Here at GRBC we believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God and is the basis for any statement of faith. We do however adopt, as an appropriate expression of our faith, the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689.  We, in no way, elevate this confession of faith to the authority of the infallible Word of God.  Rather, we view it as an assistance in controversy and a confirmation in faith.

We also have a summary or our faith in the following articles:

I.  THE SCRIPTURES:  The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

II.  GOD:  There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. 

III.  THE TRINITY:  God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal functional activities, but without division of nature, essence, or being. 

IV. CREATION: God created all that now exists in six days and from nothing, and it was all very good. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acted together in the work of creation. Out of all living things, only man was created in God's image, and He assigned to each a biological gender, "male and female He created them. And God granted man dominion over all lesser forms of life and over the earth itself. (Gen 1:1; 1:27 John 1:2-3; Heb 1:2)

V. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE: All human life is sacred and created by God in His image.  Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other state or condition from conception through natural death.  We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139; Deut 10:18)

VI. PROVIDENCE:  God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. 

VII. ELECTION:  Election is God's eternal choice of some people for everlasting life - not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ – resulting in their calling, justification, and glorification. 

VIII. THE FALL OF MAN:  God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness.  Subsequent generations having inherited a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation.

IX. THE MEDIATOR:  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man.  Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law and suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He perpetually lives to make intercession for His people.  He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.

X. REGENERATION:  Regeneration is a change of heart, accomplished by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit renews spiritual life in the elect of God, who were dead in their trespasses and sins, but now have their minds spiritually and savingly enlightened to understand the Word of God.   With their renewed nature, they progressively love and practice holiness. Regeneration is a work of God's free and special grace alone. 

XI. REPENTANCE:  Repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person is, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the many evils of his sin.  As a result, he humbles himself with godly sorrow, sincerely detests and abhors his sin, and purposefully and resolutely walks before God so as to please Him in all things. 

XII. FAITH:  Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and leads to a life of holiness. 

XIII. JUSTIFICATION:  Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all their sin.  This is done through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything produced in them or done by them.   But because of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receive and rest on Him and His righteousness by faith. 

XIV. SANCTIFICATION:  Those who have been regenerated are also being progressively sanctified, by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is accomplished through the supply of divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in sincere obedience to all Christ's commands. 

XV. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS:  Those whom God has elected, regenerated, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but will certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin and grieve the Spirit and even bring reproach on the Church and themselves, they will repent and be renewed again, and be kept by God’s power through faith to salvation. 

XVI. THE CHURCH: A local church is a visible representation of the body of Christ and is under the authority of Christ alone. Nevertheless, in every local church, qualified elders are appointed to serve Christ as they care for His body. Qualified deacons are to assist the elders as needs arise. Each member of the church is uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to edify the body. A local church must recognize and fellowship with the universal body of Christ as represented in other true churches.

XVII. BAPTISM:  Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, and conducted in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of a surrendering to God, to live and walk in newness of life. Baptism may only be administered to those who demonstrate repentance from sin and make a credible profession of faith in Christ 

XVIII. THE LORD'S SUPPER:  The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the symbols of bread and wine. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to remember and commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him.

XIX. THE RESURRECTION:  The bodies of humans after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God - the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness for the final judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised and united with their spirits. 

XX. THE JUDGMENT:  God has appointed a day when He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, and everyone will receive what is due according to their deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life. 

XXI. EVANGELISM: It is the calling of every local church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. It is a priority in evangelism to unite new believers with local churches.

XXII. THE FAMILY: God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. God has created marriage to be the uniting of one [biological] man and one [biological] woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime, and it is intended to portray the relationship between Christ and His church. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord, and parents are to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

XXIII. LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE:  God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men.  Civil magistrates are ordained of God, and so Christians should subject themselves to all lawful things commanded by them, unless they violate the laws established by God. 

XXIV. THE GLORY OF GOD: Christians must live for God's glory alone through their awareness and enjoyment of His Person, submission to His authority, and reliance upon His goodness. In truth, all things that have or will transpire, serve to glorify God as their highest purpose. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen