Our Statement of Faith

Our Mission:  We are a congregation united in love for God and one another.  We believe in sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with all who are willing to hear our message of hope and salvation.  We also put our faith in action by serving others. To Glorify God by Worshiping Him, Loving One Another and Making His Disciples.

The Gospel:  As members of Grace Baptist Church, we acknowledge God, Jehovah as sovereign over all creation.  We affirm that in love He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the atoning sacrifice for sin, and all who believe in Him have forgiveness of sin, everlasting life and the indwelling by the Holy Spirit.  Because of receiving these gifts, Jesus is Lord in our lives, and our relationship with Him takes precedence over all else.

The Scriptures:  We affirm that His inspired written Word is completely without any error on any subject it mentions and is, therefore, authoritative in our lives, both now and for eternity.  We believe in and practice baptism by immersion.

Human Sexuality (cf. Statement X Article 4):  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between one biological man and one biological woman who are married to each other.  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one biological man and one biological woman (1 Timothy. 3:2, 12; Genesis 2:18, 24).

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3-5; Galatians 5:16-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Leviticus 18:22-23; 20:10-17; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Jude 1:7; Genesis 19:1-11; Revelations 22:15). Therefore, the use of all church facilities, including restrooms, should agree with this biblical understanding of human sexuality.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)

Ordinances: 

Baptism: The church shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who will profess publicly his or her faith in Christ and who is committed to follow Christ as our Lord. Baptism shall be by immersion in water.

The Lord’s Supper: The church shall observe the Lord’s Supper from time to time as scheduled by the Deacons. The pastor and Deacons shall administer the Lord’s Supper. The Deacons shall be responsible for the physical preparations.

Sanctity Of Marriage:  Biblical Marriage unites one biological man and one biological woman in a lifetime commitment to each other (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6).  Marriage provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression (Genesis 2:25; Ephesians 5:31-33), procreation, and reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Genesis 1:28; Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5).  A husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ loved the church.  A wife is commanded to submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). Parents are instructed to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one legitimate meaning, which comes from the Bible, and that is the joining of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, covenantal union. (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6–9; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22–23). Whenever there is a conflict between this institution’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, Grace Baptist’s Church Statement of Faith will govern our practices (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6–9; 1 Corinthians 7:10, Ephesians 5:22–23). We believe it is God’s intention that those who enter marriage shall seek in mutual love and respect, to live, one biological man and one biological woman, in Christian fidelity as long as both shall live (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Mark 10:9; Luke 16:18).

Sanctity of Life:

Abortion: We believe that human life begins at fertilization and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn God-given human life. God is the author of life and death. Therefore, abortion is murder. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14–16; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15–18; Luke 1:44)

Euthanasia: We believe that God is the author of life and death. The direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from fertilization to natural death. (Exodus 20:13; 23:7; Matthew 5:21; Acts 17:28)

Gender Relationships:  We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is the head of his household, serving as a shepherd/leader in the home. Likewise, only biological men are to hold the offices of authority in the church. Accordingly, only biological men are eligible for pastoral licensure and ordination by the church and qualified to exercise their authority by leading mixed adult worship services and adult Christian education classes. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8–15; 3:4–5, 12)

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood:  We believe that men and women were created in the image and likeness of God, equally blessed, and given dual responsibility over the created order (Genesis 1:26–28). We believe the Bible teaches that as part of the created order, distinctions in masculine and feminine roles were ordained by God, with Adam’s headship in marriage being established before the Fall (Genesis 2:16–18; 21–24; 3:1–13; 1 Corinthians 11:7–9). As such, we are dedicated to the biblical view of men and women and their relationship to each other in the home and church. Although men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, God has ordained distinct and separate functions for men and women in the church and home (1 Timothy 2:11–12). We affirm that God has honored women with many ministry opportunities within the church, parachurch organizations and ministries, educational institutions and mission agencies, but has appointed biological men and biological men only to the authoritative teaching role of the elder/pastor position within the local church.

Statement on Human Sexuality is adopted from the Nashville Statement and based on the following Scriptures:  Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-24; Exodus 20:14; 20:17; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:18, 21; 22:5; Judges 19:22; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:15; Job 31:1; Palm 51:1-19; Proverbs 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27; Isaiah 59:1; Malachi 2:14; Matthew 5:27–30; 19:4-6, 8-9, 12; Acts 15:20, 29; Romans 1:26–27; 1:32; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18-20; 7:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 4:15, 20–24; 5:31–32; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:9–10, 15; 2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:11-12; Hebrews 13:4; James 1:14–15; 1 Peter 2:11; Jude 7

Affiliations:  Grace Baptist Church may, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the kingdom of God.  Such organizations have no authority over each other or over the churches.  They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner.  Grace Baptist Church will cooperate and mutually work with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and The Southern Baptist Convention. We therefore affirm the “Baptist Faith and Message” adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 as our larger Statement of Faith with scriptural references.