Statement of Faith
What we believe and why we believe it.
Baptist Distinctives
Biblical Authority
The Bible is the final authority in all matters it speaks of in life, doctrine, and ministry because it is inspired by God and inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16).
Autonomy of the Local Church
The Local Church is an independent body of genuine believers accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:40-41; Colossians 1:18)
Priesthood of the Believers
All true believers of Christ are priests of God with the right to directly enter into God’s presence in prayer and worship through our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:9)
Two Ordinances
The Local Church practices two ordinances: (1) Baptism of Believers by immersion in water and (2) the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Individual Soul Liberty
Every individual has the freedom to choose what he or she believes is right in the religious realm according to his conscience and the Word of God (Romans 14:6)
Saved and Baptized Church Membership
Local Church is restricted to individuals who profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by grace through faith, not by works. These individuals have publicly identified themselves with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection unto a new life (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:4-6)
Two Offices
The Bible teaches two offices in the Church (1) Pastor who is called elder and bishop. The pastor feeds, leads, cares for, counsels, and disciplines – with the church, God’s flock (Acts 20:17, 28; 2 Timothy 3:1-7); and (2) Deacon (2 Timothy 3:8-13) who is responsible to assist the pastor in material and spiritual ministry of the church.
Separation of Church and State
God established both the Church and the government, and He gave each it’s own distinct sphere of polity and ministry (Matthew 22:15-22). Separation of the believer from sin, worldliness, compromise, and various unbiblical organizations.
Fundamentals of the Faith
The Inspiration and Authority of the Scriptures
The Bible of 66 books is equally, plenary and verbally inspired and binding to both faith and practice. It is infallible and without error in the autographs (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Deity of Jesus Christ
He is fully God and fully man. He has always existed and always be God possessing eternal divine attributes of deity (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8)
Christ’s Virgin Conception and Birth
Jesus was conceived of Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born sinless. He lived a life without sin and performed miracles to validate the fact that He is the one sent by God (Matthew 1:18-25; John 20:30-31)
Christ’s Blood Atonement for Sin
In his death, Jesus shed His blood as the only acceptable payment for the sin of the whole world but salvation is only effective to those who truly repent from their sins and believe on Him as Savior and Lord (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2).
Christ’s Bodily Resurrection
Jesus arose physically from the grave conquering death and the grave. This is for the believer’s justification and assurance of their future physical resurrection (Luke 24:1-2; Romans 4:25)
Christ’s Personal Return
Jesus assured His disciples that He would come again to take them after he prepared a dwelling place for them so that wherever he is, there his disciples will be also (John 14:1-3)
Doctrinal Statement
Marriage and Human Sexuality
We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on the basis of Holy Scripture, which is our infallible guide (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Since the Holy Bible does speak to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that we correctly understand and articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters.
We are committed to the home and family as set forth in Holy Scripture. We believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children. It is our firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth.
Based on Holy Scripture and the constant moral teaching of the universal Church, we believe:
Marriage
We define marriage as the legal, permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child.
(Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Ephesians 5:31-33)
Sexual Immorality
We believe that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited as sinful. Consequently, GRACE members must resist and refrain from any and all sexual acts outside marriage — including but not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, zoophilia, pornography, prostitution, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or same-sex sexual acts.
(Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5)
Sexual Identity
We believe that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, GRACE members must affirm their biological sex and refrain from any and all attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their predominant biological sex — including but not limited to elective sex-reassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non-binary “genderqueer” acts or conduct.
(Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Sexual Orientation
We believe that God created and ordered human sexuality to the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of man and woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. Consequently, GRACE members must affirm the sexual complementarity of man and woman and resist any and all same-sex sexual attractions and refrain from any and all same-sex sexual acts or conduct, which are intrinsically disordered.
(Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2)
ABWE Doctrinal Statement
Article 1. Concerning the Scriptures
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, composed of 66 books, are God-breathed as God communicated through men carried along by the Holy Spirit. The very words of Scripture are inspired, authoritative, without error in their original autographs, and sovereignly preserved by God. We believe the Bible is the supreme revelation of God’s will for humanity today, is sufficiently clear in its revelation of truth, and constitutes the only infallible guide for faith, life, and ministry.
Psalm 119:128, Matthew 5:18, 2 Peter 1:19-21, John 17:17, Revelation 22:18-19, John 10:34-35, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12
Article 2. Concerning the One True God
We believe in the one true God who is spirit, infinite, eternal, holy, loving, and the creator of all that exists. He is all-knowing, all-wise, ever present with his people, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, forgiving, and abundantly able to keep all his promises according to his faithfulness. He is good and completely sovereign over all that occurs but is not the author of evil and will justly punish all sin. Although completely distinct from his creation, he is immanently at work in the world preserving it and effecting his good pleasure.
This one God is three eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These persons are identical in essence, the same in substance, and co-equal in divinity, power, glory, and majesty. Each divine person is fully God, and none is before or greater than the others, each being co-eternal and not manifestations of God or parts comprising the whole. The unity and distinction of the divine persons is revealed in all the works of God including creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, Exodus 15:11-13, Exodus 20:2-3, Leviticus 11:44, Deuteronomy 4:35, Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 139:1-6, Isaiah 46:9, Jeremiah 10:10, Habakkuk 1:12-13, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, John 1:1-3, John 4:24, John 5:26, John 14:6-13, John 17:1-5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 1:8, James 1:13
Article 3. Concerning God the Father
We believe God the Father is truly God and co-equal with the Son and the Spirit. The Father has planned for his glory all that comes to pass. The Father sent the Son and with the Son sent the Spirit. In love and mercy, he purposed from before the foundations of the world to redeem a people for himself from every tongue, tribe, and nation. The Father chose us in Christ and draws all those who come to him through the Son. The Father adopts believers to be his children and become co-heirs with Christ. The Father disciplines us for our good. The Father, being well-pleased in the Son and his work, put all things under the Son and installed the Son at his own right hand.
Psalm 110:1, John 3:16, John 6:44, John 8:28-29, John 8:42, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, Acts 1:7, Acts 2:39, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:14-16, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Galatians 4:4-6, Ephesians 1:3-11, Ephesians 4:3-6, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 1:13, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 12:9-10
Article 4. Concerning God the Son
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is truly God and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. He took on true human nature, without the corruption of sin. Being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, Jesus Christ has two perfect and distinct natures in one person. He is truly God and truly man, the only mediator between God and man. As such, he lived a sinless, obedient life fulfilling the law. He voluntarily died on the cross to make a full atonement for our sins, substituting himself to bear the wrath of God we deserve. He was buried, arose bodily from the dead on the third day thereby conquering sin and death, ascended bodily into heaven, and presently reigns at the right hand of the Father making intercession on behalf of all who come to the Father through him.
Isaiah 7:14, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 28:6, Matthew 28:18, John 1:1, John 14:6, Titus 3:5
Article 5. Concerning God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is truly God, co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is the promised Comforter sent by the Father and the Son, possessing full personhood. The Holy Spirit is the efficient agent in the application of redemption. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. No one can savingly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord apart from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the agent of the new birth, at which time he baptizes believers into the body of Christ. He seals, indwells, fills, sanctifies, convicts, gifts, and guides believers. The apostolic sign gifts, while not normative for today, were powerful indicators in New Testament times whereby the truth of the gospel message was authenticated; yet God is able to do the miraculous today according to his sovereign purposes.
John 7:39, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, John 16:7-15, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 Corinthians 12:8-13, 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Hebrews 2:1-4, Hebrews 9:14, Acts 1:4-5, Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 4:7-11
Article 6. Concerning Humanity
We believe men and women each are created fully in God’s image. The first man and woman were created by the distinct design and direct action of God as described in Genesis 2 and not from any previously existing form of life. By voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his state of innocence. As the representative head of humanity, Adam’s sin, guilt, and corruption has been placed upon all human beings. Humans are now sinners by nature and by choice, enslaved to sin, unable to know or please God on their own apart from his saving work, and under just condemnation to everlasting, conscious punishment, separated from God.
Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7-8, Genesis 2:18-23, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12-19, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:9-18, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 2:1-3, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
Article 7. Concerning Marriage and Sexuality
We believe God created man and woman as biologically unique persons. God’s design for the union of marriage is that a biological man and a biological woman covenant to be one flesh for life in a monogamous union that is spiritual, emotional, and physical. God’s design for sexual union is for its expression to be only within the bounds of this male and female marital union. We believe that a person’s true identity is found and fulfilled in Christ alone and in a relationship with him. Therefore, a Christian must not embrace identities, desires, or behaviors that are contrary to the express teaching of Scripture.
Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6, Mark 10:6-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9
Article 8. Concerning Salvation
We believe salvation is initiated by a loving God, wholly of his grace, and accomplished only through the mediating work of the Son of God and applied by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is granted only through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This message of salvation in Jesus Christ is the gospel. An individual must be born again, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit thereby becoming a new creation. The believer who has exercised personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is united to Christ, justified in Christ receiving the gift of imputed righteousness, and possesses a salvation which is eternally secure. God sanctifies those he saves so that their lives are marked by transformation of sinful desires, obedience to God, good works, and perseverance in the faith.
John 3:3-6, John 3:16, John 10:28-29, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Titus 3:8, Acts 13:39, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-23, Romans 2:4, Romans 4:2-9, Romans 4:25, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:9, Romans 8:16, Romans 8:28-29, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 2 Peter 1:4
Article 9. Concerning Evangelism and the Great Commission
We believe Jesus, the only Savior of humanity, calls the church and every believer to proclaim the gospel with urgency, compassion, and persuasion to all people and invite them to repent and believe. The Scriptures teach both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Christians are to be known as disciples of the Lord Jesus by their love and care for both fellow believers and unbelievers as an important part of demonstrating the transforming power of the gospel. In love, the gospel is to be proclaimed throughout the world offering salvation to all who believe. Because faith comes through hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ, gospel proclamation is how God draws the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The unbeliever comes to experience saving conversion through hearing the Word of Christ, the inward working of the Holy Spirit, and confessing with their mouth and believing in their heart that Jesus is Lord resulting in life transformation and an ever-growing allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 12:31, John 3:3, John 13:34-35, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:9-10, Romans 8:1, Romans 10:9-18, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, Ephesians 2:1-7, Ephesians 2:11-16, Colossians 1:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11, 1 John 4:20-21
Article 10. Concerning the Church
We believe the church of Jesus Christ was inaugurated at Pentecost and must be considered in two aspects: the local church and the universal church, which is the entire company of believers in Christ. A local church is an organized assembly of baptized believers, united by a commitment to the faith, fellowship, proclamation of the gospel, prayer, and observing the ordinances of believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. The local church regularly gathers in the presence of one another for worship, hearing God’s Word, meeting the needs of one another, and the mutual edification of one another. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Under him, there are two offices in the local church. The office of spiritual leadership and the ministry of the Word is called elder, overseer, or pastor. The office of service is called deacon. The New Testament delegates headship and authority of the local church to qualified men.
Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Titus 1:5-9, Philippians 1:1, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-45, Acts 11:15-16, Ephesians 1:22-23, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Article 11. Concerning Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, representing the believer’s death to sin, their resurrection to new life, and their union to Christ and his death, burial and resurrection. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s death to be observed by believers until his return and should be preceded by honest self-examination and confession of sins.
Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-47, Acts 8:36-39, Romans 6:3-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
Article 12. Concerning Angels
We believe God created spirit beings called angels to worship and serve him. One of these angels became proud and rebelled against God. God judged this angel along with many other angels who followed his rebellion. Those who rebelled are demons, and their leader is Satan or the accuser. They seek continually to frustrate the purposes of God and to cause mankind to sin against him. Satan’s presence is finite, and his power is limited by our infinite, reigning God. Christ defeated Satan and demons on the cross and therefore, God exalted Christ to his own right hand in the heavenly places above all rule, authority, power, and dominion. Satan’s plans will ultimately fail, and God will condemn him with the other demons to the lake of fire which he prepared for them.
2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Ephesians 1:20-21, Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 12:9, Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 12:22, Ezekiel 28:11-19, 2 Kings 6:16-17, Job 1:12, Job 2:6, Isaiah 14:12-17, Colossians 2:15, Revelation 20:10
Article 13. Concerning the Lord’s Triumph
We believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to take his saints to be with him. The Lord Jesus Christ will return bodily at the second coming to earth in power and glory where he will manifest his earthly kingdom reign in the presence of all. Satan, after leading a final rebellion, will be cast into the lake of fire, along with death, hell, and the unrighteous dead. The Lord Jesus in triumph will judge the whole world.
There will be a future bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. The just, those who have been redeemed, will spend eternity in full enjoyment of God’s presence. The unjust, those who through impenitence and unbelief in their earthly life refused to accept God’s offer of mercy, will spend eternity in everlasting, conscious punishment. We believe the final destiny of the righteous saints is the new heaven and new earth where God will dwell with humanity for all eternity and God’s glory will radiate through all creation.
Psalm 16:11, Daniel 12:2-3, John 5:28-29, Matthew 24:36-42, Matthew 25:46, Acts 1:11, Acts 17:31, Romans 2:16, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10, 2 Peter 3:1-10, Zechariah 14:4-11, Revelation 19:13-16, Revelation 20:1-15, Revelation 21:1