Grace Church of Bull Shoals

A SUMMARY of the 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSION of FAITH
A STATEMENT of the FAITH of GRACE CHURCH OF BULL SHOALS

1. We believe in the one true and living God (1), in three Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2), who is invisible (3), personal (4), omnipresent (5), eternal (6), dependent on none (7), unchanging (8), truthful (9), trustworthy (10), almighty (11), sovereign (12), omniscient (13), righteous (14), holy (15), good (16), loving (17), merciful (18), long-suffering (19), and gracious (20).
   (1) Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; (2) Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; (3) 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16; (4) John 14:23; Romans 8:15; (5) Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23-24; (6) Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; (7) Acts 17:24-25 (8) Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; (9) Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18 (10) Numbers 23:19; Psalm 34:22; (11) Genesis 17:1; Revelation 1:8; (12) 1 Timothy 6:15 (13) Proverbs 15:3; 1 John 3:20 (14) Deuteronomy 32:4 (15) Leviticus 19:2; Revelation 4:8 (16) Psalm 100:5; Matthew 19:17 (17) Psalm 36:7; John 3:16 (18) Deuteronomy 4:31; Luke 6:36 (19) Exodus 34:6; 2 Peter 3:9 (20) Psalm 86:15; 1 Peter 2:3

2. We believe that Almighty God has revealed all that is necessary to life and salvation in the sixty-six books from the original manuscripts which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, is infallible and inerrant, and is the final arbiter in all disputes (21). Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men (22).
   (21) 2 Timothy 3:15-17; (22) Hebrews 1:2; 2 Peter 1:19-21

3. We believe that God made our first father Adam innocent, holy, and upright (23). He was appointed representative and head of the human race thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God’s commands. (24).
   (23) Genesis 1:26-31; (24) Romans 5:12-21

4. We believe that Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring depravity, condemnation, and death (25).
   (25) Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21

5. We believe it is utterly beyond the power of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the Gospel, to repent of sin, or to trust in Christ (26).
   (26) Isaiah 64:6-7; John 6:44; Romans 3:9-18, 8:7-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14

6. We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect an innumerable host of men and women to eternal life as an act of free and sovereign grace (27). This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works, or merit (28).
   (27) Ephesians 1:3-8; (28) Romans 9:11-23; Ephesians 2:8-9

7. We believe that God sent His Son into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit (29), unchangeably sinless (30), both God and man (31), born under the Law (32), to live a perfect life of righteousness, on behalf of His elect people.
   (29) Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35; (30) 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5(31) Isaiah 9:6-7; John 1:1-3, 14; (32) Matthew 5:17-18; Galatians 4:4-5;

8. We believe that God’s Son died at Calvary to effect propitiation (33), reconciliation (34), redemption (35), and atonement for His elect people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son’s work by raising Him from the dead (36).
   (33) Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 4:10; (34) 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20-21; (35) Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; (36) Mark 16:1-8; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

9. We believe that God’s Son ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory (37), where He intercedes on behalf of His people (38) and rules over all things for their sake (39).
   (37) John 20:17-18; Acts 1:9-11; (38) Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; (39) Hebrews 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

10. We believe that God the Son has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached word (40). The Spirit of God regenerates the elect sinner and draws him irresistibly to faith in Christ the Savior (41).
    (40) John 15:26-27; Romans 8:14-16; (41) Romans 8:9-11; Titus 3:5

11. We believe the elect, who are called by grace, are justified in the sight of God (42) on account of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ which is received by faith alone (43).
    (42) Romans 5:1, 4:5-8, 8:30; (43) Romans 4:20-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21

12. We believe that such as are regenerated, called, and justified shall persevere in holiness and never finally fall away (44).
    (44) John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; 1 Peter 1:3-5

13. We believe that baptism by immersion (45) and the Lord’s Supper are gospel ordinances belonging to regenerated believers (46).
    (45) Matthew 3:16, 28:19; Acts 8:36-39 (46) Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

14. We believe that the local church is under the authority of Christ. The communion of saints, however, requires recognition of and fellowship with other churches of sound doctrine grounded in the Faith (47).
    (47) Hebrews 10:24-25

15. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall come again to raise the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, and that the righteous shall enjoy everlasting life and the wicked shall endure everlasting punishment (48).
    (48) Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:26-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10