At Grace Bible Fellowship Church, we believe what we hold as doctrine shapes every part of our lives. To understand God rightly, we start with His Word. Our beliefs are rooted in Scripture and organized into the following categories to help you understand our core teachings.
GOD
God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance - one God.
"The Lord our God, the Lord is one." — Deuteronomy 6:4
Gen. 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24; Deut 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
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JESUS CHRIST
The eternal Son of God became incarnate in the Lord Jesus Christ, being born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. He died physically on the cross and was bodily resurrected three days later.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." — John 1:14
John 1:1,14,18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 5:8; I John 5:20; 1 Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 15:1-5
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals all believers in Christ and empowers those yielded to God. He gives good gifts to His people. His many and broad gifts are as active and powerful today as they were in the book of Acts. He continues to empower and encourage the members of His Kingdom.
"The Spirit of God dwells in you." — Romans 8:9
Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; 1Cor. 2:12; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Col. 3:14
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THE SCRIPTURES
Every word in the original writings is inspired by God and is without error. It is accurate in all matters to which it speaks: spiritual, historical, and scientific. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation of the faith and practice.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21
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THE CHURCH
The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ, formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects: 1) Universal; and 2) Local.
The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. Its mission is to witness to its head, Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel among all nations. At the Rapture of the church, it will be caught up to meet the Lord, after which He will return to set up His Kingdom.
The local church is a group of believers voluntarily joined together in love to worship God with praise and thanksgiving, and to glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive effort to disciple others by the preaching of the gospel and the exercise of spiritual gifts.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it." — 1 Corinthians 12:27
Eph. 1:22,23; 5:24-30; I Cor. 12:4-13,27
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MAN
Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell into sin, with the result that all men are sinners. Men are justly condemned to eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it." — 1 Corinthians 12:27
Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph. 2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; Eph. 2:1; 1 Cor. 12:27
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SALVATION
Salvation is given to those men chosen by God and drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit. The only means to their salvation is belief in Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection.
"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift." — Ephesians 2:8
Acts 4:12; 13:38,39; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4,5; 5:1; John 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Eph. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:29,30
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SANCTIFICATION
Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification.
"For this is God's will, your sanctification." — 1 Thessalonians 4:3
Heb. 10:10,14; John 17:15-17; Eph. 5:26-27; 1 Thess. 4:3,4; I John 3:2; 1 Cor. 6:11
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ASSURANCE
All who are born of the Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance of salvation and are eternally secure in Christ.
"My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." — John 10:27-28
Rom. 5:1; 1 John 5:13; John 10:27-29; 17:12; 2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30; John 6:37
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CHRISTIAN LIFE
Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit. This service includes the propagation of the gospel message to the whole world. All believers are promised rewards in heaven for their faithfulness in service.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses." — Acts 1:8
1 Pet. 1:15,16; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3
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SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service, i.e., “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.”
"Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit." — 1 Corinthians 12:4
Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 12:7,11; 1 Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:1-6
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ORDINANCES
The Bible sets forth two ordinances: 1) the Lord’s Supper and 2) water baptism. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward testimony of a person’s belief in Christ. Immersion is the ideal means set forth in Scripture.
"Do this in remembrance of me." — 1 Corinthians 11:24
Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement