OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Grace Biblical Seminary (GBS) is a Christ-centered institution of higher theological education. It is unwavering in its belief that the following doctrinal statements are foundational and immovable anchors that protect against forms of biblical and theological drift in an ever-changing culture and world.

 

All faculty and those serving Grace Biblical Seminary are required to affirm the seminary’s doctrinal beliefs without mental reservation. 

 

Applicants may not agree with every statement; however, all applicants are expected to believe the fundamental doctrine it affirms. 

Doctrinal Statement
The Bible


We believe that the words of the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are “God-breathed.” They give humankind His authoritative revelation, wholly without error of any kind on every topic discussed in the original writings. We believe that the Bible must be interpreted as language is normally used, recognizing the importance of dispensational distinctions. (Psalm 12:6; 119:89, 130; 160; Isaiah 40:8; 55:8-11; Luke 24:27, 44-47; John 5:39, 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13; Ephesians 1:10; 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:10-12, 23-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21)


God


We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality and with each having specific work to perform. We believe that God is a personal being who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. (Matthew 3:16; John 10:30; 14:10; 14:26; 15:26; Ephesians 1:3-4; 6-7; 13-14)


Jesus Christ


We believe that God the Son, Jesus Christ, became flesh through His miraculous conception in a virgin by the Holy Spirit and His birth. He is, therefore, perfect and complete deity and perfect humanity, these being united without mixture in one person forever. We believe that He lived a sinless life and voluntarily and vicariously paid for the sins of all mankind by dying on the cross. We believe in the resurrection of His crucified body, in His ascension to heaven, in His present ministries in heaven, and in his future literal return to the earth. (Psalm 2:7; 110; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-25; 28:19; Luke 1:26-35; 2:52; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16; 8:58; 10:30; 17:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Galatians 4:4; Philippians

2:5-8; Colossians 1:14, 15-17; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3, 6, 8-12; 4:15; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:22; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:16; 4:10, 5:20; Revelation 1:17-18; 19-20)


The Holy Spirit

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and that He has come to reveal and glorify Christ, to convict sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgment, to regenerate, indwell, seal, and baptize believers into the body of Christ, impart gifts to believers, and to enable them to live holy lives. (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 1:18- 20; 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 1:13; 3:3-8; 6:63; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7- 15, 13; Acts 2:1-4; 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:9,10, 12; 6:19; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:22; 4:30; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 John 2:20, 27)


Creation

 

We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be understood historically and literally and not allegorically or figuratively. We believe that man was created in the image of God and that the first man, Adam, sinned, bringing spiritual death to all, who, therefore, stand condemned and in need of Christ’s salvation. (Genesis 1; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-20; Romans 5:12; Romans 7)

Salvation

 

We believe that God saves by grace alone, apart from works (whether past or future), those who put their faith in Christ alone as God and Savior from sin. Initial faith resulting in justification and regeneration is not a gift of God. That is, fallen humanity when persuaded by the illuminating and convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit and the drawing ministry of the Father still possesses the capacity to believe in Christ. Such faith precedes regeneration. At the moment of belief, Christ imputes His righteousness to believers and keeps them secure eternally. Based on the promises of God (not works), we believe a person can and should have complete assurance of his or her Eternal Life the moment he or she believes in Christ. (Isaiah 55:8- 11; Matthew 4:4; 26:28; John 1:4, 9, 12; 3:5, 16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; 14:6; 16:8; 17:17; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31; Romans 1:7, 16-17; 3:22, 26; 4:4-5; 5:1, 6-9; 6:11-13, 23; 8:2-4, 9, 12-13, 29-30, 32; 10:4, 17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 8; 6:11; 12:13; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:21; 7:1; Galatians 2:16; 5:13-26; 6:15; Ephesians 1:3, 7; 2:8-9; 4:22-24; Philippians 3:4-9; Colossians 1:22; 2:6, 10; 3:1-7, 16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:3-4; 5:23; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 4:12, 10:10, 14; 12:14; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2:2, 11; 1 John 1:5-7; 3:2, 5-9; 5:13; Jude 24)


The Christian Walk

 

We believe that although sinless perfection is not possible in this life, all believers are called to live holy lives in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (John 17:17; Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:13-25; Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 1 John 3:2)



The Future

 

We believe that the personal and imminent return of Christ to rapture His church will be followed by a period of tribulation on this earth. At the conclusion of this period, Christ will return triumphantly and inaugurate His millennial reign over this earth. We believe in the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved in the New Jerusalem and the everlasting conscious punishment of the unsaved in the lake of fire. (Matthew 24:21, 29-30; 25:31, 46; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10;20:1-6,11-15)


Satan

 

We believe that at some time in the past Satan led a rebellion, including a host of angels, against God and was expelled from the heavenly kingdom. Satan, also called other names including the Devil, is a real being who has tremendous, but limited power, and is the true adversary to God’s people. Satan is destined to be judged and will endure eternal punishment in the lake of fire. (Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20: 1-3

OUR
GOSPEL
CLARIFICATION

The current theological climate has revealed some errors that are having harmful effects upon people’s understanding of the gospel. With no animosity toward persons, we humbly but resolutely stand against the theological errors propagated by what has become known as:

 

Lordship Salvation

We repudiate Lordship Salvation because it contradicts the clear biblical truth that eternal salvation does not require any human works but is solely by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16,18; Romans 3:24; 4:4-6; 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 21).

   

Calvinism

We also repudiate what is commonly known as Calvinism, the “Doctrine of Grace,” “Sovereign Grace,” or “Dortian Calvinism.” The Five Points of Calvinism are the heart and soul of classical Reformed Theology to this day.

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