What We Believe
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:16-17
Biblical Truth
GVBC Believes In…
1. The Scripture
We believe that all Scripture of the Old and New Testaments is verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings; and that it is of supreme and final authority in faith and life. The Scripture is given to man that he might know God, and that he might know God’s will for man. (2 Timothy 3: 16,17; 2 Peter 1:21)
2. The Godhead
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and worthy of the same confidence and obedience. Matthew 28:18,19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. The Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He came to reveal God to mankind and to redeem our sinful race by giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, satisfying God’s righteous judgments against sin. He then arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand, where He intercedes on the believer’s behalf. (John 1:1-12, 14, 18; Luke 1:34,35; Romans 3:24-26; 8:34)
4. Man Created & Fallen
We believe man’s purpose is to glorify God. Man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, but fell because of sin, and as a consequence was separated from God. Therefore man in his natural state is condemned to an eternal death. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 6:23)
5. Salvation
We believe that man may have salvation from the guilt and penalty of sin through personal trust in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for man’s sin. Through faith alone in Jesus Christ, man is born again, receives a new nature, and has the promise of eternal life. Salvation cannot come through works, but only through the grace of God. We believe that at death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ; the souls of unbelievers pass immediately into torment to be separated from God forever. (1 Peter 2:24; John 3:3,16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8: Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20: 11-15)
6. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin, gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ, unites all believers in one body, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him, and empowers and gifts them for service. He seeks to direct their attention not to themselves nor to their experience, but to Christ. (John 3:5-8; 14:16,17; 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; ; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; Acts 1:8)
7. Eternal Security & Assurance of the Believer
We believe that those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation have the promise of eternal life as a permanent possession. It is the privilege of the believer to have a present and continuing assurance that he possesses salvation, and this salvation can never be lost or forfeited. (John 5:24; 10:28-30; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:11-13)
8. Satan & Sin
We believe that Satan is a created being and that he fell to his present state because of sin. He has been judged and defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ and will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. He is the author of sin. Sin is anything contrary to or falling short of the glory of God. We recognize that Christians are in a spiritual warfare against Satan and his forces. Though he is a defeated foe, the Christian can have victory in his daily battle only by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Satan’s desire is to oppress believers and prevent the salvation of unbelievers. (Isaiah 14: 12-17; Genesis 3:1-19; John 8:44;12:31; Revelation 20:10; I John 5:17; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-22)
9. The Church
We believe that all who have placed their faith in Christ are united by the Holy Spirit into one spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the Head. This body was formed on the day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own. The members of this one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and the administration of the ordinances — baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are likewise to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2: 42-47; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:3)
10. The Return of Christ
We believe in the imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ. He will descend from heaven to receive to Himself both His own who are alive and remain until His coming, and all who have died in Jesus. This event is the blessed hope set before us in Scripture; for this we should be constantly looking because no man knows the time of His coming. (John 14: 1-3: I Corinthians 15: 51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
11. The Christian Walk
We believe that the Christian is commanded in the Word of God to live a godly life in the world, but not of it. This can only be accomplished by living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit so as to reveal the fruit of the Spirit. The life of the believer should be fruitful in spiritual service and lived for the glory of God. (Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:18-19; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Galatians 5:16-24; John 15:1-8; Romans 12:1-2)
12. Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service. Every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts to be exercised “for the edification of the church” and for the glory of the Lord. While we recognize differences of opinion regarding the present-day role of sign gifts, it is not our emphasis or practice to promote their public exercise. (I Corinthians 14:12; 1 Peter 4:10,11; Romans 12: 8-12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16)
13. Baptism
This church will practice believers’ baptism by immersion, but recognizes other forms of baptism for membership. (Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 28:18-20)
Doctrinal Positions
These doctrinal positions do not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind. It is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purposes of Garden Valley Bible Church’s (GVBC’s) faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Board—elected by the members of the church—is GVBC’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
1. Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139).
2. Gender
We believe that God wonderfully and unchangingly creates each person as male and female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person (Genesis 1: 26-28; Psalm 139). We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the Bible nor the doctrines of GVBC.
3. Marriage
We believe that God created marriage exclusively to be the union between one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, GVBC will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Furthermore, the Pastor, Leadership, and Staff of GVBC shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. The facilities and property of GVBC shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:18-25).
We Believe
(Matt 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)