What is the gospel?

The Gospel is all about jesus! it's the good news that God himself has come to rescue and renew creation in and through the work of jesus christ on our behalf. Even though we could never reach him on our own, god reached out to us in his incredible love and grace. 

Jesus lived for you

Jesus entered human history for the purpose of redemption.  He is God in the flesh as John 1 explains.  He lived a perfect life, entirely without sin, He is the only human to ever do this.  

Jesus died for you

Jesus was beaten and died on a cross.  His death was the ultimate payment for sin.  Jesus freely offered his blood, his life, in order to fully satisfy the penalty of human sin.  His sacrifice was perfect, there is nothing that can ever be added to it, His death was entirely sufficient for each person who would believe.  God offers each of us complete forgiveness for our sins because of this incredible act of grace.  

Jesus rose for you

On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the grave.  His resurrection was proof of two specific things: He is exactly who He says He is, God in the flesh; we can trust that His sacrifice was entirely sufficient for us and that as a result, we can experience a resurrected life both spiritually and physically because of Him.  Jesus gives us a new nature, He gives us a new identity, He gives us a new life.  

Jesus cares for you

Following Jesus is not about being part of a religion.  Following Jesus is about living in a reconciled relationship with our Creator, as we were intended to experience from the very beginning.  Relationship with Jesus is all about what He has done, not what mankind should do.  We could never do enough to earn this kind of relationship with God, we can experience this unity with God only because of His magnificent grace.

we believe

Trinty: there is only one God, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three distinct persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God is all-powerful, all-knowing, self-sufficient, unchanging and sovereign over all things.  

(Genesis 1:31, 2,18:14; Lev. 19:2; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 12:23, 34:14-15, 36:26, 37:16; Psalm 8, 11, 18:30, 22:28, 33:11, 33:6, 50:10-12, 71:22, 90:2, 90:4, 99:9, 102:25-27,103:19, 104, 115:3,119:1, 135:6, 139; Proverbs 16:33; Isaiah 6:4, 40:25, 28-29, 43:6-7, 46:9-11; Daniel 4:35; Zephaniah 3:17-18; Malachi 3:6, Matthew 3:16-17, 5:48, 6:26, 10:29-30, 28:19; John 1:1-3, 3:35, 14:6, 24, 17:24; Acts 4:24,17:24-25; Romans 5:8, 8:28, 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:11-12, 2:10, 3:20-21; Hebrews 1:3, 4:13, 11:3, 13:8; James 1:17;1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 4:8-10; Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 11, 15:4)

we believe

in Jesus Christ, the eternal, sinless Son of God, who exists simultaneously as fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a perfect, sinless life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He is now our advocate and intercessor. He will come again to judge all humanity, reconcile all things to Himself, renew all creation, and establish His everlasting kingdom. Forgiveness and a right relationship with God comes by His grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. He is the head of His body, the Church, to be worshipped, adored, loved and obeyed by all.  

(Luke 24:39; John 1:1-3, 14 17:3, 8; I Corinthians 15:20-26; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 4:14-15; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:17; 1 John 4:9-10)

we believe

that the Bible is the only inspired, infallible, authoritative, inerrant and eternal written Word of God. God has preserved His Word and it is to be carefully studied, applied, obeyed, and shared by individuals and the Church.  

(Deuteronomy 18:18-22; Psalm 119:72, 97, 103; Isaiah 40:8; 55:10-11; 66:1-2; Matthew 4:3-4; 5:18; Luke 24:44-45; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2; Titus 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; James 1:22-25; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 1:1-4)

Jesus Christ is the Gospel. The Good News of God’s sovereign, saving grace is revealed in His incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, victorious bodily resurrection and coming reign over His kingdom. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Christ’s death completely satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and wrath toward sin, while demonstrating His unending love and amazing grace toward sinners. The Gospel is central to our existence, purpose and future as His body, the Church.

 (Matthew 18:11; Mark 1:1; Luke 24:47; John 1:14, 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 1:1-4, 3:21-27, 5:6, 8,10,10:13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:13; 15+, 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:3, 10:26-28;1 Peter 1:10-12; 1 John 4:10)

we believe

we believe

 

salvation by the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit is an act of God, whereby God, in His unfathomable grace, declares righteous undeserving sinners, justifying those who trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. God calls all humankind to repent and trust in His Son, the Savior King.  Biblical repentance is characterized by turning from sin and dead works to a genuine trust in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. 

(Romans 3:21-26, 5:1, 10:1-3, 9, 11:33-36; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 2:3, 5:11-6:1; Romans 3:21-26, 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:8-9; Titus 3:3-7)

 

WE BELIEVE Humankind and Marriage: We believe God created humankind, male and female, in His own image, as the pinnacle of His created order.  Humanity was created to glorify, love and enjoy relationship with God forever as the stewards of His creation.  Humankind, tempted by Satan, rebelled against God through sin.  As a result, all human beings are alienated from God and corrupted in every aspect of their being.  All humans are lost, blind and dead in their sin, under the just judgment and wrath of God and in desperate need of His saving grace.

(Genesis 1:26-31; Jeremiah 17:9, Luke 19:10; John 9:39; Romans 5:8,10, 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:18-19; Colossians 1:26)

We believe God gave and ordained marriage for the blessing of humankind and for His glory.  Marriage is intended to be a picture of the eternal covenant relationship between Christ and His Church.  Marriage is the foundation and primary building block of the human family and society.  Because God created male and female, in His own image, to compliment one another, we believe marriage is only defined between one biological man and one biological woman.  Sexual intimacy is a God-given gift intended by Him to be fully enjoyed in the context and life-long commitment of the marriage relationship.  Singleness is affirmed by God and ordained by Him for some individuals.  Those who are single in our local church body are recognized as equally vital to the life of our church as those who are married.  

(Genesis 1:28, 2:18, 24; Mark 10:6-7; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5, 7, 32-34; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4)

Sanctification: We believe sanctification is the life-long work of God in believers by which those who trust in Him grow in holiness and are conformed to the character of Jesus Christ. Sanctification begins at the moment of salvation with the giving of spiritual life, and continues by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through an ever-deepening understanding of, application of, and obedience to our relationship with Jesus Christ in every area and circumstance of our lives. Glorification is the promised completion of our sanctification at the moment we meet Jesus at our death or upon His glorious return.  

(John17:17; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:1-14, 8:18-19, 29-30; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:18-7:1; Galatians 2:20, 3:1-3, 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22, 4:1, 4:15, 6:10-18; Philippians 1:6, 27, 2:12-13, 3:13-14;  Colossians 1:9-14, 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 17,  3:12-13; Titus 2:11-12; Hebrews 10:24-25, 11:6, 12:1-2, 12:23, 13:9;  1 Peter 1:1-2,14-16, 2:5, 9, 3:18; 2 Peter 3:17-18; I John 3:1-3)

The Church: We believe God, by His Word and Spirit, has established and continues to establish His Church as He calls sinful humans out of darkness and into the marvelous light of the fellowship of His family.   He is and will remain faithful to guide, grow and preserve His Church. The universal Church, the global body of Christ, consists of all those who trust the person and work of Jesus Christ in all times, places and locations. A believer’s inclusion in the universal Church is expressed through regular worship with, service in, commitment and accountability to a local church body. We believe the local church is God’s primary means for spreading His good news in the world. God raises up and gifts a plurality of leaders to serve and care for the local church. 

(Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41, 16:31, 20:17-34; 1 Corinthians 3:7-8; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:1-7,15; Hebrews 12:1, 13:7; 1 Peter 2:9-10, 4:10, 5:1-3)

Baptism: We believe water baptism is the command of Christ for all those who trust the Gospel. Baptism is not a saving work, but an expression of faith. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual transformation, a visual picture of a believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.  

(Psalm 51:2, Matthew 4:4, 26:26-29, 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20; John 5:39-40, 6:53-57,17:17; Acts 2:38, 8:36-39,10:44-48, 16:15, 30-33, 20:32, 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31, 2:1-2, 10:16-17, 11:23-26; 2 Corinthians 4:5-6; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-16, 4:1-4; Hebrews 4:12-13; I Peter 1:22-2:10)

Communion/The Lord’sSupper: We believe the Lord’s Supper (communion) is to be enjoyed regularly by all those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.  The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the giving of Christ’s body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf.  As we enjoy the Lord’s Supper together by faith, we remember and proclaim Christ’s sacrificial death, receive spiritual nourishment, are encouraged in hope, and signify our unity with the members of the family of God.  

(Psalm 51:2, Matthew 4:4, 26:26-29, 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20; John 5:39-40, 6:53-57,17:17; Acts 2:38, 8:36-39,10:44-48, 16:15, 30-33, 20:32, 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31, 2:1-2, 10:16-17, 11:23-26;  2 Corinthians 4:5-6; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-16, 4:1-4; Hebrews 4:12-13; I Peter 1:22-2:10)

*This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.  The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humanity, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  For purposes of Grace Bible Church's faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Team is the final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.