Grand Crossings Baptist Association Statement of Faith

As an Association of church congregations, we have the following fundamental beliefs about:

God - We believe that there is one God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is the eternal creator of the universe.

Jesus - We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, was wholly God and wholly man, lived a sinless life, died in our place as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, was buried, arose bodily from the grave, and ascended into Heaven. He is the one and only Savior of humanity who will literally return to earth.

Holy Spirit - We believe that God the Holy Spirit is active in convincing unbelievers of their need for salvation and is the Comforter and Guide who lives in every believer.

Bible - We believe that the Bible is the Word of God without any error, the sole authority for life and faith.

Man - We believe that man is a special creation of God, made in His image, but that through the sin of the first man, Adam, mankind fell so that all men are sinners and need salvation.

Salvation - We believe that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, received through repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Assurance - We believe that every person who has truly received salvation is eternally secure in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eternity - We believe that those persons who die in their sins without Christ spend eternity in Hell and those persons who die with their sins forgiven through Christ spend eternity in Heaven.

Baptism and The Lord’s Supper - We believe that water baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ and is by immersion after salvation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is for believers to proclaim Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and future return.

Church - We believe that the church is comprised of all born again believers, primarily represented through a local body of baptized believers with the Lord Jesus Christ as the head and affirm the autonomy of the local church as a sacred trust of God.

Grand Crossings Baptist Association encourages churches to affirm the Articles of Faith as stated in the Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention (2000 or 1963) or other historical confessions of Baptist Faith. However, ultimately, we acknowledge the Bible as the highest authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice.

GRAND CROSSINGS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION VALUES

As we seek to fulfill the mission and vision God has given us as Grand Crossings Baptist Association, we, as an association of churches, agree that the following values will be central in who we are and what we do.

Bible - As the word of God, it is the sole authority without any error of all matters of faith and practice.

Great Commandment -  Loving God through worship. Loving one another through fellowship and ministry.

Great Commission - Loving our world by making disciples and sharing the gospel with others.

Stewardship -  Sharing our resources, talents and spiritual gifts in service to others and for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Truth -  Upholding the reality of the absolute truth of Scripture in matters of conduct and morals.

Sanctity of Life - Affirming that all human life is created by God from conception and, therefore, is precious.

Family -  Strengthening and preserving the traditional family as an institution established by God.