Girard Bible Church Statement of Faith

1. About God

We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is an infinite, all knowing Spirit who is perfect in all His attributes. God has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and one in essence.

(Gen 1:1; Psa 90:2; 103:19; Isa 40:13; 55:8-9; 1 Tim 6:15-16; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2)

God the Father

We believe God the Father personally and lovingly governs His creation according to His purposes and grace. He is sovereign in creation, redemption, and providence, working all things after the counsel of His will. Yet, He is neither the author or approver of sin, and thereby does not remove the moral responsibility of people in their decisions and actions.

(Gen 50:20; Psa 115:3; Dan 4:34-35; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 17:26-28; Rom 11:36; Eph 1:11; Hab 1:13; 1 Pet 1:17)

God the Son

We believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Promised Christ (Messiah), the Son of God. He is co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He was virgin born, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate His power over sin and death and to be the first-fruits of the resurrection of all believers. He ascended into Heaven and will personally and physically come again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Isa 9:6; John 1:1-5; 10:30; 1 John 5:20; Matt 1:18-25; Rom 1:3-4; John 3:16; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Heb 4:14-15; 1 Cor 15:20-23; Acts 1:9-11; Rev 19:11-16)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He is present to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ. He indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers, equips, and seals every believer unto the day of redemption.

(John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; John 3:5-8; 1 Cor 12:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:12; 3:16; Eph 1:13-14)

2. About the Bible

We believe the Bible is God's special revelation of Himself as His complete written word given in sixty-six books, which men wrote under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Every word in the original manuscripts is wholly inerrant, authoritative, necessary, and sufficient for Christian beliefs and living.

(Psa 19:7-11; 119:105, 160; Prov 30:5; John 17:17; 2 Tim 1:13; 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21)

3. About Humanity

We believe that human beings—created male and female—are the supreme objects of God’s creation, being made in the image of God. Because the first man, Adam, sinned, all people are sinners by nature and by choice, being spiritually dead and falling short of God’s glory. Because of our sin we are separated from God and subject to His righteous wrath.

(Gen 1:26-27; Psa 8:3-8; Gen 3:6, 17-19; Rom 5:12, 19; Eph 2:1-3; Rom 3:23; Rev 20:11-15)

4. About Salvation

We believe that salvation is provided in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is granted by God’s grace apart from any consideration of personal works. It is received through personal repentance from sin and faith in the Person of Jesus, His sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is eternally secured by God, which includes present justification and future glorification.

(John 14:6; Eph 2:4-9; Titus 3:4-5; John 1:12; Acts 20:21; Rom 6:23; 10:5-13; John 3:16; 1 Pet 1:3-5)

5. About Sanctification

We believe sanctification is the process of becoming like Christ, which begins when a person repents and believes, and is completed at the return of Christ. This pursuit of holiness is grounded in the merits of Christ’s righteousness and enabled by the indwelling Spirit who empowers our efforts to put off sin and put on righteousness.

(1 Cor 1:2, 30; Heb 10:14; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Rom 5:18-19; 6:1-4; Rom 8:1-8; Gal 5:16-23; Col 3:8-17; 2 Pet 1:2-8)

6. About the Church

We believe the universal Church consists of all believers who have placed their personal faith in Jesus Christ. The Church is expressed in self-governed local assemblies of believers that are under the supreme headship of Jesus Christ and gather as worshipping, edifying, equipping, and disciple-making communities. There are two ordinances commanded by the Lord to be practiced by the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

(1 Cor 12:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:22; Eph 4:11-16; Matt 28:19-20; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26)

7. About the Last Things

We believe in the imminent and physical return of Jesus Christ to gather all believers, judge all unbelievers, establish His kingdom, and subsequently usher in the new heavens and new earth. After death, all persons will be resurrected physically and exist eternally in a physical environment: believers unto blessing and eternal life with God, unbelievers unto judgment and the wrath of God in the Lake of Fire forever.

(Rev 19:11–21:4; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 1 Pet 1:3-5; 2 Thess 1:9; Rev 14:9-11; 20:11-15)