linked together either as ordinances or as sacraments of Christ.

BAPTISM All saved persons have been made members of the Body of Christ by one Divine baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13). By that one baptism every member of the Body of Christ is identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). In light of the statement concerning the one baptism in Ephesians 4:5, the statement concerning water baptism in Colossians 2:12, and Paul's statement in I Corinthians 117 that Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, we conclude that water baptism is not a part of God's spiritual program for the Body of Christ in this day of Grace.

RESURRECTION Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead (Luke 24:39-43). Therefore, all men will have a bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:21; Acts 24:15); the saved to everlasting glory and the unsaved to everlasting punishment (John 5:29; Revelation 20:11-15).

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST The rapture of the Church will be Pre-Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ will be Pre-Millennial. He will come first to receive the Church, which is His Body, unto Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21) and then come to receive His Millennial Kingdom over which He will reign (Zechariah 14:4-9; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:4-6). Because of the nature of the Body of Christ, the resurrection and rapture of the Church, which is His Body, will take place before the Tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7) at His appearing in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The resurrection of the other saved dead will occur after the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4-6).

STATE OF THE DEAD Nowhere does Scripture extend the hope of salvation to the unsaved dead but instead reveals that they will continue to exist in a state of conscious suffering (Luke 16:23-28; Revelation 14:11, 20:14-15; Romans 1:21-32; John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). The teachings of Universalism, of probation after death (i.e. purgatory), of annihilation of the unsaved dead, and the unconscious state of the death, saved, or unsaved (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8) are opposed by us as being thoroughly unscriptural and dangerous doctrines.

MISSIONS The mission and commission of the Church, which is His Body, is to proclaim the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) and endeavor to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:8-9). In this, we should follow the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:11-16). That distinctive message which the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, 15:16) calls my gospel (Romans 2:16, 16:25) is also called the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). We, like Paul, must preach the entire Word of God in the light of this Gospel (2 Timothy 4:2; Galatians 1:8-9) and strive to reach those in the regions beyond where Christ is not yet named (Romans 15:20; 2 Corinthians 10:16).