Our Beliefs
Graber Ministries maintains conservative foundational beliefs while being involved in innovative missions. We adhere to the Statement of faith at First Baptist listed below as well as other evangelical mission groups that we have co-labored with over the years including New Tribes, AWANA International, Navigators, Campus Crusade, OMS, and Evangelism Explosion International.
"What We Believe"
Some Basic Beliefs of the
First Baptist Church
I. The Holy Trinity
We believe in one true and living God, eternal and of infinite power, wisdom, goodness and righteousness. He is a loving and faithful God who is the Creator and preserver of all things (Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 10:10, I Timothy 1:17). In the unity of God there are three persons of one substance with identical qualities and attributes, the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1,2; 4:24; 5:18; 10:30).
II. Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was born fully human and fully divine, deserving of the title “Christ” (which means, “The Messiah), God’s only Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin named Mary. He walked our earth, suffered, was crucified, died and buried as a safrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere and throughout all time. His sacrificial death restores out relationship to God which is broken by sin (disobedience) (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 5:2). Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes to God the Father for the body of Believers (Matthew 28:5-9; Hebrews 7:25).
III. The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, and the third person of the Trinity. He lives within us, giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to truth (Romans 8:9; John 13:16). The Holy Spirit empowers the church to be the witness of Jesus Christ throughout the earth (Acts 1:8).
IV. The Authority of Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the Holy, inspired and inerrant Word of God. It is holy because it tells us of God’s redeeming love for us; it is inspired because God directed the writing of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments; it is inerrant because it is without error in fact or doctrine (II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17). The Holy bible contains all the Necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation (Ephesians 1:13; II Timothy 3:15). The New Testament is the foundation for faith, doctorine and practice.
V. Humankind
We believe that humankind was created by God in His own image (Genesis 1:27), but, because of Adam's sin of disobedience, we all inherit a corrupt nature that inclines us to do wrong (Genesis 3:6; 6:5; Romans 5:12) We are not capable of achieving a life with out sin on our own (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). We do have the God given responsibility for our actions and their consequences (Joshua 24:15; John 7:17)
VI. Salvation
We believe that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, was given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind. Christ died on the cross to mend the broken relationships which were caused by our sin of disobedience. This severed relationship between God and every person is restored into perfect harmony through belief in Jesus Christ by Faith, and not on the basis of our works (Galatians 5:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-9). This belief and faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Savior and Lord, gives men and women the free gift of eternal life (John 1:29; 3:16; I Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2; I Peter 1:19). After receiving salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, the 'born again' (John 3:3) believer lives free from fear of the judfement of God, and can live a life according to the teaching of the Scriptures and trusting the the Holy Spirit will give the power needed to live a holy life according to God's Word.
We also believe that after we have experienced salvation we may still fall into sin, for in this life there is no height or strength of holiness from which it is impossible to fall. But by the grace of God one who has fallen into sin may, by confession and true repentance, find forgiveness and restored fellowship with God (Matthew 18:21-22; I John 1:9; 2:1; 2:24-25).
VII. Baptism
We believe that baptism is the symbol of a person receiving the gift of forgiveness of sins and the promise of new life in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). Jesus commanded us to make disciples of every nation and to batize them (Matthew 28:19). Our church practices baptism by immersion, because we believe that the New Testament bears witness to this (Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:36) We also believe that baptism, being a symbol of the individual believer's confession of faith, is therefore for those old enough to understand the claims of Jesus Christ upon their lives. Baptism by immersion is the shared witness of every member of our church.
VIII. Good Works
We believe that even though men and women cannot receive salvation by good works, their good works are pleasing to God and show evidence of a true faith in God, and in Jesus as Lord of a believer's life. (Matthew 5:16; 7:16-20; Galations 2:16; James 2:18,22).
IX. Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God. These gifts are not the same as our natural talents (which are aslo to be used for God's glory), but are freely given by God. The gifts are to be exercised in love and to help achieve unity in the church (I Corinthians 12:4, 11, 18, 21-25; Ephesians 4:11-16).
X. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into heaven and eternal life (John 14:1-3, I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and are unrepentant will be judged by God in His perfect judgment and doomed to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15). The time of His return is unknown, but my occur at any moment (Mark 13:22-27). Until He returns it is the sacred mission of every believer to share the Good News of Jesus Christ here and around the world (Acts 1:7-8).