Grace
Baptist Church
Statement
of Faith
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God. We believe in one
(Deut. 6:4, Isa. 45:5-6) eternal (1 Tim. 1:17), knowable (Heb. 1:1-2),
sovereign God (Dan. 4:34-35). He knows all things (Ps. 139:1-4), and
providentially oversees all things (Mt. 10:29-31). He is merciful (Ex.
34:6), and just (Acts 17:31), loving (1Jn. 4:8), and holy (Rev. 4:8),
great in power (Ps. 147:5) and good in purpose (Rom. 8:28). His glory
is our chief concern (1 Cor. 10:31).
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Trinity. We believe in one
God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt.
28:19). All three are uncreated, coeternal, and equal in power, glory,
and honor. They are rightly worshiped as the one true God - three in
one, and one in three (Rev. 22:13, Acts 5:3-4)
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Scripture. We believe, that
while God has revealed Himself in his creation (Ps. 19:1-6, Rom.
1:18-20), he has spoken to us most clearly in his word (Jn. 14:25-26,
Deut. 6:6-7). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are breathed
out by God, holy, complete, and entirely without error in the original
manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16, Jn. 10:35, 2Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is our
final authority in life, doctrine, and godliness (Mt. 4:4, 2Pet. 1:3-4)
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Creation. We believe God
created the entire universe out of nothing (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3). Man
and woman were the crown of God’s good creation, being created in his
own image (Gen. 1:26-27) As image-bearers, we were created to worship
God and reflect him in the true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness
(Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:9-10).
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Fall. We believe that
Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God and plunged
themselves and all their offspring into ruin (Gen. 3:1-19). Because of
Adam’s sin, we are all guilty sinners (Rom. 5:12-21). We come into the
world with corrupt natures through and through (Ps. 51:5). We are
spiritually dead until God makes us alive in Christ (Jn. 6:44, Rom.
3:10-18, Eph. 2:1-5)
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Person of
Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is the
Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We believe he is also the Son of
the Living God (Mt. 16:16). He is fully man and fully God (1 Tim. 2:5,
Titus 2:13). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life,
taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and
(bodily) rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-8).
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Work of
Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and
died a shameful death that we might be counted righteous and forgiven
of our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). He was our sacrificial substitute (1 Pet.
3:18). He defeated the devil (Rev. 12:9), removed our guilt (Isa.
53:4-6), and became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), bearing the weight of
God’s wrath (1 Jn. 1:8 to 1 Jn. 2:2)
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Salvation. We believe that
we are justified-declared righteous before God-through faith alone in
Christ alone by grace alone (Gal. 2:16). The only way (Jn. 14:6) to be
adopted into God’s family is through union with his Son, Jesus Christ
(Eph. 1:3-6)
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Holy Spirit. We believe the
Holy Spirit, working through the word, supernaturally converts
(regenerates) the hearts of God’s people by making alive what was
spiritually dead (Titus 3:5, 1Pet. 1:23). The Spirit convicts us of sin
(Jn. 16:8-11), leads us to repentance (Ezek. 36:26-27), causes us to
grow in holiness (2 Cor. 3:18), seals us for the day of redemption that
we might be assured of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and equips us with
spiritual gifts for the building up of the body (1 Cor. 12:7).
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Church. We believe the
church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe,
language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-12, Rev. 5:9-10). This
invisible body of which Christ Jesus is the head, exists locally, and
imperfectly, as the visible church. Jesus Christ has given his church
two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Mt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor.
11:23-26).
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Marks and
Mission. We believe God’s people should be marked by
Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2), prayerfulness (Rom. 12:12), joyful
obedience (Jn. 14:15), love of God and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:37-44).
We believe the mission of the church is to make disciples by declaring
the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit to the glory of
God the Father (Mt. 28:19-20). As salt and light (Mt. 5:13-16), we seek
to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), love others in the word and deed
(1Pet. 4:11), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24), and care
for the hurting and needy (Jn. 3:16-18).
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Last Things. We believe Jesus
Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At his appearing the dead shall be
raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15:20-28).
The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to eternal punishment
(Rev. 20:10, Rev. 14:15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal
life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing
joy to the glory of God (Mt. 25:21, Rev. 21:1-5).
Creeds
and Confessions
As
a church we ascribe to the historic creeds and confessions of the
Reformed tradition:
The
Apostles’ Creed
The
Nicene Creed
The
Athanasian Creed
The
Belgic Confession
The
Heidelberg Catechism
The
Canons of Dort
Westminster
Confession of Faith and Catechisms
1689
London Baptist Confession of Faith
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