Grace Baptist Ministries International
Our Statement of Faith
I). The Bible
We believe that the 66 books that comprise both the Old and New Testaments are the complete cannon of scripture. These writings are verbally and plenarily inspired by the Holy Spirit written by holy men of God. The Bible is without error in its original manuscripts, is completely reliable as the final authority in all matters of doctrine, practice, and is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. ( 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; and 2 Peter 1:20–21)
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II). The Triunity
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God is one in nature while existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each equal in power and deity but distinct in roles.
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A. God the Father
As the first person of the Triunity, the Father is the source and ruler of all things and is fatherly in His relationship with creation in general and believers in particular. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Psalm 18:30-31, 103:19; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12 :29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 5:23, 10:30, 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; 2Cor. 13:14; 1 Pe. 1:2; Heb. 1:1-3)
B. God the Son
Jesus Christ is the second person of the triunity who reveals the Father to mankind. According to the Father’s plan, the eternal Son humbled Himself and was born of a virgin uniquely uniting divinity and humanity. Jesus Christ being fully God and fully man was the perfect propitiation for the sins of mankind. After His death, Jesus Christ arose bodily from the dead, was seen by many during a period of forty days, and then ascended into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest, from which place He will someday return to establish His Kingdom on earth. (John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-8; Heb. 1:1-3; 1Jn. 5:11-12).
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is third Person of the Triune Godhead who was pervasively present during creation, convicts men of sin, causes spiritual birth, indwells, seals, sanctifies, guides, equips, teaches, and fills the believer, thus enabling him to walk in obedience to God and His Word. (John 14:26; Acts 1:5, 8; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 1:13-14; Romans 8:9,14; Gal. 5:16-18).
III). Humanity
A.Creation and Fall
Man was created by God in His own image male and female and is not the product of any evolutionary process. As a result of Adam’s rebellion, all people have fallen under the curse of death. Unable and unwilling to please God, all humans are undeserving of His blessings, blinded to His truth, and dead in their sins, guilty spiritually, and ultimately physically. This state of judgment before the just and holy God is a condition that permeates every facet of human life and cannot be cured apart from the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3; Jerimiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18,23, 5:12).
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B. Salvation
Eternal salvation from sin (death and hell) is the free gift of God's grace and is based solely upon man's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus voluntarily died vicariously as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and arose bodily from the dead, thus guaranteeing our own resurrection to eternal life. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work on our part. This one who receives Christ's salvation is eternally secure. (John 1:11-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Heb. 7:24-25; 1 Pe. 1:18-19; 1 John 5:11-13)
C. Resurrection of Humanity
Though a believer’s spirit is ushered into the Lord’s presence immediately upon physical death, the fullness of salvation awaits Christ’s return, when He will resurrect believers in glorified bodies like His own immortal body which can never die. While all believers throughout history will enjoy eternal life in perfect paradise, unbelievers will be resurrected to suffer eternal conscious punishment for their sins. (John 11:23-27; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:4-21:5).
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IV). The Church
A. Universal
The body of Christ is the ever-enlarging universal church consisting of true believers in heaven and on earth over whom Jesus Christ reigns as Lord. Regardless of denomination, all true believers are spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s body and are therefore spiritually united with Him and with one another. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10)
B. Local Church
Believers are called to faithful membership in a visible, local congregation for the purpose of mutual encouragement and spiritual growth. As the family of God, a healthy local church is marked by God-glorifying worship, Scripture-centered teaching, intimate fellowship with God and other believers, and vivid expressions of the church’s faith, hope, and love through evangelism, disciple-making, financial support, and service. (Acts 2:41–47; Philippians 2:14; Hebrews 10:24–25).
V). Future Events
By Sovereign design Jesus Christ will one day return in power to bring completion of salvation and rewards to believers and judgment and wrath to unbelievers. The Bible teaches that the years leading up to the judgment will be marked by increasing evil, but the actual time of the end is known only to the Father. The return of Jesus is immanent. Though the details of Christ’s return are sometimes unclear, its reality is certain, and all believers are called to live holy lives in anticipation of His coming. (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 19:11-16)
