Statement of Faith

The Bible

The Word of God, the 66 Books of the OT and NT, verbally inspired in all parts, and therefore wholly without error as originally given from God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

One True God

Existing eternally as three persons- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Lord Jesus Christ

His preexistence and deity (John 1:1- 3); incarnation by virgin birth (John 1:14; Matthew 1:28- 23); sinless life (Hebrews 4:15); substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21); bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36- 43); ascension into heaven and present ministry (Hebrews 4:14- 16); and coming again (Acts 1:11).

The Holy Spirit

His personality (John 16:7- 15); and deity (Acts 5:3- 4); and His work in each believer; baptism and indwelling at the moment of regeneration (1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9); and filling (Ephesians 5:18) to empower for Christian life and service (Ephesians 3:16; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22- 23).

Man

His direct creation in the image of God (Genesis 1:26- 28); his subsequent fall into sin resulting in spiritual death (Genesis 3:1- 24; Romans 5:12); and the necessity of the new birth for his salvation (John 3:3- 5).

Salvation

A complete and eternal salvation by God's grace alone, received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesian 2:8- 9; Titus 3:5- 7; 1 Peter 1:18- 19).

The Church

One true Church, the body and bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22- 23; 5:25- 32); composed of all true believers of the present age (1 Corinthians 12:12- 13); and the organization of its members in local churches for worship, for edification of believers, and for worldwide gospel witness, each local church being autonomous but cooperating in fellowship and work (Ephesians 4:11- 16).

Christian Life

A life of righteousness, good works, and separation to God from the evil ways of the world (Romans 12:1, 2), manifested by speaking the truth (James 5:12), maintaining the sanctity of the home (Ephesians 5:22- 6:4), settling differences between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (1 Corinthians 6:1- 8), not engaging in carnal strife but showing a Christ-like attitude toward all men (Romans 12:17- 21) exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22- 23), and maintaining a life of prayer (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6), including the privilege, when sick, of calling for the elders of the church to pray and to anoint with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:13- 18).

Ordinances

• Believers' baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:19) [GBC tradition of 3X forward].
• Communion: GBC tradition of 3-fold communion- foot washing (John 13:1- 17), fellowship meal (1 Corinthians 11:20- 22, 33- 34; Jude 12), and the bread/cup (1 Corinthians 11:23- 26). Throughout the year we also observe communion through just the bread and cup.

Satan

His existence and personality as the great adversary of God and His people (Revelation 12:1- 10), his judgment (John 12:31) and final doom (Revelation 20:10).

End Time Events

• Rapture: the personal, visible, and imminent return of Christ to remove His Church from the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17) before the Tribulation (1Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10).
• 2nd Coming: afterward to descend with the Church to establish His millennial kingdom upon the earth (Revelation 19:11- 20:6).

Future Life

The conscious existence of the dead (Philippians 1:21- 23; Luke 16:19- 31), the resurrection of the body (John 5:28- 29), the judgment and reward of believers (Romans 14:10- 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10), the judgment and condemnation of unbelievers (Revelation 20:11- 15), the eternal life of the saved (John 3:16), and the eternal punishment of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).

 

Truths and Practices

Truths

• The local church is God's primary means for the fulfillment of the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:47, 5:14, 9:31, 11:24-26, 14:21-28, 16:5).
• Water baptism is not essential to salvation but is an act of obedience, the answer of a good conscience toward God (Acts 3:28, 1 Peter 3:21).
• The physical and material universe was created by God in six 24-hour days. Man was created by God in His own image, but sinned against God; and as a result, all people are sinful in nature and practice, are unable to save themselves, and face eternal separation from God (Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 2:7, 18-24; 3:1-24, 9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21-23; John 8:42-44; Romans 1:18, 3:10).
• Believers are not under the penalty and demands of the Law either for salvation or for Christian growth; however, the Law is a perfect expression of the righteous and holy character of God, a standard by which we understand the meaning of sin (Romans 3:19-20, 27-31, 6:14, 7:12; Galatians 2:16-21; 1 Timothy 1:8-10.).
• Growth, maturity, and victory over sinful habits in the Christian life result from obedience to God's Word, dependence upon God through prayer, and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 119:9-11; Matthew 26:41; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18).
• All angels were created by God, but those, including Satan, who chose to rebel against Him, will spend eternity in hell (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:13-17; Ephesians 6:11-12; Hebrews 1:4-14; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6: Revelation 12:1-10, 20:10).
• Human life begins at conception (Psalm 51:5, 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5).
• True believers can never lose their salvation (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:37-40 & 44).
• The sign gifts of miracles, healings, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues were intended to confirm the ministry and message of the Apostles (Mark 16:17-20; Acts 2:14ff; Hebrews 2:3-4). Additional written and oral revelation from God, the phenomenon of speaking in tongues through the Holy Spirit, the interpretation of tongues and miraculous healing through men like the Apostles ended before the completion of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 12:12; Revelation 22:18-19).
• Jesus Christ is coming back before the Tribulation to remove His Church to heaven. Following the Tribulation period of seven years, He will return to this earth with His saints and angels to rule and reign for 1,000 years, after which "eternity future" follows (Daniel 9:24-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:4-6; Revelation 21-22).

 

Practices

• Water baptism by trine immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:38-39).
• The Bread and Cup as symbols of the body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)- done periodically throughout the year during our morning worship service.
• Feet washing as a symbol of servanthood and a demonstration of a humble heart (John 13:1-17, 1 Timothy 5:10)- done periodically at specially scheduled services.
• The Fellowship Meal, which displays the fellowship believers have with the Lord and each other (Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 11:20-22, 33-34; Jude 12; Revelation 19:6-9)- done periodically at specially scheduled services.
• The privilege, when sick, of calling for the Elders of the church to pray for healing and anoint with oil (James 5:14-16).