Grace Bible Fellowship
Beliefs
Grace Bible Fellowship
Articles of Faith
1. Faith in the Holy Trinity - We believe in the
one living and true God, both holy and loving eternal, unlimited in power,
wisdom, and goodness, the Creator and Preserver of all things. Within this unity there are three equal
persons of one essential nature, power, and eternity -- the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit.
Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Ps.
90:1-2; Isa. 40:28-29; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1-2; 4:24;
16:13;17:3; Acts 5:3-4;17:24-25; I Cor. 8:4.6; Eph. 2:18; Phil. 2:6; Col.
1:16-17;1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 1:8.3:4-8;1 John 5:7.20
The Father - We believe the Father is the Source of all that
exists, whether of matter or spirit.
With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He made man in His image. By intention He relates to man as Father, thereby
forever declaring His goodwill toward man.
In love, He both seeks and receives penitent sinners.
Ps. 68:5; Isa. 64:8; Matt.
7:11; John 3:17; Rom. 8:15; I Peter 1:17
The Son of God - We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of
God. He was conceived by the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man. He died on the cross and was buried, a
sacrifice both for original sin and for all the transgressions of men,
reconciling us to God. Christ rose
bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and there intercedes for us at
the Father's right hand.
Ps. 16:8-10; Matt.
1:21.23;11:27;16:28; 27:62-66; 28:5-9; 16-17; Mark 10:45;15;16:6-7; Luke
1:27,31, 35; 24:4-8, 23; John 1:1, 14, 18; 3:16-17; 20:26-29; 21; Acts 1:2-3;
2:24-31; 4:12; 10:40; Rom. 5:10, 18; 8:34; 14:9; I Cor. 15:3-8.14; II Cor.
5:18-19; Gal 1:4; 2:20; 4:4-5; Eph. 5:2; I Tim. 1:15; 2:5; Heb. 2:17; 7:27;
9:14; 28; 10:12; 13:20; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2; 4:14
The Holy Spirit - We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the
Father and the Son, and is of the same essential nature, majesty, and glory, as
the Father and the Son, truly and eternally God. He is the Administrator of grace to all mankind, and is
particularly the effective Agent in conviction of sin, in regeneration and in
glorification. He is ever present,
assuring, preserving, guiding, enabling and indwelling the believer.
Matt. 28:19; John 14:16-17; 15:26;16:13-15; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9;
II Cor. 3:17; Gal. 4:6
2. The Bible -We believe that the Holy
Scriptures may be applied in context to the problems and situations of our generation,
that they are profitable for teaching the purpose of God for our lives, for
correction and reproof when our lives depart from that purpose and for training
all who would believe in the ways of righteousness.
The canonical books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I
Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job,
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The canonical books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II
Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John,
III John, Jude, and Revelation.
Ps. 19:7; Matt. 5:17-19; 22:37-40; Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45;
5:46; 17:17: Acts 17:2, 11; Rom. 1:2; 15:4, 8; 16:26; Gal. 1:8; Eph. 2:15-16;
II Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 10:1; James 1:21; I Peter 1:23; II Peter 1:19-21; I
John 2:3-7; Rev. 22:18-19
3. Marriage and the Family - We believe that man
is created in the image of God, that human sexuality reflects that image in
terms of intimate love, communication, fellowship, subordination of the self to
the larger whole, and fulfillment.
God's Word makes use of the marriage relationship as the supreme
metaphor for His relationship with His people and for revealing the truth that
this relationship is of one God with one people. Therefore God's plan for human sexuality is that it is to be
expressed only in a monogamous lifelong relationship between one man and one
woman within the framework of marriage.
This is the only relationship which is divinely designed for the birth
and rearing of children and is a covenant union made in the sight of God, taking priority over every other
human relationship.
Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18, 20, 23, 24; Isa. 54:4-8; 62:5; Mal. 2:14-16;
Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; I Tim. 5:14; I Cor. 9:5; Eph 5:23-33; Heb. 13:4;
Rev. 19:7-8
4. Man's Choice - We believe that man's creation
in the image of God included ability to choose between right and wrong. Thus man was made morally responsible for
his choices. But since the fall of
Adam, man is unable in his own strength to do the right. This is due to original sin, which is not
simply the following of Adam's example, but rather the corruption of the nature
of every man, and is reproduced naturally in Adam's descendants. Because of this original sin, man is very
far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature is continually
inclined to evil. He cannot of himself even
call upon God or exercise faith for salvation.
But through Jesus Christ the prevenient grace of God makes possible what
man in himself cannot do. This grace is
bestowed freely upon all men, enabling
all who will to turn and be saved.
Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Ps. 51;: Isa 64:6; Jer.
17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 16:15; Rom. 3:10-12; 5:12-21;1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:l-3;
I Tim. 2:5; Titus 3:5; Heb. 11:6; Rev. 22:17
5. The Atonement - We believe that Christ's
offering of Himself, once and for all, through His sufferings and meritorious
death on the cross, provides the perfect redemption and atonement for the sins
of the whole world, both original and actual.
There is no other ground of salvation from sin but that alone. This atonement is sufficient for every
individual of Adam's race. It is
unconditionally effective in the salvation of those mentally incompetent, and
of children under the age of
accountability. It is effective for the
salvation of those who reach the age of
accountability only when they repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
Isa. 52:13-53:12; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16; Acts 3:18; 4:12; Rom.
3:20, 24-26; 5:8-11, 13, 18-20; 7:7;
8:34; I Cor. 6:11; 15:22; Gal. 2:16; 3:2-3; Eph. 1:7; 2:13, 16; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb 7:23-27; 9:11-15,
24-28;10:14;1 John 2:2; 4:10
6. Repentance and Faith - We believe that for
man to appropriate what God's prevenient grace has made possible, he must
voluntarily respond in repentance and faith.
The ability comes from God, but the act is man's. Repentance is prompted by the convicting
ministry of the Holy Spirit. It
involves a willful change of mind that renounces sin and longs for
righteousness. Repentance is the precondition for saving faith, and without it
saving faith is impossible. Faith, in
turn, is the only condition of salvation.
It begins in the agreement of the mind and the consent of the will to the truth of the gospel, but
issues a complete reliance by the whole person in the saving ability of Jesus
Christ and a complete trusting of oneself to Him as Savior and Lord. Saving faith is expressed in a public
acknowledgment of His Lordship and identification with His church.
Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3; 24:47; John 3:16; 17:20; 20:31; Acts
5:31; 10:43; 11:18; 16:31; 20:21;
26:20; Rom. 1:16; 2:4; 10:8-10.17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:8; 4:4-6; Phil. 3:9; II
Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:25; Heb. 11:6; 12:2; I Peter 1:9; II Peter 3:9
7. Justification and Regeneration - We believe
that when man repents of his sin and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, he in
the same moment is justified, regenerated, adopted into the family of God, and
assured of his salvation through the witness of the Spirit.
We believe that we are
accounted righteous before God only on the basis of the merit of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, being justified by faith alone, and not on the basis of
our own works.
We believe that regeneration is
that work of the Holy Spirit by which the pardoned sinner becomes a child of
God. This new life is received through faith
in Jesus Christ and by it the regenerate is delivered from the power of sin
which reigns over all the unregenerate, so that they love God and through grace
serve Him with the will and affections of the heart, receiving the Spirit of
adoption.
Justification: Hab. 2:4; Acts 13:38-39; 15:11; 16:31; Rom. 1:17;
3:28; 4:2-5; 5:1-2; Gal. 3:6-14; Eph. 2, 5, 8-9; Phil. 3:9; Heb. 10:38
Regeneration: John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26; Eph.
2:10-19; 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:3-4; II Peter
1:4; I John 3:1
Adoption: Rom. 8:15; Gal.
4:5.7; Eph 1:5
Witness: Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 4:6-7; I John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19
8. Good Works - We believe that although good
works cannot save us from our sins or from God's judgment, they are the fruit
of faith and follow after regeneration. Therefore they are pleasing and
acceptable to God and by them a living faith may be as evidently known as a
tree is discerned by its fruit.
Matt. 5:16; 7:16-20; John 15:8; Rom. 3:20; 4:2, 4, 6; Gal. 2:16;
5:22-23; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 1:11;
Col. 1:10;I Thess. 1:3; Titus 2:14; James 2:14-26; I Peter 2:9, 12
9. Gifts of the Spirit - We believe that the
greatest gift of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself which is given to us at
the moment of salvation. He is to be
desired more than the gifts of the Spirit which He in His wise counsel bestows
upon individual members of the Church to enable them properly to fulfill their
function as members of the body of Christ.
The gifts of the Spirit, although not always identifiable with natural
abilities, may function through them for the edification of the whole
church. These gifts are not to be
exercised through human volition alone but rather exercised in love under the
administration of the Lord of the church.
The relative value of the gifts of the Spirit is to be tested by their
usefulness in the church and not by the joy produced in the ones receiving
them.
Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38-39; 8:19-20; 10:45; 11:17; Rom. 12:4-8; I
Cor. 12:1-14:40; Eph. 4:7-8, 11-16; Heb. 2:4; I Peter 4:8-11
10. The Church - We believe that the Christian
church is the entire body of believers in Jesus Christ, who is the founder and
only Head of the church. The church
includes both those believers who have gone to be with the Lord and those who
remain on the earth.
Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 9:31; 11:22; 12:5; 14:23; 15:22; 20:28;
I Cor. 1:2; 12:28; 16:1; II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:9-10,
21; 5:22-33; Col. 1:18, 24; I Thess.
1:1; I Tim. 3:15; Heb. 12:23; James 5:14
11. The Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper
- We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacraments of the
church commanded by Christ. They are
tokens of our profession of a Christian faith and signs of God's gracious
ministry towards us. By them, He works
within us to quicken, strengthen, and confirm our faith.
We believe that water baptism
is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord and administered to
believers. It is a symbol of the new
covenant of grace and signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of
Jesus Christ. By means of this
sacrament, believers declare their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 3:5, 22, 26; 4:1-2; Acts 2:38-39,
41, 8:12-17, 36-38;.9:18; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16
We believe the Lord's Supper is a sacrament of our
redemption by Christ's death and our hope in His victorious return, as well as
a sign of the love that Christians have for each other. To such as receive it humbly, with a proper spirit
and by faith, the Lord's supper is made a means through which God communicates
grace to the heart.
Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-29
12. The Blessed Hope - We believe that the
certainty of the imminent return of Christ inspires holy living and zeal for the evangelization of the
world. This coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to
Himself the dead in Christ and believers who are alive at His coming is
otherwise known as the rapture and translation of the church.
Cor. 15:51-57; I Thess. 4:13-18; II Thess. 1:6-10; 2:1-12; Titus
2:11-14; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:7-8; II Peter 3:1-14; I John 3:2-3; Rev. 1:7;
19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12, 20
13. The Second Coming of Christ - We believe in
the personal, literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth to
establish His millennial kingdom.
Zach. 14:4, 9; II Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:4
14. The Judgment of Mankind - We believe that
the Scriptures reveal God as the Judge of all mankind and the acts of His
judgment will culminate in the final meeting of mankind following the resurrections. At these judgments records will be examined and final rewards and
punishments will be administered.
Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 10:15; 25:31-46; Luke 11:31-32; Acts 10:42;
17:31; Rom. 2:16; 14:10-12; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 4:1; Heb. 9:27; II Peter 3:7;
Rev. 20:11-13
15. Destiny - We believe that the Scriptures
clearly teach that there is a conscious personal existence after death. The final destiny of man is determined by
God's grace and man's response, evidenced inevitably by his moral character
which results from his personal and volitional choices and not from any
arbitrary decree of God. Heaven with
its eternal glory and the blessedness of Christ's presence is the final abode
of those who choose the salvation which God provides through Jesus Christ but
hell with its everlasting misery and separation from God is the final abode of
those who neglect this great salvation.
Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:34-36; Mark 9:43-48; John 8:24; 14:2-3; II Cor.
5:6-8; Heb. 2:1-3; 9:27-28; 10:26-31;
Rev. 20:14-15; 21:1-22:5, 14-15.
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(402) 883-2110