GRUBER FAMILY
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The sixty–six books, from Genesis to Revelation, are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. These Scriptures, being God–breathed, are inerrant, infallible and therefore the final authority for all faith and practice. We further believe that God gave the words of Scripture without error in the original autographs and that He has promised to preserve His Words. We embrace the Authorized Version as the preserved Word of God in English translated from the Hebrew Masoretic (OT) and the Received Text (NT). (II Samuel 23:1–2; Psalm 12:6–7; 119: 89; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:34–35; Mark 13:31; Acts 1:16; 28:25; 5:29; II Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 1: 1; 11 Peter 1:19–21)
God
We believe that the Godhead exists eternally in three, co–equal persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and these are one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:21,22; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19, John 1: 1–3; Acts 5:3–4; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–3).
Jesus Christ
We believe in the true deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, His miraculous birth—conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, His sinless life, His sacrificial atonement for the sins of the whole world by His vicarious death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His perpetual intercession on behalf of the saints, and His personal, bodily and visible return to the earth (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26–35; John 1:14; Romans 5:1,11; I Corinthians 15:1,4; I Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20:6).
Salvation
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and therefore are lost and depraved; that salvation is by grace, a free gift of God, and is eternally possessed by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that whosoever will may choose to reject or receive Jesus Christ; that all who receive Jesus Christ are forgiven of all sin by His atoning blood; that genuine faith includes true repentance and that those who believe on Jesus Christ are born from above, become adopted sons of God and as His elect, are predestined to become like His Son. We further believe that the reception of salvation is characterized by a godly sorrow for sin and a transformed life (Genesis 3:1–7; John 1:11–13; Romans 5:12–19; II Corinthians 5:17; 7:8–10; Ephesians 1:3–4,7; 2:8–10; John 10:28; Romans 8:28–39; 1 Peter 1:2).
Eternal Security and Assurance
We believe that all the truly redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We further believe that it is the duty of every child of God to pursue a life of obedience and holiness that will result in the enjoyment of personal assurance of salvation (John 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38–39; I Corinthians 1:4–8; Philippians 1:6; I Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11–15; I Peter 1:4–5; II Peter 1:8–10).
The Church
We believe that New Testament churches are bodies of believers as set forth in I Corinthians 12; furthermore, the New Testament church is an organized, localized, visible, assembly of born–again, baptized believers who meet together for worship, preaching, prayer, fellowship, teaching, discipline and to actively engage in carrying out the Great Commission; that the ordinances of the New Testament church are two: the Lord’s Supper and believer’s baptism by immersion; that the New Testament church is to be separate from the State as well as all ecumenical groups and unequal yokes (Matthew 22:21; 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–16; Acts 2:41–42; 4:18–20; 5:29; Romans 6:3–13; I Corinthians 5:5-7; 11:23–29; Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:27; Colossians 1:12–14,18; 2:12–13; I Timothy 2:1–3; 3:15; II Timothy 1:13).
The Future
We believe in the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, the pre–tribulational rapture of the saints, the judgment seat of Christ, the great tribulation followed by the earthly, physical, one–thousand year reign of Christ, the great white throne judgment, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth (Zechariah 14:4–21; Matthew 24:29,30,42; Acts 1:9–11; John 14:1–4; I Thessalonians 4:13–18; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7; 20:1–6).
Bible as the only and absolute authority of faith and practice—the whole counsel of God’s Word is essential and the only rule for faith and practice (Isaiah 8:20; I Peter 1:23–25)
Autonomy of the Local Church—free to govern itself under Jesus Christ as its sole Head (Matthew 18:15–17; Acts 6:1–6; I Peter 5:2)
Priesthood of the Believer—Believers have direct access to God (Hebrews 4:14–16; I Peter 2:5,9)
Two Symbolic Ordinances—Believers are not obedient until biblically baptized and regularly observing the Lord’s Supper as an ongoing memorial (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 8:37–39; I Corinthians 11:23–32)
Individual Soul Liberty—the right to personal interpretation and belief (Acts 5:28–29; Romans 14:3–5)
Saved/Baptized Church Membership—necessity of the New Birth (Acts 2:41–47; I Corinthians 4:15; Ephesians 5:11–12)
Two Scriptural Officers—Pastor(s) and deacons (I Timothy 3:1–14; Titus 1:1–10)
Separation of Church and State—a free church in a free state (Matthew 23:8; Acts 23:1; 24:16)
