Doctrinal Statement

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Note: This statement represents the beliefs of the leadership and thus what will be taught at GBC.  However, to become a member of GBC one does not have to affirm all that this statement contains.  To see what members are required to affirm, see “The Statement of Faith.”

Of the Holy Scripture

Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do reveal the nature and power of God, these means of revelation are only sufficient to leave humanity inexcusable in sin before God (Rom 1:20). Therefore, it has pleased the Lord to commit his purpose, will and nature to humanity in writing. The product of which is the Holy Scripture. The Holy Scripture exists in sixty-six books (i.e. the Protestant Old and New Testaments) and is the only infallible rule of faith and life for the Christian (2 Tim 3:16-17). As such, scripture alone possesses authority under which all who profess the name of Christ must submit.

Though all scripture is not equally clear, a person may attain sufficient understanding for life and godliness through the use of ordinary means to interpret scripture. As the Westminster Confession states, “All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them” (1.7).

The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors of scripture that through the human authors’ respective personalities and styles (2 Pet 1:20-21), the product was precisely the Word of God and therefore without error in the whole or in the part (Matt 5:18; 2 Tim 3:16). Further, the Holy Spirit so communicated God’s revelation by means of human authors that though culturally and historically contextualized, the Holy Scripture is applicable to all people in all generations when rightly interpreted and applied.

Of the Triune God

There is but one God (Deut 6:4; Is 41:4; 43:10-13; 44:6-8) who is an infinite, all knowing, and all-powerful spirit (John 4:24). God created all things in heaven and on earth, things visible and invisible for his own purpose, pleasure and glory (Gen 1-2; Ps 115:1-3; Eph 3:9). God eternally exists in three persons, namely the Father, Son and Spirit (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2). The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father (cf. Matt 3:16-17). The Father, Son and Spirit are equally and fully God and therefore possess all of the attributes of divinity (cf. 1 Cor 8:6, 15:24, Gal 1:1, Eph 5:20, 1 Tim 1:2 with reference to the Father; cf. Mark 2:1-12, John 1:1, 14, 18, 8:58-59, 10:30-31, Titus 2:13, 2 Pet 1:1 with reference to the Son; cf. Acts 5:3-4, Matt 28:19, 2 Cor 13:14 with reference to the Spirit).

The Son of God became incarnate approximately 2000 years ago, grew “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52) all the while living and dying wholly obedient to the will of his Father and therefore, without sin (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22). This incarnation consisted in adding humanity to his deity though remaining one person. As a result of the incarnation, the Son of God became and remains, one person who exists in two natures, full deity and full humanity. None of the attributes of deity or humanity were erased, given over, inoperative, or forfeited in this union.

The Son of God was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). He suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified. As a result of his crucifixion and the predetermined plan of God, the God-Man died a substitutionary death for his people in the most absolute sense, the just for the unjust (2 Cor 5:15) thereby satisfying the wrath of God (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:2). Further, he was buried and on the third day, rose bodily from the dead and appeared to many of his disciples (1 Cor 15:1-8). He ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of God the Father accomplishing his work of intercession on behalf of his people (Acts 1:9; 2:33; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25).

As a result of his accomplished work, he was appointed Son of God with power

and became the head over all things to the church, which is his body (cf. Rom 1:4; Eph 1:22-23).

Of the Nature and Fall of Humanity

God created both male and female “in the image of God according to His likeness” (Gen 1:26-27). Although the intrinsic value and worth of males and females are the same on account of creation, God intended distinct roles between men and women. Adam, the first man was granted the privilege of headship and Eve was granted the privilege of helper to Adam (cf. Gen 2:18). As a result, though the roles of men and women were enhanced and abused in the fall (Gen 3:16), the distinctive roles of manhood and womanhood are built into the order of creation and therefore good and necessary for Christians to observe (cf. 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:8-15).

Although humanity existed without sin and therefore in unhindered relationship with God his Maker, he became corrupted in every part as a result of disobedience to God’s prohibition not to eat the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:1-13) thereby incurring the penalty of spiritual and physical death. “By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body” (Westminster Confession 6.2). As a result of this original sin, all of the posterity of Adam and Eve, Christ being the only exception, inherits both a sinful nature and consequently the guilt of Adam (Rom 5:18-19). Even further, humanity is now entirely disposed to all evil and utterly indisposed to and incapable of any good (Gen 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Rom 3:9-18). This corruption and guilt includes every person from the moment of conception thereby rendering all of humanity guilty and spiritually bankrupt before God (Ps 51:5; 58:3).

Of Salvation

Because all of humanity is utterly indisposed to and incapable of any good, the salvation of humanity is wholly by the grace of God through the redemptive work of Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8-9). Salvation cannot be obtained through any effort of humanity but may be appropriated exclusively through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As a result, God must intervene in the affairs of humanity granting special revelation. This is accomplished in order to bestow a sufficient saving knowledge and faith in the revelation of God. This revelation reaches a climax in the person and work of the Son of God incarnate (Heb 1:1-2). As the apostle Paul states, humanity, left to our own devices and interpretation of general revelation will inevitably fall short of accurately understanding both creation and God (Rom 1:18-32). As a result, no person of any race, gender, social status, creed, or geographical location is saved except by a conscious faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 17:30; Rom 10:13-14).

A person is justified, that is declared righteous by God, on the basis of God’s grace in Christ and applied through faith. This justification takes place as a result of Christ’s righteousness being transferred to the account of the individual and the individual’s sins being transferred to the account of Christ when he bore sin on the cross (Rom 4:1-8). Because of this divine exchange, God can be both just, in that he condemned sin in his Son, and the justifier, in that he justifies those who believe in his Son (Rom 3:26).

God does not leave justified man in the estate in which he found him but begins to sanctify him, that is make him holy−really, wholly and progressively (Phil 1:9-10; 2 Pet 3:18). As a result, though justification and sanctification are distinct doctrines, they are inseparable. Those who divide the two to such an extent so as to infer that the believer may experience the one and not the other distort the Scriptures and render the gospel bankrupt.

Though this sanctification is effectual, it is not complete in this life and therefore, the experience of the believer is always one of real struggle against sin (Rom 7:14-25; Gal 5:16-24; 1 John 1:8).

Salvation is not complete until Christ returns and the believer, body and soul is fully and finally reunited with the Savior in perfect intimacy and purity (1 John 3:2).

Before the foundation of the world, God elected, that is chose unto salvation a specific number of individuals (Acts 13:48; Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:4-5). This election takes place not on the basis of observing down through the course of time those who would in themselves choose to receive him but on the basis of his specific love for his people (Deut 7:7-8; Eph 1:4-5). This election is efficacious in that God will bring all of his elect to himself through his Son and no more than those whom he has elected (John 6:44-45; Rom 8:29-30). This in no way precludes but demands that all who are elected in Christ must come to a personal repentance and faith. Further, the gospel call, entrusted to all believers in this age is to be offered to all of humanity without distinction.

Those who have truly come to believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ will persevere in faith and repentance throughout the duration of this life by the sustaining of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:3-5). This in no way implies that the believer can never fall into sin and even unrepentant sin; however, prodded by the abiding Spirit, the believer will never lose the seed of faith and his abhorrence of sin (John 6:40; 10:28-29). Concerning those who apostatize or reject the faith after having come to faith in Christ, God’s word teaches that they never were regenerate although they might have seemed to be for a season (1 John 2:19).

Of Angels

Angels are spiritual, incorporeal, celestial beings who were created by God to serve and worship him (Job 38:7; Heb 1:14).

This does not imply that they have no body but that their body is not physical as ours is (Heb 1:14). Angels are persons who possess emotions, wills and intellects (Luke 15:18; Heb 1:6).

Some angels fell from their glorious estate in rebellion against their Creator (2 Pet 2:4). Satan, now the accuser of the brethren is one of these fallen angels (Is 14:3-23; Ezek 28:11-19; Matt 25:41). Fallen angels will eventually be thrown into the lake of fire with unrepentant humanity, which God has prepared for those who despise him (Matt 25:41).

Of the Church

The church, namely the institution established by God through Christ for the purpose of assembling people for his glory exists both visibly and invisibly. The invisible church “consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ” (Westminster Confession 15.1). God alone knows those who makeup the invisible church (2 Tim 2:19).

The visible church includes all those who profess and practice true Christianity. All Christians are instructed by God in his word to be committed to the visible church and therefore, the local assembly (Heb 10:25). God has established that local assemblies exist for the purpose of upholding and preaching the truth of the gospel (1 Cor 1:21; 1 Tim 3:15), distributing the sacraments (Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26), serving others who are in need (James 1:27; 1 Tim 6:18), and representing Christ to the world in charity and good deeds (Matt 5:13-16)

God appointed that a plurality of elders govern the visible church. The Holy Spirit appoints elders (Acts 20:28) and the church simply recognizes their appointment to shepherd God’s people until Christ returns (1 Tim 3:6, 5:17; Heb 13:17).

The office of deacon is also a vital element of the local church. Deacons are those who are set apart by the church for the work of service and care (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim 3:8-13).

The Lord Jesus Christ granted to his visible church two sacraments, namely baptism and The Lord’s Supper. The sacrament of baptism is to be granted to those who place their trust and allegiance in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 18:8). Though the children of believers are granted the privileged covenant presence of God, they are not to receive the sacrament of baptism until they become “the offspring of Abraham” through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the true seed of Abraham (1 Cor 7:14; Gal 3:7-9, 16, 26-29). Further, baptism is to be administered (if possible) by means of immersing the professing Christian in water (cf. Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10). The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is to be offered to all those who believe the gospel, have received the sacrament of baptism, are committed to a local church, and demonstrate their readiness and need for the table through mortification of their sins through the work of Christ (1 Cor 11:23-34).

Of the End Times

Prior to Christ’s return, there will be a time of great apostasy from the faith and tribulation upon the earth, unrivaled by any period before this.  This time of tribulation will be marshaled by the one called “Antichrist” (Matt 24:15-28; 2 Thess 2:3; Rev 13:1-18). Though persecution against God’s people during this time will be fierce, it will be temporary (Matt 24:22).

After the tribulation period, Christ will return bodily to judge the living and the dead and consummate his kingdom (Matt 25:31-33; Acts 1:11 2 Tim 4:1). He will eternally condemn all those who have not trusted in him for salvation and therefore are not his (Matt 25:41; Rev 20:11-15), including the one called “Antichrist” and any who allied with him against God’s people (Rev 19:20). These will be cast from the favorable presence of God forever (2 Thess 1:9). Further, Christ will welcome all those who have truly trusted in him for salvation into everlasting bliss and pleasure where they will live forever in the presence of God (Matt 25:21, 23, 46; 1 Thess 4:13-5:11;).

Until this time, those who die in Christ in between the times of Christ’s first and second advents are immediately in the presence of Christ and do not enter what many have termed “soul sleep” (2 Cor 5:6-8 also cf. Luke 23:43). Upon Christ’s second advent, the soul (i.e. the immaterial part) will be reunited with the body (i.e the material part) to form a glorified bodily unity never to be divided again (1 Thess 4:16).