The Bible
The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly demonstrate the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that people are left without excuse; however, these demonstrations are not sufficient to give the knowledge of God and his will that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, the Lord was pleased at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church. To preserve and propagate the truth better and to establish and comfort the church with greater certainty against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world, the Lord put this revelation completely in writing. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are absolutely necessary, because God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people have now ceased.
2 Timothy 3:15–17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20. Romans 1:19–21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1–3. Hebrews 1:1. Proverbs 22:19–21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19, 20.
2 Timothy 3:15–17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20. Romans 1:19–21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1–3. Hebrews 1:1. Proverbs 22:19–21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19, 20.
God
The Lord our God is one, the only living and true God. He is self-existent and infinite in being and perfection. His essence cannot be understood by anyone but him. He is a perfectly pure spirit. He is invisible and has no body, parts, or changeable emotions. He alone has immortality, dwelling in light that no one can approach. He is unchangeable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, in every way infinite, absolutely holy, perfectly wise, wholly free, completely absolute. He works all things according to the counsel of his own unchangeable and completely righteous will for his own glory. He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently. At the same time, he is perfectly just and terrifying in his judgments. He hates all sin and will certainly not clear the guilty.
1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. Exodus 3:14. John 4:24. 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16. Malachi 3:6. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. Psalm 90:2. Genesis 17:1. Isaiah 6:3. Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6. Nehemiah 9:32, 33. Psalm 5:5, 6. Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3.
1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. Exodus 3:14. John 4:24. 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16. Malachi 3:6. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. Psalm 90:2. Genesis 17:1. Isaiah 6:3. Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6. Nehemiah 9:32, 33. Psalm 5:5, 6. Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3.
The Trinity
This divine and infinite Being consists of three real persons, the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence without this essence being divided. The Father is not derived from anyone, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. All three are infinite and without beginning and are therefore only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being. Yet these three are distinguished by several distinctive characteristics and personal relations. This truth of the Trinity is the foundation of all of our fellowship with God and of our comforting dependence on him.
1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. John 1:14,18. John 15:26; Galatians 4:6.
1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. John 1:14,18. John 15:26; Galatians 4:6.
Creation
In the beginning God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was pleased to create or make the world and all things in it, both visible and invisible, in a six-day period, and all very good. He did this to manifest the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness.
After God had made all the other creatures, he created humanity. He made them male and female, with rational and immortal souls, thereby making them suited to that life lived unto God for which they were created. They were made in the image of God, being endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. They had the law of God written in their hearts and the power to fulfill it. Even so, they could still transgress the law, because they were left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
1John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13. 2Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31; 3Romans 1:20; Genesis 1:27. Genesis 2:7. Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26. Romans 2:14, 15. Genesis 3:6.
After God had made all the other creatures, he created humanity. He made them male and female, with rational and immortal souls, thereby making them suited to that life lived unto God for which they were created. They were made in the image of God, being endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. They had the law of God written in their hearts and the power to fulfill it. Even so, they could still transgress the law, because they were left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.
1John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13. 2Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31; 3Romans 1:20; Genesis 1:27. Genesis 2:7. Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26. Romans 2:14, 15. Genesis 3:6.
The Fall
God created humanity upright and perfect. He gave them a righteous law that would have led to life if they had kept it but threatened death if they broke it. Yet they did not remain for long in this position of honor. Satan used the craftiness of the serpent to seduce Eve, who then seduced Adam. Adam acted without any outside compulsion and deliberately transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit. God was pleased, in keeping with his wise and holy counsel, to permit this act, because he had purposed to direct it for his own glory.
By this sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all. All became dead in sins and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body. As Adam was our Federal Head representing us in the Fall, so Christ is our Federal Head representing us in redemption.
Genesis 2:16, 17. Genesis 3:12, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Romans 3:23. Romans 5:12ff. Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–19.
By this sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all. All became dead in sins and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body. As Adam was our Federal Head representing us in the Fall, so Christ is our Federal Head representing us in redemption.
Genesis 2:16, 17. Genesis 3:12, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Romans 3:23. Romans 5:12ff. Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–19.
Saving Faith
The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe so that their souls are saved, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. Faith is ordinarily produced by the ministry of the Word. By this same ministry and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed by God, faith is increased and strengthened.
By this faith Christians believe to be true everything revealed in the Word, recognizing it as the authority of God himself. They also perceive that the Word is more excellent than every other writing and everything else in the world, because it displays the glory of God in his attributes, the excellence of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his activities and operations. So they are enabled to entrust their souls to the truth believed. They respond differently according to the content of each particular passage—obeying the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and the one to come. But the principal acts of saving faith focus directly on Christ—accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8. Romans 10:14, 17. Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Acts 24:14. Psalms 27:7–10; Psalms 119:72. 2 Timothy 1:12. John 14:14. Isaiah 66:2. Hebrews 11:13. John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11.
By this faith Christians believe to be true everything revealed in the Word, recognizing it as the authority of God himself. They also perceive that the Word is more excellent than every other writing and everything else in the world, because it displays the glory of God in his attributes, the excellence of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his activities and operations. So they are enabled to entrust their souls to the truth believed. They respond differently according to the content of each particular passage—obeying the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and the one to come. But the principal acts of saving faith focus directly on Christ—accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8. Romans 10:14, 17. Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Acts 24:14. Psalms 27:7–10; Psalms 119:72. 2 Timothy 1:12. John 14:14. Isaiah 66:2. Hebrews 11:13. John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11.
Marriage
The Church
Marriage is a creation ordinance issued by God who sanctions and sanctifies it. As He created them, male and female, marriage is to be between one man and one woman. A man must not have more than one wife nor a woman more than one husband at the same time. All other unions are a perversion of the Creation Ordinance and are to be rejected. Marriage ultimately is to display the union of Christ to His church, though that image is flawed by sinful men.
Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5, 6.
Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5, 6.
The Church is both visible and invisible; it is local and universal. It may be called invisible with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace. It consists of the full number of the elect who have been, are, or will be gathered into one under Christ her head and therefore, universal. However, the church gathered is local with its own Elders/ Overseers/ Pastors and Deacons who serve to administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper or Communion. It meets regularly at a set time and place which is known by its members and is witnessed by the community in which it abides. The universal church is the bride of Christ and His body, with Him being its head, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32
Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32
Creeds and Confessions
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Grace Baptist Church holds to the perfect witness of Scripture and we affirm The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 as our guiding confession in the formation of our church and establishing our Constitution. The Southern Baptist Convention has established this current confession upon the rich heritage of our previous confessions of which this is based. Among these are the London Baptist 1689 Confession, The Philadelphia Confession of 1742, The New Hampshire Confession of 1833, and The Abstract of Principles of 1858. These may be appealed to in differences from The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000; however, the Holy Scriptures are our final authority in all matters of faith and practice as found in the 66 books—the Old and New Testament— of the Protestant Canon. We also recognize the great value of historical creeds and accept The Apostle’s Creed (c.3rd-5th Century), The Athanasian Creed (A.D. 298-373), and The Nicene Creed (A.D. 325) which give high Christological confessions.
We observe two ordinances which Christ commissioned the church to continue until He comes. These are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both of these reflect the death of our Lord in accomplishing our salvation. Baptism, at is root meaning is 'to be identified with.' It is seen in 1 Corinthians 1 where Paul refers to water baptism and identity with leads within the church. In chapter 10, Israel was identified with Moses and God through the Cloud by day and the fire by night and passing through the Red Sea, which Paul calls 'being baptized into Moses and the cloud' or identified with God's work of redemption. In chapter 12, the gifts identify the believer with the work of the Holy Spirit as a baptism. Then in chapter 15, the believer in his/ her baptism is identified with the risen Savior. So with are baptized to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord that we might walk in newness of life.
In the Lord's Supper, the body and blood of our Lord are represented through the elements so that we are reminded to purify ourselves as we come to celebrate this observance with other believers in our local church. Christ's Presence in not in the elements, but over them; so that when the local church observes this ordinance, Christ's Presence is there as well. It is the time and place for person and church discipline as we refrain from eating if we are persisting in sin or where the church withholds communion from members who are unrepentant in open and known sin.
Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1.