While recognizing that the source and only authority for doctrine is the Bible, Grace Bible Fellowship affirms and presents the following statements as the foundation of the union with those who are in this Christ-centered fellowship.
Holy Scriptures
We believe the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed.
(2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:20,21; Matt 5:18; John 16:13)
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit — each equally eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.
(Deut 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14)
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.
(Col 2:9; John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead.
(Rom 3:24,25; 1 Pet 1:3,5; 2:24; Eph 1:7, 1 John 2:2)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate.
(Acts 1:9-11; Heb 7:25; 9:24; Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is that person of the Trinity who restrains evil in the world, convicts man of sin, regenerates believers — baptizing them at their salvation into the body of Christ, indwells and seals unto the day of redemption all who are saved and fills with power and wisdom those who are yielded to Him.
(2 Th 2:6,7; John 16:8-11; Tit 3:5; 1 Cor 12:12-14; Rom 8:9; Eph 1:13, 14; 4:30; 5:18)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of His gifts (1 Cor 12:11); that each believer has at least one gift (1 Pet 4:10); and that the primary gifts for the perfecting of the saints are these: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher (Eph 4:11-13) We further believe that some of the gifts such as speaking in tongues and miraculous healings were designed to authenticate and validate the giving of new revelation during the New Testament. era; and that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of baptism, nor of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Cor 13:8-10; Eph 4:7-12; 1 Cor 12:28-31; Heb 2:2,4; 2 Pet 1:3;4)
Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.
(Gen 1:26,27; Rom 3:10-12, 22, 23; 5:12; Eph 2:1-3, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Eph 1:7; 2:8-10; John 1:12,13; 1 Pet 1:17-19)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
(John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom 8:1,38,39; 1 Cor 1:4-8; 1 Pet 1:3-5)
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
(Rom 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Tit 2:11-14)
The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.
(Rom 6:13; Rom 8:12, 13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph 4:20-24; Col 3:9, 10; 1 Pet 1:14-16)
Separated to Righteousness
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God.
(2 Tim 3:1-5; Rom 12:1,2; 13:14; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 1:9-11; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 7:1; 1 John 3:5-10)
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by the life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind.
(Matt 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:19,20)
The Church
We believe that the church of Jesus Christ was begun at Pentecost; is composed solely of believers; is the Body of our Lord; is distinct from Israel; and that its business is to complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ.
(Eph 1:22,23; 5:28-30; 1 Cor 12:12-14)
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures.
(Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-11)
The Ordinances
Ritual (water) Baptism
We believe that ritual baptism is an outward sign and testimony of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit whereby He identifies us with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and places us in the body of Christ. As such it is appropriate for believers only. We reject infant baptism but believe that Christian parents should dedicate their children to the Lord. We believe that the most appropriate symbolization of our identification with Christ is baptism by immersion in water.
(Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; Acts 8:37, 38; 10:47,48; 19:4, 5)
The Lord’s Table
We believe that the Lord’s Table is commemorative of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf and of our union and communion with Him. Since it was given by Christ to His own, we believe it should be open to all believers, but should always be preceded by a solemn self-examination.
(1 Cor 11:23-32)
Dispensationalism
We believe that dispensations are distinguishable arrangements in the out-working of God’s program on earth. We believe that the dispensations: Innocence, Conscience, Patriarchs, Governments, Law, Readiness, Church, Kingdom, and Eternal are the subject of extensive revelation in the Scripture and that these are not to be intermingled or confused. Therefore, we believe that Israel and the Church are two distinct groups and that there is a future for the nation of Israel on the earth in the Millennial.
These different dispensations are not separate ways of salvation; in every dispensation salvation is always by grace, through faith in God’s revelation, based upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ
(Eph 2:8,9; Rom 4:13-16; 10:5-10; Hab 2:4; Gen. 15:6)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall: that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.
(Job 1:6,7; Is 14:12-17; Matt 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev 20:10)
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the “Blessed Hope”, the personal and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom.
(1 Th 4:13-18; 5:9, 10; Ze 14:4-11; Rev 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 2 Th 1:10; 2:1-7; Rev 3:10)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.
(Matt 25:46; John 5:28,29; Rev 20:5,6,12-15)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, where spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.
(Luke 23:43; Rev 20:4-6; 2 Cor 5:8; Ph 1:23; 3:20,21; 1 Th 4:16,17)
Social Issues
Marriage
We believe that marriage is a lifelong covenant union of on man and one woman, ordained in the presence of the Lord. It specifically excludes unions between same sex, transgender, or multiple partners.
(Gen 2:20-24; Heb 13:4; Eph 5:22-33; Mark 10:8-12: 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Peter 3:1-5)
Sexual Immorality
We believe that any sexual relationship outside of the covenant relationship of marriage between one man and one woman is the sin of fornication. This includes heterosexual, same-sex, and transgender, and polygamous relationships. It also includes the use of pornography whether printed, or video in nature.
(1 Cor 6:18; 1 Th 4:3-5; Matt 5:28; Matt 19:4-6; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1 Thes 4:3)
Abortion
We believe that the unborn have equal right to life as any other person. We also affirm that life begins at conception and should be cherished and protected.
(Jer 1:5; Gen 9:6; Ps 139:13-16; Gen 1:27; Ps 127:3)
Euthanasia
We believe that the Lord in His divine wisdom has ordained the number of days of our life. As such, any efforts to terminate the life of a person before their natural death is contrary to the Lord’s will and constitutes a violation of the sixth commandment.
(Ecc 7;17; 1 Cor 6:19-20; Ex 20:13; Psalm 139:16; Job 1:21; Heb 9:27; 1 Cor 3:16-17)
Divorce/Remarriage
We believe that the Lord has ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman. To that end, we affirm that all efforts should be made to reconcile and restore any marriage. We affirm the belief that no person should be expected to remain in an abusive relationship and should seek a physical separation to open the door for possible reconciliation.
(1 Cor 7:10-17; Matt 19:6; Rom 7:2; Matt 19:3-8; Heb 13:4)
Role of Women
We believe that all leadership roles exercising authority over men, including teaching, will be filled by men. Leadership roles exercising authority over women exclusively are likely best filled by women.
(1 Tim 2:11-13; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Titus 2:3-5; Eph 5:22-24)
Separation
We believe that the Lord calls each follower of Jesus Christ to dress modestly and conduct themselves in a way befitting our relationship to our savior. Having said that Grace Bible Fellowship will be welcoming to all who attend and with whom we come in contact.
Believers’ Disputes
We encourage our members to settle differences as outline in the New Testament.
(Matt 18:15-17; Rom 13:;1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-2; Jas 4:1-2; Rom 12:18)