Statement
of Faith

The core of all GCBI study is the study of hermeneutics (the method of interpreting Scripture). We instruct in a technique called the “Principle Approach to the Bible” in which we use utilizes the literal, grammatical viewpoint with a particular focus on the historical cultural context. Because of that approach, we include our study in Israel as part of our curriculum. We approach the text as God’s Holy Word, and seek to follow Him through timeless truths and principles revealed through the various types of literature that God has revealed and preserved.

The Scriptures

We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible were all given by God without error in their original language to be the supreme and final authority on faith and life. God both revealed the truth by giving these books, and miraculously preserved them through the centuries. We believe that truth is that which conforms to what God has revealed in His Word. John 17:17; Galatians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

The Godhead

We believe there is but one God. The Bible expresses that God has eternally existing in three distinct but wholly interrelated personalities: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19–20; John 1:1-2; Acts 5:3-4; Colossians 2:9.

The Father

The Bible relates that God has always been. He exists outside of time and is the Creator of all things. He is the “Prime Mover” and the reason for all creation. He will be the One that initiates the time of the end and inaugurates the final judgment of all. Genesis 1:1; Mt. 24:36.

The Son

We believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as “God in human skin”. He has always been the eternal Son of the Father, and was the Divine agent of Creation. He came to earth through a Divine act of conception by the Holy Spirit. He died for the sins of the whole world as the substitutionary sacrifice. He was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. He continues to minister today as our Intercessor, Advocate, and Mediator. Luke 1:35; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1–3; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15–17; 2:9; Hebrews 4:15; 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:2.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit influenced men and women throughout the Bible and came for a distinct purpose in this age indwelling every believer. He restrains evil in the world and actively convicts people of sin. He is involved in regenerating believers; baptizing them into the Body of Christ and sealing them unto the day of redemption. He empowers believers for sanctification and service by endowing Divinely initiated gifts in every believer. John 14:16–17; 16:7–15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:13, 28–30; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:1-16, 30; Hebrews 2:1-4; Titus 3:5.

Man

We believe God created male and female in His image. The sin of Adam and Eve brought judgments of both physical death and spiritual death (eternal separation from God). Everyone born through the seed of man are born with a defiled nature, and are accountable for their sin. The Divine solution for sin in this age is to be “born again”. Genesis 1:1, 26; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3-7; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 John 1:8-10.

Salvation

We believe that salvation was provided for the whole world by the completed work of Messiah, when He willingly laid down His life on the cross at Calvary. Man cannot earn salvation, but can humbly ask Jesus to wash their sin away and include them in the payment He made by His death. Along with salvation comes the new relationship with God, the “new birth” and the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature, as a child of God. John 3:16; 6:37; 10:27–30; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2 Peter 1:3-4.

The Church

We believe the Church is made up of all who have received the new birth of salvation. In practice, the universal church is made up of many local bodies of believers in Christ who are each joined together under scriptural leadership for the worship, instruction, fellowship and evangelism. We believe God’s “support group” for our recovery and strengthening over the effects of living is a fallen world in our day is primarily the local church. As such, we share the victories and pains of believers everywhere, but feel responsible to regularly invest in a tangible part of God’s work through our deliberate involvement in the local church. Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 1:4-5; 2:42–47; 11:15-16; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:20–23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:15.

The Future

We believe Jesus will return as He promised. We believe God has not finished His work with Israel, and is using the relationship between Jesus and individual believers in the Church age to stir a jealousy to the heart of Israel. In the time when the darkest hour falls upon Israel, their Savior will come to rescue them. Romans 11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20:1–15; 21:1–8.