Statement of Faith and Doctrine
Grace Bible Fellowship
Pinellas Park, FL

SCRIPTURES
     The entire Bible in its original writings is verbally inspired of God and is of plenary authority. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet.1:21).

THE GODHEAD
     There is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; 1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).

THE PERSON OF CHRIST
     Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true man. (Lk. 1:35; Phil. 2:6-9; Rom. 1:3,4).

TOTAL DEPRAVITY
     All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins and are, therefore, totally unable to do anything pleasing to God. (Eph. 2:1-3, Rom. 3:9-12).

REDEMPTION
     God justifies ungodly sinners by His grace upon the ground of the blood of Christ through the means of faith. This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man's works. (Rom. 3:24-28; 5:1,9; Eph. 2:8,9).

ETERNAL SECURITY
     All of the saved are eternally secure in Christ. (Col. 3:1 -4; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:1,29-34, 38, 39; John 10:27-29; Eph. 1:13,14),

PERSONALITY AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
     The Holy Spirit is a Person, Who convicts the world of sin and Who regenerates, baptizes, indwells, enlightens, and empowers (John 16:8; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13, 17, 18; 3:16).

THE CHURCH
     In the present dispensation there is only ONE true Church, which is called the Body of Christ (1 Cot. 12:13; Eph. 1:22, 23; 3:6; Col. 1:24). The historical manifestation of the Body of Christ began with the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first epistle (1 Thess. 2:14-16 cf. Acts 13:45,46; Phil. 1;5, 6 cf. Acts 16; 1 Cor. 12:13, 27 cf. Acts 18).

BAPTISM
     All saved persons have been made members of the Body of Christ by one divine baptism. By that one spiritual baptism every member of the Body of Christ is identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3,4).

LORD'S SUPPER
     The communion of the Lord's Supper as revealed through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is for members of the Body of Christ to observe "until He comes."

GIFTS
     Gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those enumerated in Eph. 4:7-16 and Rom. 12:4-13. All of the sign gifts of the Acts period, such as tongues, prophecy, and healing (1 Cor. 12:1-31) given for the confirmation of the Word (Heb. 2:3,4) being temporary in character, have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-11).

RESURRECTION
     Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead (Lk. 24:39-43). Therefore (1 Cor. 15:21), all men will have a bodily resurrection (Acts 24:15): the saved to everlasting glory and the unsaved to eternal separation from Christ (John 5:29; Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Thess. 1:9).

RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
     The rapture of the Church and the second coming of Christ will be pre-millennial. He will come first to receive the Church unto Himself (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20, 21) and then come to receive His Millennial Kingdom, over which He will reign (Zech. 14:4-9; Acts 1:10, 11; Rev. 19:11- 16; 20:4-6). Because of the nature of the Body of Christ, the resurrection and rapture of the Church, which is His body, will take place before the Great Tribulation (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15-31) at His appearing in the air (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20,21; Titus 2:13,14; 1 Cor. 15:51-53). The resurrection of the other saved dead will occur after the Tribulation (Rev. 20:4-6).

MISSION
     The mission and commission of the Church, which is His Body, is evangelism and edification (2 Cor. 5:14-21; Eph. 3:8,9; 4:12,13; 2 Tim. 2:15).