GRACE MEMORIAL BAPTIST  CHURCH

Doctrinal Statement

The Bible

We believe the Bible (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments in their entirety) to be the complete, final, and only revealed, infallible Word of God to His Church (The King James version to be used in this church) written by men who were definitely and uniquely inspired, and that it, the Bible, is our supreme and final authority in all matters of Faith and Practice. We affirm our belief in their original autographs to be verbally and plenarily inspired, and in the providential preservation of God’s Word.   (2 Tim. 3:16-17 and 2 Pet. 1:19-21).

 

 The Trinity

We believe in the Triune God, and that the Scriptures reveal one, and only one, living and True God; infinite and intelligent Spirit; the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven, Earth, and the entire universe; eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but one in substance, essence, and power through executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.          (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 1:11,12 & 12:29)

 

God the Father

We believe in God the Father: perfect in Holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Ex. 20:2,3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Jn 3:16; Mt. 7:7; Heb. 7:25; and Acts 4:12)

 

 God the Son

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, pre-existent and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe that He, in His incarnation, was born of a virgin; that He was sinless in His life; that He honored the divine law by His personal obedience; and that in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. We believe in His bodily resurrection; His ascension into heaven; His High Priestly intercession for His people as the only Mediator; and His personal, visible, pretribulational, premillennial return to Earth according to His promise. (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:20; Heb. 2:17; 1 Thess. 4:13-17)

 

 God the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit as a Divine personality (and not merely an emanation, influence, or force) Who came forth from God to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify, comfort, and seal forever those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Jn. 14:16-17,26, 16:7-11; Rom. 8:14,16,26,27; Eph. 1:13,14)

 

 Man

We believe that God originally created man in His own image and free from sin, but through the temptation by Satan, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His Law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. We believe that in the fall man incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. (Gen. 1:26, 2:17; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12, 3:10-23; 2 Cor. 5:21)

 

 Salvation

We believe that Salvation is by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood for our sins and that salvation is apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. We further believe in the perseverance of the saints. (Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 4:4,5;      Heb. 9:22)

 

 The Church

We believe that the local church is composed of regenerated, immersed believers voluntarily united together for the purpose of the worship of God, the fellowship of believers, and the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world. (Acts 1:8, 2:41,42; 1 Cor. 11:2;   Mt. 28:19,20)

We believe in:

• the competency of individual believers to directly approach to God

• the priesthood of all believers

• a regenerated church membership

• the symbolic ordinances of baptism and Lord’s Supper

• the church as an independent and autonomous body of believers free from the interference of any ecclesiastical or political organization

• the solemn obligation to majority rule within the church with equal right to all and special privilege to none

• the absolute separation of church and state

• a worldwide program of missionary endeavor in obedience to the final command of our Lord. (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Acts 8:26-39;                        1 Cor. 1:23-30; Acts 19-20; Mt. 28:18-20)