Beliefs:

In matters of doctrine and belief, GBC strives for three things: in essential matters, unity; in nonessential matters, liberty; in all matters, love. We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000. The following Statement of Faith is in harmony with that document.

About Jesus Christ:

We believe Jesus is the divine Son and incarnate Word of God and is co-equal with Him. Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin by dying on the cross. He arose bodily from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and is coming again as King of kings and Lord of lords (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13).

About the Holy Spirit:

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of its need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christians with the power for living, enables understanding of biblical truth, and guides them in righteous living. He provides every Christian with spiritual gifts for service in and building up the church at the moment of salvation. We seek to live under His control daily (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18).

About the Bible:

We believe the Bible is God's revealed Word to humanity and is inspired, infallible, and inerrant. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because the Bible is God’s written Word, it is truth without any mixture of error (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:150, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).

About Human Beings:

We believe people are the special and supreme object of God's creation, made in the image of God. Although every person has great potential for good, all are marred by our own attitude and acts of disobedience against God, called "sin." Sin separates people from God and causes physical and spiritual death, along with many other problems in life (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; 51:1-8, Romans 3:23; 5:12; Isaiah 59:1-2).

About Salvation:

We believe salvation is by grace through faith and is God's free gift to us, but we must voluntarily receive it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus Christ alone as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1).

About Eternal Security:

We believe because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Once genuinely saved, you cannot lose your salvation. Salvation is sustained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. The true believer may fall into sin at times, but he or she will feel conviction, repent, and persevere to the end (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

About Eternity:

We believe human beings were created to exist forever. Believers will live eternally in God’s presence through forgiveness and salvation. Unbelievers will exist eternally separated from God by sin. Both Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence: one of indescribable joy and bliss, the other of conscious punishment (John 3:16; John 14:7; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

About the Church:

We believe the true Church is composed of all who have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. We also believe only members of the true Church are eligible for membership in the local church. God primarily ministers on earth through the local church. Christ is the head of the church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe the local church should be independent, self-governing, and free from any denominational control (Matthew 16:18; 2 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25; Colossians 1:18).

About Baptism:

We believe the Bible teaches Baptism is by immersion, following salvation, as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is the public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that you have already been saved (Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:18-20).

About the Lord's Supper:

We believe Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his death, burial, resurrection, and promised return. The elements of bread and juice are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. It is a testimony of a believer’s faith in the saving work of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29).

About Last Things:

We believe in the bodily return of Jesus to earth. The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all humanity based on their works. Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God. Believers will spend eternity with Him (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-26; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 20:1-22:13).

Affiliations:

Grace Baptist is an autonomous church and maintains the right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denominational control. Recognizing, however, the benefits of cooperation with other churches in world, state, and local missions, the church voluntarily affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and Pee Dee Baptist Association.