GTHM BELIEFS
About the Bible:
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe Scripture originated entirely from God and that it was given through writers inspired by God. Scripture speaks with the authority of God and at the same time reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. The Scriptures are presented exactly as God intended and without error in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
About the Triune God (Trinity):
We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each possesses, equally, all the attributes of deity and each is worthy of precisely the same glory and honor and obedience.
(Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1-4; John 17:3; Acts 5:3-4)
About God the Father:
We believe God the Father created all things in six literal days for His glory according to His own will through His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption.
(Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11)
About God the Son:
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, took on human flesh. Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man), lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him. He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man, and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission.
(John 1:1; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 14:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16)
About the God the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service.
(John 16:8; John 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12)
About the Human Condition:
We believe that God created mankind—male and female—in His own image and likeness, free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship. Tempted by Satan, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death and condemnation to all mankind. All human beings, therefore, are totally depraved by nature and by choice. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior.
(Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18, Romans 1:32)
About Salvation:
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the substitutionary atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God, and secured as an adopted child of God forever. Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God and persevere to the end.
(Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13)