Our doctrinal statement

1What We Believe Concerning the Scriptures

We believe that all sixty-six books of the Bible were originally produced by the supernatural oversight of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God worked through the Bible's human authors in such a way that their own personalities and writing styles were apparent in what they wrote, but at the same time, every word they wrote was the exact word God wanted. Thus the entirety of Scripture is “inspired” or “God-breathed” in the original autographs. Because the Bible is an inspired book, we believe it is without error in its teaching. This would apply to issues of science, history, and ethics, as well as issues of faith. We believe the Bible to be the true centre of Christian unity, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions must be judged. 2 Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; John 10:34-35; 17:17; Matthew 5:17-18; Isaiah 8:20

2What We Believe Concerning the True God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and love, and worthy of all possible honour, confidence and devotion. We believe that the Bible is the only authoritative communication available today concerning the nature and purposes of the true God.

We believe the Bible teaches that God possesses a nature that is unlike anything in His created realm. Theologians refer to this as the Trinity. This means that the one true God exists as three distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one being, undivided in their nature, but distinct in their persons. We believe in the Trinity, not because we can fully explain it, but rather because it is the clear teaching of the Bible which repeatedly affirms that there is but one God, not three, and yet ascribes all of the perfections, powers, and privileges of YHWH God to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Exodus 20:2,3; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:11

3What We Believe Concerning the Person of Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (John 17:5) and therefore one in His being with the Father and the Spirit (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37). By some miracle that can only be described as a mystery, the eternal Son took upon Himself a human nature, and by His own choice limited Himself to the capacities of that nature during His earthly human life (Philippians 2:5-11). This means Jesus had a divine nature (Romans 9:5) and a human nature (1 Timothy 2:5). These two were perfectly united in His person, but in no way mixed so that His deity was diminished or His humanity elevated. Because of this, we understand that the perfect obedience of Christ was not a result of super human powers within Himself, but rather the result of His resolute faith in the Father (1 Peter 2:23, Hebrews 5:7-10) and dependence upon the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:16-19).

We believe the incarnation (taking human flesh) of the Son was accomplished through a miraculous birth. That His mother, Mary, conceived Him while still a virgin in fulfilment of the Scriptures (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, John 1:14).

4What We Believe Concerning the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son. We believe He was active in the creation and that He continues to work in this world in order to fulfil the purposes of the Godhead. We believe the Holy Spirit is the agent of the new birth; that He indwells all believers, that He seals, endues with spiritual gifts, sanctifies, helps and intercedes for the believer. John 14:16; 3:5-6; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; Acts 5:30-32; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 26, 27

5What We Believe Concerning the Devil, or Satan

We believe that Satan is a real, personal, angelic being. He was created holy, and enjoyed heavenly honours; but through pride and ambition he rebelled against God. A host of angels joined him in this rebellion and so became demons. He is now the unholy “god of this world.” We hold him to be the father of lies, the great deceiver of the brethren, and man's great tempter. Though he opposes the plans and purposes of God, his defeat was secured at the cross and he awaits the Day of Judgment and conscription to hell - a place prepared for him and his angels.

Whereas the trend in many churches is to focus attention on exaggerated fears of satanic oppression or demonic possession, we believe that a child of God should concentrate rather on walking in the armour of God (truth, righteousness, salvation, faith, the Word, and the Gospel). The believer is not entitled to bind Satan or rebuke demons, but should direct his or her attention to seeking Christ, who is the essence of the Christian's armour. Our great confidence in this war against Satan is not in our faith which is small, but the promise of God's Word: "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World.” 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:9; 20:1-3, 7-10; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 25:41; Ephesians 2:2; 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:26; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8

6What We Believe Concerning the Creation and Human Life

We believe Genesis 1-3 provides a literal account of the creation of the universe and that this special act of creation occurred within six twenty-four hour days (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6). We reject any attempt to reconcile the account of Genesis with evolutionary theories which explain human origins in terms of change of species or development through great periods of time from lower to higher forms.

The Bible teaches that life is sacred, a gift of God, which begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5). We believe men and women are created in the image of God, and as a result, human existence has greater value and dignity than that of any other part of God's physical creation (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8; James 3:9). Each life is of eternal value and only God has the right to take a human life, except where He has given that right to human government to exercise the restraint of sin (i.e. capital punishment for murder --Genesis 9:4-6; Exodus 21:12-14; Romans 13:1-5).

Thus we view as un-biblical and morally untenable any worldview or action which devalues the life of any human being, takes the life of the innocent (such as abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, and euthanasia), or alters the natural state of human existence (such as human cloning).

7What We Believe Concerning Sin

Sin is a failure to trust and obey God. In the Bible it is portrayed as rebellion against the character, commands, and promises of God (Genesis 3:1-19, Leviticus 16:21, 1 Samuel 15:23, Romans 3:9-18). Sin entered the creation through the angelic and human creatures made by God. Adam and Eve were created as perfect beings with the ability to make moral choices. In exercising this ability they chose to disobey God (Genesis 3:1-6). When they did this, sin contaminated their lives, and through them, it was passed on to the entire human race (Romans 5:12-21). As a result all people are sinners in God's eyes (Romans 3:23).

The effects of sin’s contamination are numerous. They include: physical and spiritual death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Ephesians 2:1-3); separation from loving fellowship with God (Colossians 1:21); the loss of goodness and holiness (Colossians 3:10-12); and a darkening of the mind of unbelievers so they are unable to properly understand truth (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 2:14). The total moral contamination which resulted from Adam's original transgression places all people under the wrath of God, and destines them for everlasting hell (Romans 1:18; Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:18-21). Sin also brought the whole world under the curse of death, pain, and trouble (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22).

8What We Believe about the Saving Work of Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the only source of salvation (Acts 4:12). This salvation is possible because Christ died in the place of sinners on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). This means that the punishment we deserved was poured out on Him; He became our substitute under the wrath of God (Isaiah 53:4-6). As a result God is both JUST (enforcing the penalty against sin), and the Justifier (granting pardon to sinners, Romans 3:21-26). We believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead in triumph over human guilt and sin (1 Corinthians 15:3 & 17). This resurrection was a bodily resurrection which serves as proof that He is in fact the Son of God with the power to save all who call on Him. (Romans 1:1-4; 10:13). We believe that Christ’s perfect life of obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:7; 1 Peter 2:22-24; 1 John 3:5) and substitutionary death (Romans 5:8; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21) provided the “righteousness from God” that provides complete salvation for every sinner who repents and receives by faith this gospel of salvation (Romans 1:16; 3:21-26).

9What We Believe About the New Birth

We believe that in order to be in a positive relationship to God, sinners must be born again (John 3:3-7). This means the sinner, who is dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1-4), is made alive by the Spirit of God. This act of God is based upon the work of Christ and brought about through the grace of God alone (Ephesians 2:4-9). The new birth is instantaneous and not a process (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is not related to any ritual of the church though it is symbolized in believer’s baptism.

We believe in God's electing grace, (Romans 8:29-30). This means the salvation of a sinner results from the grace of God, and in no way depends upon, or results from, any human merit or ability (Titus 3:5). The blessings of this salvation are offered freely to all people in the gospel (Romans 10:11-13; Revelation 22:17). No person who turns to Christ in genuine repentance and faith will be turned away (John 6:37).

We believe that repentance and faith are the only saving response a person can make to the gospel (Mark 1:14-15; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 2:37-41; 3:19). They are produced in the heart by the life giving Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:25-26). Repentance involves deep conviction of one’s guilt before God and a sense of the danger and helplessness that has resulted from this guilt. Faith is confidence in God's promise to save on the basis of Christ's death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Such faith is described as confessing Christ as Lord and believing God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-11).

This saving faith is itself a gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and is effectuated by the convicting and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11; 1 Peter 1:1-2) through the living Word of God (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12). We believe that all who are truly born again are kept eternally by God the Father for Jesus Christ. They cannot under any circumstance lose their salvation (Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:29-30, 35-39; Jude 1; 1 John 5:11-13).

10What We Believe Concerning the Church

We believe in the universal, or invisible, church of Christ. This universal Church is a spiritual organism of which Christ is the head and all true believers from Pentecost to the rapture are members. Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-32

We believe the local church must be a redemptive community where grace governs all relationships (Ephesians 4:1-5; Galatians 5:14-15; Romans 12). It is a community with one goal: to live like sons of God in the midst of this dark world (Ephesians 5:8-17; Hebrews 2:10). It is a community where sinners and saints, without partiality (Matthew 11:28-29; James 2:1-9), are received with love and compassion and where believers are challenged to more fully surrender to the Lordship of Christ over the whole of life (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Peter 3:15). It is a community committed to living and proclaiming the good news of God's grace and forgiveness in Christ (Romans 1:16-17). It is the only institution of divine origin given the responsibility of caring for God's people on earth.

The membership of this community is made up of believers who were baptized by immersion after their conversion (Acts 2:41-42), and have committed themselves to the requirements of membership in this local church. The members of the church have complete authority over the affairs of this church (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 6:1-8). In the exercising of this authority, they are to be free from the interference of any outside hierarchy (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).

11What We Believe Concerning the Ordinances of the Church

We believe the Lord has commanded the local church to administer two ordinances. These are Believer’s Baptism and the Lord's Table. These ordinances are not sacraments, but rather emblems which have the ability to teach and remind the believer of the central features of his or her faith. When they are properly observed, they are a result of grace, and not a means to grace.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water (Acts 8:34-38). Baptism is a picture of the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, and of the believer's identification with Him. (Colossians 2:12). In that Believer’s Baptism is the command of our Lord (Matthew 28:19-20); it is a prerequisite to church membership.

The Lord's Table is a commemoration of our Lord's death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). The fruit of the vine symbolizes the blood of Christ shed for the remission of sin (Matthew 26:26-29). The bread symbolizes the body of Christ broken upon the cross as an atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world (Mark 14:22).

12What We Believe Concerning the Leadership of the Church

We believe that the local church has two leadership offices (1 Timothy 3:1-13). They are the offices of pastor and deacon. These offices have separate and distinct roles and responsibilities within the body, and are ordained by Christ in order to provide for the care of His people.

In the New Testament the term pastor is used interchangeably with the terms bishop and elder (Acts 20:17 compared to 20:28). We do not believe these refer to three separate offices, but to three different ways of viewing the one office. The term pastor means "shepherd" and it refers to the primary function of this office, that of shepherding the flock. The term bishop means overseer. It reminds us that the pastor will give an account to Christ for his oversight or leadership of the flock (Hebrews 13:17). The term elder indicates this office should not be held by a novice, rather a pastor must be spiritually mature enough to have the wisdom and knowledge necessary to encourage, counsel, rebuke, teach, and lead his flock by “rightly dividing the Word or truth” and applying it compassionately (1 Peter 5:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 1:5-9).

The second Biblical office of the New Testament local church is that of deacon. This office is distinct from, and subject to the oversight responsibilities of the pastor. It is to be held by men of godly character who are married to women who are trustworthy and not given to gossip.

The function of the deacons is not specifically spelled out in the New Testament. If Acts 6:1-7 refers to the office of the deacon (the term deacon is not used in that passage), then their role is to assist the pastor in ways he feels are necessary. This will enable the pastor to focus his attention upon the ministry of the Word and prayer. The deacons are not a ruling administrative board of the church. Because of the importance of their ministry, it is essential that the deacons meet the spiritual requirements set out in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

13What We Believe Concerning the Financial Support of the Church

We believe God's people (those who are born again) should support the work of God (Malachi 3:10). Each member of a local assembly has a responsibility to give proportionally from their income to the financial needs of that assembly. Christian giving must be voluntary, and without constraint or supervision. It should be liberal, and in accordance with the pattern of giving found in the Bible. A believer's giving should demonstrate loyalty, sacrifice, and commitment to the local church of which he or she is a member. Galatians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 8-9

We do not believe lost people should be solicited to support the local church through sales, fetes, or other such methods which indicate the people of God are not able or willing to support God's work. 2 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 7:2-4; Acts 4:34-37

14What We Believe Concerning Biblical Separation

We believe every Christian must be separated from the evil practices and beliefs of the world (1 John 2:15-17). With the aid of the Holy Spirit, a believer is to live in Christian love and holiness (Ephesians 5:1-21; Galatians 5:13-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8) exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). He or she must purpose to avoid every kind of evil (Ephesians 5:3-20), and to refrain from practices which may lead a weaker brother or sister to return to a life of sin (Romans 14:19-21; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13).

We believe that in order to maintain the purity of the local church, we must separate from apostasy as exemplified in ecclesiastical organizations which include liberals and those who sanction theological compromise (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:15-19; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9-11). For this reason, the Grace Baptist Church will not associate with the World Council of Churches, the South African Council of Churches, the Baptist World Alliance, or other ecumenical or charismatic groups. This belief is based upon God's eternal principle of division between truth and error, and His specific command to be separate from unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) and disobedient brethren (Matthew 18:15; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7-13; Titus 3:10). This truth is to be practiced with an attitude of devotion to God, humility, compassion and yet with conviction (Matthew 10:34-39).

15What We Believe Concerning Civil Government

We believe that civil government is ordained by God. The State's God given responsibility is to maintain moral and social order, and to uphold the dignity of human life (Romans 13:1-7; Genesis 9:6). Christians are commanded to honour, obey and pray for the legitimate representatives of the State (Acts 23:5). However, when political authorities seek to restrict the exercise of Christian conscience, the believer is to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

We believe in the necessary separation of the Church and the State. Yet it is not the responsibility of the civil authorities to support, or dictate to the church; nor is it correct for the church to have an institutional control over the State. This does not mean that the State should be free from the influence of God's Word. It does mean this influence should be brought to bear by the lives and actions of individual Christians as citizens and that it should not arise from institutional structures between the church and the State. Matthew 22:21

16What We Believe Concerning Tongues, Signs and Wonders

We believe the Scriptures teach that in the opening years of the Church Age the Holy Spirit gave special spiritual gifts to individual believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31). Among these were the gifts of tongues, the interpretation of tongues, healing, prophecy, and knowledge (1 Corinthians 12-14). These unique gifts had an important but temporary role in the transitional period between Old Testament Judaism and the Christian Church. By the close of the first century AD, and in conjunction with the completion of the New Testament, these sign gifts ceased.

We believe the gift of tongues was the ability to speak real human languages (Acts 2:1-12) and was a sign of judgment against the generation of Jews who rejected Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah (1 Corinthians 14:20-22; Isaiah 28:11-12). Other miraculous sign gifts were the fulfilment of Old Testament promises concerning the credentials of Messiah (Luke 7:18-23; Hebrews 2:3-4). They were given for the benefit of the faithful of Israel as an endorsement of the new message referred to by Paul as a “mystery” (Ephesians 2:20-3:6). These gifts ceased to be necessary once that generation of Israelites had passed (Acts 13:44-52; 1 Corinthians 1:22).

17What We Believe Concerning the Charismatic Movement

We believe the charismatic movement misplaces the focus of the church from Christ and His Lordship to the Holy Spirit and the experience of the individual. It brings confusion and false teaching into a church and it seeks unity upon similar experience rather than upon doctrinal purity. It is ecumenical in nature and has a tendency to accept false teachers and strange practices without Biblical discernment. (2 Timothy 1:14, 4:1-5)

18What We Believe Concerning the Return of Jesus Christ

We believe in the bodily, personal, and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ to this earth. He will return to set up the literal Davidic/Messianic Kingdom (Revelation 19:11-21). It is this kingdom which was promised in the Old Testament, offered to Israel during Christ's earthly ministry, and temporarily set aside during the Church age (Romans 11). We believe that His return will be preceded by seven years of great tribulation on the earth (Matthew 24:29-30). This time is also known as Daniel's Seventieth Week (Daniel 9:20-27). Prior to this time of tribulation, Jesus will return in the clouds to catch away His church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Matthew 25:1-13). This is commonly referred to as the pre-tribulation rapture.

19What We Believe Concerning the Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection. Both believers and unbelievers will receive resurrection bodies which shall be everlasting (John 6:40, 44, 54; 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15). Christians will be raised at the time of the rapture and caught up with the transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Old Testament saints will be raised at the end of the tribulation (Daniel 12:13). Unbelievers will be resurrected after the millennium to face their final judgment (Revelation 20:11-12).

20What We Believe Concerning Marriage, Divorce, and Re-marriage

We believe the family is an institution of divine origin and design. By God's design, families are a union of one man and one woman joined in a monogamous covenantal relationship “until death do us part.” (Gen. 2:18-24)

We believe that the marriages of believers are to illustrate the loving relationship of Christ and His church, with the husband loving his wife as Christ loves the church and the wife responding to her husband’s loving leadership as the church responds to Christ its head. (Eph. 5:18-33)

We believe that as believers’ marriages are to illustrate Christ’s relationship with His church, believers should choose to marry those who share their faith and regenerate life (2 Cor. 6:14)

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is a “until death do us part” union sanctioned by God which joins one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union where the two become one flesh, as delineated in scripture. (Gen. 2:22-24)

We believe that marriage is always a public, formal, and officially recognized covenant between a man and a woman. We teach that without such a covenant, which may include a “common law marriage,” where valid in specific cases under pertinent law, prolonged conjugal cohabitation does not establish, and is not equivalent to, marriage. (John 4:18)

We believe that where a valid marriage has been established prior to coming to faith in Christ, the couple should remain married. (1 Cor. 7:24)

We believe that God hates divorce, permitting it only where there has been unrepentant sexual sin (Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:32; 19:9) or desertion by an unbeliever (1 Cor. 7:12-15).

We believe that every married couple should be counselled towards repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, with eagerness of remaining faithful to their marriage covenant. (Eph. 4:31-32; 5:1-4; 33)

We believe that remarriage is permitted to a faithful partner, but only when the divorce was on biblical grounds of sexual infidelity or abandonment. (Matt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:12-15)

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We teach that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:1-3)

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, paedophilia, pornography, any attempt to change one’s sex or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is not only sinful and offensive to God (1 Thess. 4:1-8; Eph. 5:3-12), but also brings judgment against one’s own body (1 Cor. 6:18).

We believe that homosexuality, in particular, is subject to God’s wrath of abandonment, is a matter of choice and not an inherited status, and epitomizes man’s ungrateful rebellion against God (Rom 1:18-28).