What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Grace Baptist Church in Winchester, KY based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is informed by these biblical doctrines.

We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are supernaturally inspired by God and do not contain any error or mixture of error. It is the complete, infallible, and final revelation of God to man and the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.

- II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalms 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is eternally existent in three persons the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

- Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 19:1-3; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11, Acts 5:3, 4; John 10:30, 14:9, 10; II Corinthians 13:14.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. He became a man without ceasing to be God through the miracle of the virgin birth. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world by dying on a cross. He arose bodily from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and is our Advocate and Intercessor. He will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

- Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; John 1:1-5; 10:28-30; Acts 2; 18-36; Revelation 19:11-16.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and guidance in doing what is right through the Word of God. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.

- Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-10; Galatians 5:22-23.

We believe that man is the supreme object of God's creation and that he is made in God's image. Although man has tremendous potential for good he became marred by sin through his personal disobedience to God. As a result, all men are sinners by nature and choice and are separated from God.

- Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3.

We believe that salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to find God's forgiveness and be saved from the penalty of sin. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ into their life.

- John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 6:23, 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9.

We believe that because God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ every believer is secure for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.

- John 6:37-40, 10:29; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 4:30; II Timothy 1:12.

We believe that man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. Those who die without Christ will spend eternity in Hell. Hell is a place of punishment and suffering. Those who die with Christ will spend eternity in Heaven. Heaven is a place of blessing, reward and fellowship with God and all believers.

- Matthew 25:41-46; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:11-15.

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the declared enemy of God and man. He is allowed by God to exist but some day will be defeated by God, judged, and punished in the Lake of Fire forever.

- Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Ephesians 6:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10.

We believe that the Church is a local assembly of baptized believers that meet together for worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. The church is autonomous. It has the absolute right to freely govern itself independent of outside interference. The two officers of the church are pastors and deacons; the two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper.

- Matthew 16:15-19, 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 15:19-31.

We believe in the Genesis account of creation. It is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively. God is the creator of man and the world that He lives in. Evolution is an unscriptural theory of origin.

- Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; John 1:1-3; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3.

We believe in the personal imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture His Church before the Tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation He will return to the earth to establish his kingdom. All believers will rule and reign with Him.

- Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6.