Regular Baptists

We are committed to the Historical Position of Baptists as expressed by the Philadelphia Association when in 1742 they adopted the London Confession of Faith of 1689.  The English Baptist were called Particular Baptists because they held to Particular Redemption, i.e., Christ died so as to actually secure the salvation of the elect.  This as opposed to those General Baptists who held that Christ died to make possible the salvation for all men every where but did not actually secure the salvation of any.  The Baptists in America who held the "Particular Baptist" position came to be known as "Regular Baptists."  Grace Fellowship Baptist Church stands in that tradition.  We are Regular Baptists in the Historic sense.  See Section 4 of our Doctrinal Statement below.

Doctrinal Statement

1. We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. 

2. We believe that there is one living and true God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are equal and perfect in every divine attribute, and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. 

3. We believe that God the Father is spirit and that in the Godhead He occupies a functional but not a positional superiority, and that it is to the glory of the Father that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

4. We believe that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, miracles, and the truth of His teachings. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins having secured the salvation of all the Father has given Him, according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where, at the right hand of the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. 

5. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus, and to convict men of sin, righteousness and judgment. He regenerates (gives spiritual life in Jesus Christ), sanctifies (sets apart for holy living), and indwells every believer. His ministry includes the provision of comfort, guidance, instruction, and enables men for godly living and service. The miraculous sign gifts given during the early days of the Church were for a special time and purpose, and not intended to be a pattern for the present day. (John 3:5-7; 16:8-11,14: Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:7,13; II Corinthians 3:18; 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4; 9:22).

 

6. We believe that man was created by God in His image. By willful transgression man fell into sin and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are sinners by nature and choice, positively inclined to evil, and under the condemnation of a holy God. (Genesis 1:27; 3:1-6; 3:9-23; Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 5:10-19).

 

7. We believe that the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only basis for the justification and salvation of all who believe. (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

Regeneration

Only those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit receive Jesus Christ by faith, are the children of God, a relationship in which they are eternally secure; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; and is effected in a manner above our comprehension or calculation, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel. The true evidence of this new relationship appears in fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life. (John 1:12,13; 3:3-8,16; 10:27-30; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; I John 3:6-7).

Repentance and Faith.

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-7)

Divine Sovereign Election

We believe that all men are totally depraved, without ability to come to God, and are hopelessly lost, but that God, in sovereign grace, and apart from any consideration of foreseen human merit or response, and in perfect consistency with human responsibility, chose some before the foundation of the world, to be recipients of His grace in Christ. As the Gospel is preached to all nations, these elect ones are caused to hear it and the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, so that they freely and gladly receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, thus becoming children of God.

(1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 2:1-3, John 7:44,65; Acts 13:48; Romans 9:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-6.)

8. We believe that Satan, the prince of this world, is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he and all his cohorts will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Matthew 4:1-11; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).

9. We believe that the true church is composed of all such persons, who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The local church is a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized by immersion on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, spiritual training, fellowship and outreach. (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 10:25).

10. We believe that the New Testament identifies two scriptural offices, those of pastor and deacon.              (I Timothy 3:1-13; only one wife-no divorce).

11. We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Water baptism by immersion soon after receiving Christ as personal Savior is a testimony of identification with Jesus Christ. The Lord's Supper is a memorial service, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; all true believers, and only believers, should share in it. (Matthew 3:16; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:28-32).

12. We believe in the personal, pretribulational, premillenial and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This, our "blessed hope", has a vital bearing on our personal life and service. There will be a bodily resurrection of all the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment. (John 5:28-29; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:11-15).

13. We believe that civil government has been divinely appointed for the good of society. Leaders are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the Scriptures. (Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:10-20; Romans 13:1,7).

14. We believe that the first institution established by God is the family. We commit ourselves to protect the marriage covenant between a man and woman, and maintain moral purity before and during marriage. Parents assume primary responsibility for the spiritual instruction and training for their children. (Genesis 1:27; 2:18; Malachi 3:13-15; Mark 10:7-9; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 13:4).

15. In subscribing to this Doctrinal Statement, we by no means set aside, or diminish any of the Scriptures of the Old, or New Testaments; all of which we believe to be God's own written Word given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The knowledge and belief of the Truth as stated in our Doctrinal Statements we deem necessary to sound doctrine, and therefore essential for Christian fellowship.

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