Grace Brethren Church of Chico

The Bible

The Bible is the Word of God, the sixty-six Books of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired and wholly without error as originally given of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

One God

The One True God is existing eternally as three persons – The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Jesus Christ

His preexistence and deity (John 1:1-3). His incarnation by the virgin birth (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18-23). His sinless life (Hebrews 4:1-5). His substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21). His bodily resurrection (Luke 23:36-43). His ascension into heaven and present ministry (Hebrews 4:14-16). He is coming again (Acts 1:11).

Second Coming

The personal, visible and imminent return of Christ to remove His Church from the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10). After the tribulation period He will descend with the church to establish His millennial kingdom upon the earth (Revelation 10:11 – 20:6).

The Holy Spirit

His personality (John 16:7-15). His deity (Acts 5:3-4). His work in each believer baptism and indwelling (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9). His filling (Ephesians 3:16; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-23).

Satan

His existence and personality as the great adversary of God and His people (Revelation 12:1-10). His judgment (John 12:31). His final doom (Revelation 20:10).

Man

He was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). His subsequent fall into sin resulting in spiritual death (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12). The necessity of the new birth for his salvation (John 3:3-5).

Salvation

It is a complete and eternal salvation by God’s grace alone, received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:19).

Christian Life

It is a life of righteousness, good works and separation unto God from the evil ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2). It is manifested by speaking truth, maintaining the sanctity of the home, and settling differences between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (James 5:12; Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). The Christian is not to engage in carnal strife but to show a Christ-like attitude toward all men and women, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit and maintaining a life of prayer, including the privilege, when sick, of calling for the elders of church to pray and to anoint with oil in the name of the Lord (Romans 12:17-21; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; James 5:13-18).

The Church

There is one true Church, the body and bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-32). The Church is composed of all true believers of the present age (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The organization of its members in local churches for worship, for edification of believers and for world-wide gospel witness, each local church being autonomous but cooperating in fellowship and work (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Ordinances

The Christian should observe the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ which are: 1) Baptism of believers by triune immersion (Matthew 28:19), and 2) Three-fold Communion (1 Corinthians 11:20-22, 33-34; Jude 12; John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23).

Future Life

The future Life is the conscious existence of the dead, the resurrection of the body, the judgment and reward of believers (Philippians 1:21; Luke 16:19; John 5:28-29; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). There will be eternal life of the saved (John 3:16). There will be judgment and condemnation of unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15). There will be eternal punishment of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).