Grace Bible Church - Vision & Mission

About Grace Bible Church

Our Mission

Co-laboring with the local body of Christ and around the globe to impact the world for His Kingdom.

Our Vision

Our vision is to live in community as a body of believers who meet both corporately and from house to house equipping and edifying all of God's saints for works of service to win the lost to Christ in every place.

Our Beliefs

Our Beliefs are guided by what the Bible says about:

A. The Bible.

Inspiration. All Scripture is divinely inspired (verbal and plenary inspiration) and infallible (inerrant) in its original manuscripts (II Tim. 3:l6; II Pt. 1:20-2l), and is profitable as a complete treasure of divine wisdom, knowledge and salvation (II Tim. 3:l5-l7). It is the absolute standard by which all will be judged (Jn l2:48); this standard is eternal and far superior to the human measures of tradition, reason and experience.

Purpose. The purpose of the Scriptures is to reveal:

God's character and will (Lk. 24:25,32; Heb. l:l-2);
Man's character and nature (Jas. l:22-25; Heb. 4:l2), and
God's plan of salvation (Rom. l0:l7; II Tim. 3:l5; Jas. l:l8).

Effect. The Bible has the following effects upon the believer:

To cleanse (Psa. ll9:9, Jn. l5:3);
To preserve (Psa. ll9:ll);
To mature (I Pt. 2:2-3);
To direct (Psa. ll9), and
To strengthen and empower (Acts 8:25; Eph. 6:l4,l7). Hence, this Book we "do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place" (II Pt. l:l9).

Interpretation. The Bible stresses the importance of every word (Lk. l6:l7).

Canon. The canon of Scripture includes only the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments and hence there is no further nor continuing revelation (Rom. 3:2; Heb. 1:1,2; Rev 22:18,19).

B. God.

There is only one God (Ex.20:3-5; Deut. 4:35; 6:4) manifest in three distinct Persons (Mt. 28:l9; Eph. 2:l8; II Cor. l3:l4; I Jn. 5:7): the Father (Rom. l:7), the Son (Heb. l:8; Jn. 20:3l), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4).

The Father.

That God is:

Sovereign, self-existent, independent in Himself with all things dependent upon Him (Ex. 3:l4; Jn. 5:26; I Cor. 8:6);
All-powerful (Psa. 62:ll; Jer. 32:l7);
Unchangeable (Ex. 3:l4; Psa. l02:26-28; Isa. 48:l2; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:l8), and
Infinite (Psa. l02:26-28) in relation to:

Time (Psa.l02; 90:2),
Space (Jer. 23:23-24; Psa. l39:7-l2; Acts l7:24-28),
Knowledge (Job ll:7-8; 37:l6; Psa. l47:5; I Jn. 3:20).

The Creator and sustainer of all things (Acts l7:24-28; I Cor. 8:6), and
The Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Mk. l:l; Eph. 3:l4) and the redeemed (Jn. 1:12).
That the Father reveals Himself to man through

His Son (Jn. l:l4-l8),
The Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:9-14),
The Holy Scriptures (Heb. l:l-2), and
Nature or creation (Rom. l:l9-20).

That the basic essence of the Father's character is Spirit (Jn. 54:24), love (I Jn. 4:8), and light, which is holiness and truth (I Jn. l:7).
That the Father's chief attributes includes:

Wisdom (Col. 2:2-3; Jas. l:5);
Goodness (Rom. 2:4);
Holiness (Lev. l9:2; I Sam. 2:2; Mt. 5:48);
Justice (Rom. 3:26);
Mercy (II Cor. l:3), and
Truth (Rom. 3:4).

The Son.

That Jesus is:

Deity as the Son of God (Jn. l:34; l0:30; 20:3l);
Human as the Son of man (Mt. 26:64; I Jn. 4:2);
The Creator and Sustainer of all things (Jn. l:3; Col. l:l5-l7; Heb. l:2,3);
The Christ, the Messiah (Jn. 20:3l);

As Prophet (Heb. 1:1,2)
As Priest (I Tim. 2:5)
As the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rom. l0:9; Rev. l9:l6);

The sinner's Savior (I Tim. l:l5), and

That in order to become man's redeemer Jesus:

Took on Himself the form of man (Phil. 2:7) through the virgin birth (Lk. l:34-35) and thereby became God incarnate (Jn. l:l4,l8);
Lived in perfect harmony with God, yet without sin (Heb. 4:l5);
Lived in absolute obedience to the will of the Father (Jn. 4:34; Heb. l0:7);
Voluntarily suffered death, thereby becoming the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for the sin of all mankind (I Pt. 3:l8; Heb. 9,l0; I Jn. 2:2);
Physically rose from the dead (Acts 4:l0; Heb. 9:12);
Ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-10);
Sat, enthroned, at the right hand of God, the Father, where He remains presently as the Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate and High Priest for the repentant, redeemed sinner (Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:l; Heb. 4:l4), and
Shall come again in the same manner in which He ascended (Acts l:ll) and shall receive into His eternal presence all those who have accepted Him as Lord and thereby have been born again (Jn. 3:3,7), and shall judge by the Word of God (Jn. l2:48; Isa. ll:4; Rev. l9:l-6) all those who have not believed on His Name (Jn. 3:l6-20; 5:22).

The Holy Spirit.

That the Holy Spirit is God (Jn. l4:l6,l7); that He is equal with the Father and the Son, and of the same nature (Mt. 28:l9; I Cor. l2:4-6).
That He was active in creation (Gen. l:l-3; Job 33:4).
That His presence in the world:

Restrains Satan and evil until God's purposes are fulfilled (Isa. 40:7; II Thess.2:7);
Convicts / reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn. l6:7-ll), and
Bears witness to the Gospel in preaching and ministering the Word of God (Jn. l5:26-27).

That to the believer:

He is the Agent of the new birth (Jn. 3:5,6; Rom. 8:ll);
He seals (Eph. l:l3,l4; 4:30);
He baptizes (Mk. l:8; Jn. l:33; Acts ll:l6; I Cor. l2:l3);
He empowers (Lk. 24:49; Acts l:8);
He guides (Jn. l6:l3; Rom 8:l4);
He teaches (Jn. l4:26; I Cor. 2:l3; I Jn. 2:27);
He witnesses (Rom. 8:l6);
He sanctifies (Rom. l5:l6; II Thes. 2:l3), and
He helps (Rom. 8:26,27).

That the Scriptures command the believer to be continually (being) filled by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:l8).
That the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23), characterizes every genuine, Spirit-filled Christian.
That every Christian is endowed with at least one gift of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:7,17; I Pt. 4:10) for the purpose of fulfilling the unique ministry each has within the Body of Christ, and that no believer has all the gifts (I Cor. 12:27-30).

C. Man & Sin.

Man: A Created Being. That man was created innocent by the special act of God as recorded in Genesis l:27 and 2:7. That man was created in the image of God (Gen. l:27) for the purpose of glorifying God (Rom. 3:23; I Cor. l0:3l).

Sin: Origin and Effects. That the first man, Adam, fell from moral innocence (Gen. l:26-3l) when he voluntarily transgressed (Gen. 3:l-7; I Tim. 2:l4) the commandment of God (Gen. 2:l7). As a result of Adam's sin the ground is cursed (Gen. 3:l7; Rom. 8:20), sorrow and pain accompany the women in child-bearing (Gen. 3:l6), the woman lives in submission to her husband (Gen. 3:l6; I Tim. 2:ll-l4), work is arduous labor (Gen. 3:l9), and all mankind is subjected to physical and spiritual death (Gen. 3:l9; Rom. 5:l2).

Sin: Universal. That, due to Adam's sin, man is by his nature sinful (Gen. 6:5; 8:2l; Psa. 5l:5; Rom. 5:l9), therefore all mankind are sinners before God (Rom. 3:9,l0,22,23; Psa. l4; Isa. 53:6); that all men are in the helpless captivity of Satan and the flesh (Rom. 7; Jn. 8:3l-36; Eph. 2:3); that the entire world lies in condemnation and death (Rom. 3:l9; Gal. 3:l0).

Man: Total Depravity. That the entire nature of every man is affected by sin and depravity. His understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:l8; I Cor. 2:l4); his heart is deceitful and wicked (Jer. l7:9-l0); his mind and conscience are defiled (Gen. 6:5; Tit. l:l5); his flesh is decadent (II Cor. 7:5; Eph. 2:l3), and his spirit is dead (Rom. 8:5-l5), therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Rom. 3:l0-l9). Man is totally depraved and destitute of any goodness or righteousness (Rom. 7:l8; Isa. 64:6).

D. Salvation.

Justification. That the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice (I Cor. l5:3; I Pet.3:l8; II Cor. 5:2l), thereby completely satisfying the penalty of our sin (I Jn. 2:2) and sealing salvation for the redeemed (I Cor. l5:20-22; Acts 2:24-36); that all who believe on Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood (Rom. 3:24-25; I Pt. l:l8,l9). Our Lord's resurrection is the proof of our justification (Rom. 4:25; 5:9; I Cor. l5:4,l7).

Perseverance. That salvation is by God's sovereign grace alone and is received through faith, and not of any human merit or works (Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 3:3-2l). Since salvation is a work of God and not of man (Jn. l:l2-l3) the Scriptures also teach that once a sinner is genuinely redeemed to God and saved from his sin, his salvation in Christ is eternally secure and never removed (Rom. 8:29-39; Jn. l0:27-29; Heb. 5:ll-6:6; I Jn. 3:6).

E. The Church.

Nature of the Church. That the true church is made up of all those who, since Pentecost (Acts 2:lff), have by faith received Jesus Christ as Lord and have been redeemed (Acts 2:8-ll,37-42; I Cor. l2:12-14).

Identity of the Church. That the local Church is an organized body of baptized believers (Acts 2:4l,42; I Cor. l:l-4,l3) who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel (Acts 2:41-42); who observe the New Testament ordinances of water Baptism and the Lord's Supper (I Cor. l0:l-33; ll:2,l7-32); who are governed by Christ's commission and commandments (Mt. 28:l9-20); who exercise the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word and Spirit (Eph. 4:7), and who work for spreading the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Mt. 28:20; Acts l:8).

Distinction of the Church. That the Church of Jesus Christ is distinct from national Israel (I Cor l0:32), that the covenants made with Israel (Gen. l2:l-3; Deut. 30:3-5; II Sam. 7; Jer. 3l:3l-40) will be fulfilled in relationship to Israel and not the Church (Eph. 2:ll-l3).

Ordinances of the Church. That the Church has been commanded by our Lord to observe two ordinances:

BAPTISM.

That water Baptism is a Christ-ordained testimony signifying the believer's previous union and baptism in Christ (I Cor. l2:l3), in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:l2) by the Holy Spirit.
That the Scriptures teach immersion as the proper mode of water Baptism (Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:38-39; Rom. 6:4; Heb. l0:22).
That the proper candidates of Baptism are only those who give credible evidence of repentance and belief in Christ as their Lord (Mt. 3:2-6, l3-l7; Acts 2:37-38; l0:47) and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership (Acts 2:4l).

THE LORD’S SUPPER.

That the Lord's Supper is a Christ-ordained testimony and memorial showing the Lord's death till He comes again (I Cor. ll:23-26).
Like Baptism, this ordinance must be observed only by genuine Christians (I Cor. ll:27). Even believers must be careful not to "eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily" by failing to examine and judge ourselves and to confess our sins (I Cor. ll:27-34).

F. Civil Government.

Ordained By God. That the civil government is instituted and ordained by God (Dan. 4:l7,34-37; Rom. l3:l,2) for the purposes of punishing the guilty (Gen. 9:6,7; Eccl. 8:ll; Rom. l3:3) and protecting the innocent (Rom. l3:4).

Christian Responsibility. That the Christian's responsibility includes:

Praying for governmental leaders (I Tim. 2:l-3);
Paying taxes levied by the government (Mt. l7:24-27; 22:l7-21; Rom l3:7);
Rendering respect to those in civil authority (Eccl. 8:l-5; Rom. l3:5-7; I Pt. 2:l7), and
Obeying civil ordinances and laws (I Pt. 2:l3-l5), except in things clearly opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Lord of lords and King of kings (Dan. 3; 6; Acts 4:l8-20; 5:29).

G. Ethical Issues.

Abortion. That the conception of all children is a gift of God (Psa. 127:3); that God is the creator of the unborn (Job 10:11,12; Psa. 51:5; 139:13-16; Jer. 1:4,5); that God created mankind in His own image (Gen. 1:27; Psa. 8:3-8); that life and death belong to the providence of God alone (Gen. 9:6; Ex. 20:13; Psa. 31:15) and the cause of the unborn is the responsibility of the righteous (Prov. 24:11,12; 31:8,9; Isa. 58:1; Jas. 2:13).

Marriage & Divorce. That marriage is between a man and a woman is instituted by God (Gen. 2:24) for the purposes of partnership (Gen. 2:18,24), procreation (Gen. 1:28; Psa. 127:3-5), purity (I Cor. 7:2-4; Heb. 13:4), pleasure (Prov. 5:19) and as picture of God's relationship with His people (Hosea 1-2; Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:1-14; Ezek. 16:15-63; Eph. 5:31-33; Rev. 19:7-10; 21:9-27).

H. Satan.

Existence. That Satan is:

A personal being (Mt. 4:l-3);
A deceiver (Rev. 20:l0);
A liar (Gen. 3:4,5; Jn. 8:44);
A murderer (Jn. 8:44);
The wicked one (Mt. l3:38; I Jn. 5:l9);
The ruler of darkness (Eph. 6:l2);
The god of this age (II Cor. 4:4);
The accuser of the brethren (Rev. l2:l0);
The dragon (Rev. l2:7),
The prince of demons (Mt. l2:24; Eph. 6:l2), and
A thief (Jn. 10:40).

Activities. That Satan's activities include:

Instigating false doctrines (I Tim. 4:l-3);
Perverting the Word of Truth (Mt. 4:6);
Hindering God's servants (I Thes. 2:l8);
Resisting prayer (Dan. l0:l2,l3);
Blinding men to the Gospel (II Cor. 4:4);
Tempting (Mt. 4:l; Eph. 6:ll), and
Afflicting (Job 2:7; Lk. l3:l6; II Cor. l2:7).

Destiny. That the devil will be condemned to the bottomless pit during the millennium (Rev. 20:l-3) and is destined for eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:l0).

I. Last Things.

Prophetic Events. That:
- The return of Christ for His Church is imminent (I Thess. 4;) and prior to the Tribulation (Rev. 6:1-19:10);
- The righteous judgments of Christ upon the nations will last seven years (Dan. 7:24; 9:24-27; Rev. 11:2-3) resulting in the salvation of multitudes of souls (Rev. 7:9-17) and the restoration of Israel (Jer. 30:l-ll; Ezek. 36-37; Rom. 9-ll);
- The return of Christ to earth will conclude the Tribulation (Rom 8:l9-2l; Mt. 24:27,28; II Pet. 3:2-l3; Rev. l9:ll-21); and
- The reign of Christ on the earth will last a thousand years (Isa. ll; Rev. 20:l-6).
Resurrection. That the bodily (Rev. 20:4-6) resurrection of the saved and unsaved (Jn. 5:22-29; Dan. l2:2,3), the everlasting blessedness of the saved (Jn. 8:5l; I Thess. 4:l3-l4), and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved (Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-50; Rev. 20:15).

Download a .PDF of this list here. [ Download PDF ]