GNBC's Statement of Faith
1. We believe the 66 books (39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament) of the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. They are fully innerrant in their original manuscripts. They are superior to all human authority. We believe that the canon of the Church is closed and that the Holy Spirit is no longer granting new revelation that is equal in authority to the Holy Scriptures. (II Tim. 3:16; Ps. 19; II Pet. 1:19,21; Ex. 4:15; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; Lk. 24:27,44; Heb. 1:1-2; Eph. 2:20; Jn. 5:39; Rom. 3:2)
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons of one essential nature, power, and eternity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Jn. 4:24; Mt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; Mk. 12:29; Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 5:3-4; Jn. 5:23; I Jn. 5:7)
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory. (Mt. 28:19; Ps. 2:7; Jn. 1:18; 8:58; Lk. 19:10; Heb. 13:8; Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:35; Mt. 1:23; Jn. 1:14; II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:22; Heb. 2:14 –17; I Jn. 3:5; Col. 2:9; Rev. 22:16; Heb. 4:15; Jn. 8:46; Phil. 2:8; Jn. 20:25-28; Heb. 2:14, 16-17; 4:14; Acts 1:9; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; I Jn. 2:1; Acts 1:1; Jn. 14:3; Acts 15:14-16; Rev. 20:4-6)
4. We believe that all men in their natural state are lost, alienated from God, spiritually dead: "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). We believe that although man was created in perfection, he sinned in Adam, and has become morally responsible for his actions. As a result of original sin, man is unable to attain to the standard required by God. (Gen. 1:26, 31; Gen. 3:6, 13; II Cor. 11:3; Eph. 2:1; Rom. 1:18-19; Rom. 3:10-12, 23; Rom. 5:12-21; I Cor. 15:22; I Tim. 2:5)
5. We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. We believe that Christ offered Himself once through His sufferings and meritorious death on the cross. This provided the perfect redemption and atonement for sin, both original and actual. There is no other ground for salvation but Christ alone. The gift of salvation is received when man repents of his sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. (Jn. 1:12; 3:6ff; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 4:12; Rom. 3:23-25; Rom. 5:1, 8; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:1; Eph. 2:8-9; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:15)
6. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (Jn. 3:6; I Cor. 2:10; Titus 3:5; Acts 2:1-4; I Cor. 12:13; Jn. 15:16; 16:14; Rom. 8:9; Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:20, 27; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 8:1-6)
7. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and they that are not unto the resurrection of eternal damnation. (Lk. 23:43; Jn. 14:2-3; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; ICor. 15:25-58; Phil. 3:20-21; IThes. 4:17; Rev. 5:10; 20:6; 22:25)
8. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:12-26; Eph. 2:11-22; Rev. 5:9)
9. We believe there are two ordinances for the Church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These ordinances do not confer salvation. Baptism is a command of our Lord, and is for believers only. Baptism is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return. Through the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup, we remember Christ's wounded body on the cross and the blood that was shed for our sins. (Mt. 28:19; Lk. 22:19-30; Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Acts 2:38; I Cor. 11:17-34; Col. 2:11-12)