Back to Grace Bible Baptist Church Home Page

In this age, there exists various different religious organizations which profess to follow the Bible as their guide as we do; however, they differ with us in doctrine, faith, and practice. Thus, we feel constrained to set forth a distinctive declaration of what we most surely believe and teach. The following articles are not used as a substitute for the Holy Scriptures, but as exponents of what are conceived to be the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that there is one and only one true and living God 1; infinite 2; eternal 3; self-existent 4; immutable 5; Holy 6; just 7; omniscient 8; omnipotent 9; omnipresent; Spirit 10; whose name is Jehovah 11; the creator and supreme ruler of heaven and earth 12; that in the unity of the one essence, nature, and being of the Godhead, there are three eternal distinctions that are revealed to us under the figure of persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 13; that these three are equal in every Divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption, being worthy of precisely the same honor, worship, and obedience 14.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that all scripture was given by verbal inspiration of God, by which we mean the sixty-six books of the Received Text 1; that this inspiration was accomplished miraculously by the providence and power of God, and is not to be compared with the inspiration attributed to works of human genius 2; yet not in such a way as to impair the reality of human agency 3; that it is not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to each part of the Bible, whether it be historical, legal, poetical, prophetical or doctrinal, extending even to the words themselves as found in the original manuscripts 4; that this inspiration covers historical and scientific references as fully as matters of doctrine, so that the Bible is free from all error as to fact, as well as being free from error as to doctrine 5; that the Bible, therefore, has God as its author, truth without any mixture of error as its matter, and the salvation of sinners as its end 6; that it is and shall remain the true center of Christian unity, the only authoritative standard by which all human conduct, creed, and opinions should be tried 7.

1) II Tim 3:16; I Pet 1:21; 2) I Cor 2:13; 14:37; Acts 1:16; 3:21; 3) Rev 1:10-12; Psa 68:11; 4) Matt 5:18; 4) Gal 3:16; Isa 34:16; 5) Jn 10:35; Psa 12:6; 6) II Tim 3:16; Prov 30:5-6; Jn 5:39; 7) Jn 17:17; Isa 8:20

The Scripture teaches and we believe that God is an absolute sovereign 1; having mercy on whom He will and hardening whom He will 2; doing according to His will and purpose in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth 3; working all things after the counsel of His own will 4; efficiently causing all good and wisely permitting all evil that comes to pass for reasons known only to Himself and overruling it for His own glory and the good of the redeemed 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that The Holy Spirit is a Divine personality and not a mere emanation, influence, or force 1; equal with God The Father and God The Son and of the same essence and nature 2; that He was active in creation 3; restrains that wicked one until God’s purpose is fulfilled 4; and convicts of sin 5; that He is the agent of God in the new birth 6; that He comes into the heart in regeneration there to dwell continuously, sealing 7; witnessing 8; counseling 9; teaching 10; guiding 11; and sanctifying 12; that the believer , therefore, is not to pray or seek for the Holy Spirit, but to surrender to Him so as to be filled with Him 13.

V. CHRIST AND HIS MEDIATORIAL WORK

The Scripture teaches and we believe that Jesus of Nazareth was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner without a human father by Mary, a virgin. 1; that He is, therefore, both the Son of God and God the Son, that He by the appointment of the Father freely took upon the Divine law by perfect obedience 2; who Himself did not sin and could not have sinned being God The Son 3; and by His vicarious death made full atonement for all the sins of all The Elect People of God 4; that having risen from the dead 5; He is now enthroned at the right hand of God, making intercession for the believers 6; uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, being, therefore, in every way, a suitable compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour 7.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the Devil or Satan is a personal evil spirit, formerly a holy angel, from which estate he by transgression fell, drawing a host of the angels with him 1; that he now presides over these evil angels as their leader, being the prince of the power of the darkness of this world 2; that he is the enemy of God 3; the tempter and accuser of the saints 4; possessor of the power of death 5; author of all evil and of all false religions 6; the chief power in back of the present apostasy 7; and that he is destined to final defeat and eternal destruction in the lake of fire 8.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally and not figuratively or allegorically 1; that man was divinely created by direct act in the image of his maker 2; and not through evolution from the lower species 3; that all animal and vegetable life was likewise directly created and placed under God's unchangeable law that they should bring forth only after their kind 4.

VIII. THE FALL AND DEPRAVITY OF MAN

The Scripture teaches and we believe that man was originally created upright 1; and finitely perfect 2; but, by voluntary transgression, he fell from his happy and holy estate 3; in consequence of his disobedience, death was then and there inflicted 4; and he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins and becoming subject to the power of the Devil; that Adam’s sin was imputed to his entire race 5; and that the corrupt nature has been transmitted to all his posterity by ordinary generation 6; and hence every descendant of Adam is by nature a child of wrath 7; totally destitute of spiritual life 8; at enmity with God 9; wholly inclined to evil 10; and without strength 11; or hope 12; unless saved by Christ 13; and made alive by the Holy Spirit 14.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that man by nature possesses free will or free agency, by which we mean that, in relation to God, he always acts without compulsion and in accordance with his own dominant desires and inclinations, being impelled from within in all his actions 1; that this is true while he is yet a sinner under the power of the Devil, even cannot of his own strength free himself therefrom 2; that it is also true, in the exercise of repentance and faith, under the regeneration power of God and in service after regeneration, as God works in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure 3.

1) Mark 7;21-23; Jn 3:19; 2) Eph 2:1; 4:17-19; Jn 6:44,65; 3) Eph 2:8-10; Jn 6:37; Phil 2:13.

X. GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE

The Scripture teaches and we believe that elective purpose of God, according to which He predestinates 1; calls 2; regenerates 3; sanctifies 4; saves 5; and glorifies sinners 6; that it is both eternal and personal 7; and unconditional 8; that it is the most glorious display of His sovereign goodness, being infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable 9; that it comprehends all the means in connection with the end 10; that it utterly excludes boasting, promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, and the active imitation of His free mercy 11; that it is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man 12; that it is to be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel 13; that to ascertain it, with regard to ourselves, demands and deserves utmost diligence 14.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that those and only those persons whom God has elected and predestinated to salvation, God does, in His appointed and accepted time in this life, effectually call by His Word and Spirit out of the state of sin and death in which they were born, to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, regenerating their hearts, enlightening their minds, renewing their wills, thus drawing them to Christ in repentance and faith 1.

1) John 6:37; 10:16, 26-27; Acts 2:39; 13:48; Rom. 8:28-30; II Thess. 2:13-14; II Tim. 2:9-10.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that, because of human depravity involving spiritual death, no sinner can enter the Kingdom of God apart from the new birth 1; that the new birth consists of the purification of the soul or spirit and the implanting of a new nature 2; that it is accomplished in the region of the soul below consciousness in a supernatural manner above our comprehension by the power of The Holy Spirit in connection with the Word of God 3; so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life 4.

1) Jn 3:3; 2) II Cor 4:6; 5:17; 3) Jn 6:63; I Cor 4:14; I Pet 1:23; 4) Rom 6;17-18

The Scripture teaches and we believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God 1; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness 2; and of the way of salvation by Christ 3; that a sinner turns to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy 4; at the same time, heartily receiving The Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, relying on Him alone as The only and all-sufficient Saviour 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ 1; that the full benefit of Christ’s obedience and death are received by faith alone and wholly apart from works 2; that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of Christ, who was made to be sin for us, dying in our room and stead 3; and that no repentance, no faith, no feeling, no resolutions, no sincere efforts, no ordinances can add the least to the value of the precious blood of Christ 4; that God is pleased to save sinners through the preaching of the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, without which no man can be saved 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that all who believe in Christ are justified in the sight of God 1; that justification includes the pardon of all sin 2; and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness 3; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness we have done or shall do, but solely through faith in Christ 4; by means of which His perfect righteousness is freely and fully imputed to us of God 5; that it brings us into a state of blessed peace and favor with God 6; and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity 7.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again of The Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very day they came to know Christ as Saviour 1; that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written Word 2; and the witness of The Holy Spirit 3; exciting within His children filial love, gratitude, and obedience 4.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that sanctification belongs to all who have been regenerated 1; that it is both instantaneous 2; and progressive 3; that instantaneous sanctification consists of our being objectively separated from the world of unbelievers and set apart or consecrated to God, while, at the same time, we are made holy in the eyes of the law and a new life is established in the soul 4; that this phase of sanctification is accomplished in regeneration and admits of no degree, being possessed fully and absolutely by all the saved 5; that progressive sanctification is begun in regeneration and is carried on by the presence and power of The Holy Spirit, wherein, by the use of the appointed means of the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, prayer, and practice of all godly exercise and duties, we are subjectively separated from the world to live unto God 6; that this phase of sanctification is only relative and never issues in sinless perfection in this life 7.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that regeneration is the implantation of a new life 1; and not the eradication or reformation of the old nature 2; that the old nature remains in the believer to the end of his earthly existence and is in constant conflict with the new nature, so that the believer is never free from the presence of sin in his life and never able to fully obey the will of God 3.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, and so to live in the Spirit that we should not fulfill the lusts of the flesh 1; but the flesh, being still in us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be kept in subjection to Christ or it will surely manifest its presence to the dishonor of His name 2.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that while good works have nothing to do with saving us 1; they are ordained of God for His glory and will certainly follow regeneration 2; that it is our duty to engage in them under the leadership of the Spirit and the instruction of the Word of God 3; that our eternal reward in the presence of God is dependent upon them 4.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that those who are truly saved, having been predestinated to both justification and glorification and being born again of The Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away and perish 1; but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 2; that they are thereby made to endure to the end 3; yet not in such a way as to impair their responsibility 4; and that their preserving attachment to Christ is the grand mark that distinguishes them from superficial professors 5; that the believer is presently seated with Christ in the heavenlies 6; that there is no spiritual baptism to individual believers 7.

XXII. BAPTISM

The Scripture teaches and we believe that baptism is immersion in water 1; of a penitent believer 2; on the authority of a New Testament Church 3; in The Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 4; not in order to obtain the remission of sins 5; but to show forth in solemn and beautiful emblem of death to sin and resurrection to walk in newness of life 6; that it is a prerequisite to membership in the Church 7; and participation in the Lord’s supper 8.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrament, but a solemn symbolic ordinance placed in the church by our Lord 1; in which the members of the local church observing the ordinance 2; by the use of unleavened bread and wine, commune not with one another, but The Lord 3; that it shows forth not their love for one another, but their Lord’s death till He comes 4; that the one loaf of the supper points to the unity of the body observing it 5; which unity is essential to the scriptural observance of the ordinance 6.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that a New Testament Church on earth is a body of baptized believers necessarily local rather than universal, voluntarily associated together in the faith and fellowship of the Word of God 1; observing the ordinances instituted by Christ 2; governed by His laws as its only head 3; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges vested in it by Christ 4; that such a church is the body of Christ in its locality, with which all the regenerated should affiliate 5; that its officers of ordination are pastors 6; and deacons 7; that the mission of the church is clearly set forth in the great commission 8; that each assembly has the absolute right to self-government as led by The Holy Spirit, free from any interference whatsoever from any organization, group, convention, association, or individual; that it is scriptural for assemblies to cooperate with each other for the furtherance of the gospel and the doctrines of the Word of God 9; but that each church is the sole human judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that only sound New Testament Baptist Churches today preserve the essential apostolic faith and practice; that Christ’s promise to build His church has been fulfilled in only these kind of churches, the first of which He organized during His earthly ministry 10; and gave to it, and to others that should descend from it the great commission; that these true churches on earth alone possess Divine authority 11; therefore, we brand as unscriptural open communion, alien baptism, pulpit affiliation with heretical ministers, mission boards, ecumenicalism, unionism, modernism, modern convention associationism, one-church dictatorship, preacher-dictatorship, and all kindred evils arising from these practices.

XXV. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

The Scripture teaches and we believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked 1; that such only as are regenerated, being justified through faith in Jesus Christ and sanctified by The Spirit of God, are truly righteous 2; while all those that continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in God’s sight and under His righteous curse 3; that this distinction holds among men both in life and after death 4; that the souls of the righteous do at death pass immediately into the presence of God, awaiting the first resurrection, at which time the souls and glorified body will be reunited and associated forever with The Lord 5; that the souls of the wicked will pass at death into torment to await the judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of The Lord 6.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that Christ is now King over a spiritual Kingdom, and that He is presently reigning on the right hand of The Father in His throne, where He will remain until He comes again 1; that His second coming is to be pre-millennial, bodily, visible 2; that it will consist of two parts; His appearance in the air and His revelation on the earth 3; that, at the time of His appearance in the air, all those who sleep in Christ will be raised in glorified bodies and caught up together with all saints who live and remain on the earth 4; that, at His revelation on the earth, He will sit on the throne of His glory (the throne of David) for the first time, judging all men, then living on the earth, receiving the righteous into His Kingdom and sending the unrighteous away into everlasting fire 5; that the two parts of His coming will be separated by a period of time during which the woes depicted in the book of Revelation, referred to as Daniel’s Seventieth Week, will be poured out upon the earth 6; that this period will be marked also by the revelation of the man of sin, or beast, who will rule over the world by the power of Satan and will finally gather the armies of the nations together for the battle of Armageddon 7; that Satan will be bound a thousand years 8, and the saints will reign a thousand years with Christ on earth 9.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that there will be a bodily resurrection and that this same body will be raised up, both of the righteous and the wicked 1; that there will be one thousand years of time intervening between the resurrection of the righteous and of the wicked 2; that the dead in Christ shall rise first 3; and that, at the expiration of the one thousand years, the wicked will be raised and judged 4.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that we are now in the midst of a fearful apostasy in professing Christian bodies 1; that the world is now experiencing its night and is by no means becoming better or drawing nearer to God or His Kingdom 2; that the world will not be converted to Christ during this dispensation, but is fast ripening for judgment 2; that The Lord Jesus must come in person to introduce the millennial age with a judgment of this world 3; that when He comes His completed Kingdom will be established in the earth, where He will reign over restored and converted Israel and the whole world, the glorified saints reigning with Him 5; that then and only then will He sit upon the throne of David, which was promised to Him 6.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the first day of the week is The Lord’s day 1; that it is to be kept sacred for worship purposes 2; that Christians should refrain from all secular labor and worldly recreations 3; that they should devoutly use all the means of grace, both private and public, by which they may be drawn closer to God and provoked to holier living 4; and in preparation for the rest, which remains for the people of God 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith 1; that we are to bring our gifts into the common treasury of the church upon the first day of the week 2; that under grace we give and do not pay 3; that all giving should lose the identity of the giver and assume the identity of our Lord Jesus Christ through His body, the church 4; and, in order not to rob God, our gifts must not be less than ten percent (10%) 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the common command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this commission was given to the church 1; that it shall be the policy of this church to support only New Testament Baptist efforts, sound in faith and practice 2. The Church has been commissioned to preach the Gospel to every creature 3.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that civil government is of Divine appointment and arrangement, for the best interests and good order of human society 1; and that magistrates are to be prayed for 2; conscientiously honored and obeyed 3; except in matter opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ 4; Who is the only Lord of men’s conscience, and the only Prince of the Kings of the earth 5.

The Scripture teaches and we believe that the earth will be redeemed from the curse of sin and fitted as the eternal dwelling place of the people of God 1; that the fitting of the earth for the eternal home of the redeemed will be by a process of purification by fire 2; that the finally impenitent and incorrigibly wicked will be cast, both souls and resurrected bodies 3; into the lake of fire and brimstone 4, where they shall be punished forever 5; that the redeemed shall dwell in that city Built whose Builder is God 6, the New Jerusalem which shall descend out from Heaven 7.

The Scripture teaches and we believe in the virgin birth of Christ 1; in His death 2 and burial 3, and that He rose from the grave on the third day 4; We do not, believe however, that there exist any alliance with Christmas and the birth of Christ; and, we do not believe there exist any alliance with Easter and the resurrection of Christ; we do, however, believe that both Christmas and Easter can be traced back to pagan origin.

The Scripture teaches and we believe the Five-points of the Doctrine of Grace commonly referred to as Calvinism though we do not consider ourselves to be Calvinists. We are Landmark Sovereign Grace Baptists and have never been associated with either Calvin or the Protestant reformation of which he played a major role. Our belief is that Calvin never really broke his ties with Rome, taking such things as infant baptism and Church Polity with him. History will bear out that Calvin, as did other of the reformers, persecute Baptists of his day that rejected his position. The Five-points of Grace did not originate with Calvin, or Augustine who went before him. What is commonly called the Five-points of Grace, by which we refer to as: 1) Total Depravity, 2) Unconditional Election, 3) Limited Atonement, 4) Irresistible Grace, and, 5) Preservation of the Saints, were clearly taught by The Apostles, particularly Paul and John as well as Christ Himself and can be found throughout the Word of God 1.

XXXVI. CONCERNING MARRIAGE

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, covenantal union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexual conduct (Lev. 18:22), bisexual conduct, bestiality (Lev. 18:23), incest, any use of pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (See also Jude 1:7). We believe that God has and still does restore and save such individuals but through His grace they forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (See 1 Cor. 6:9-11). We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of this church.

Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Exodus 20:14; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 1:26-27; 1st Corinthians 6:9-20; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4.

Back to Grace Bible Baptist Church Home Page