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We believe the Scriptures, both the First and the New Testaments, to be the verbal 1, plenary 2 inspired Word of God, written by men in God’s control 3, whilst fully utilizing their human traits/element 4. The Scriptures are sufficient 5, inerrant 6 and infallible 7 in the original manuscripts. They are the final authority 8 for believers in matters faith 9 and life 10. We accept and hold firmly to the literal, grammatical-historical, canonical, contextual system of interpreting the Scriptures and accept the historical record of the Bible as accurate 11.
We believe in one God 12, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 13, who are identical in essence 14, equal in power 15 and glory 16, and possess precisely the same attributes and perfection 17.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God 18, became man without ceasing to be God 19 that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit 20 and born of a virgin 21, in order that He might redeem sinful man 22. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless 23 substitutionary sacrifice on the cross 24, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against the sin of the elect 25. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption 26 by His bodily resurrection from the grave 27. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people 28.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person 29 who convicts the world of sin 30; that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead 31 that He places all believers into the one true church 32, which is the Body of Christ 33 and that He indwells them permanently 34, seals them unto the day of redemption 35 and bestows spiritual gifts upon them 36.
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God 37, in innocence and without sin 38. But in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited the guilt of his sin 39, a sinful nature 40, becoming spiritually dead 41 and alienated from God 42 so that man is a sinner both by nature 43 and by choice 44. Man, of himself, is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition 45.
We believe that salvation is the gift of God’s grace given to all whom God has elected to salvation 46. It includes all that God does in saving the elect from the penalty 47, power 48 and presence of sin 49 and in restoring them to a right relationship with God 50. As such, it is solely the work of God from the initiation to completion 51. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is the cause, not the result, of the believer’s saving faith 52. It cannot be gained by good works 53, but is a free gift for all who put their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross 54. All who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 55 are forgiven and saved from their sins 56 and made righteous 57 before God and are born into the family of God 58. God’s purpose for saving His elect is so that they bring glory to Him by their lives 59.
We believe that all saved, those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace, are kept by His power and thus secure in Christ forever 60. This assurance, however, is not the occasion for sin 61, for God in holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children 62, and in infinite love He corrects them 63. True faith in Christ is expressed by a fruitful 64 God-pleasing life that endures until death 65.
We believe that God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness 66. This includes the salvation from the penalty of sin 67 and just as surely the provision of sanctification (separation) from the power of sin 68. Sanctification from sin affects both the positional 69 and practical 70 aspects. Positional sanctification is a result of the continuing work of the Spirit using the Word of God to provide nourishment for growth into maturity in Christ 71. While the process of practical sanctification is assured by the Word and the Spirit, it is yet imperfect in this life 72. There is some element of corruption in every part of the fallen nature that is the source for the war between the flesh and the Spirit 73. Spiritual growth occurs as believers feed on the Word 74 and are in fellowship with other believers for encouragement and service 75.
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers as a matter of obedience, not as a condition for salvation: Water Baptism [subsequent to the believer’s profession of faith] 76 and the Lord’s Supper 77. While we believe that Christ instituted the aforementioned ordinances, we also believe that they are to be administered within the local church, under the proper authority of ordained elders. We affirm our support of, belief in and partnership with the church that Christ died for and established. As a para-church organization we refrain from administering any of these rites ourselves.
We believe that at death the souls of those who have trusted Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss 78 until the resurrection of the body at Christ’s coming for the Church 79, when the soul and the body will be reunited 80. We then shall be with Him forever in glory [the new heaven and earth] 81. We also believe that at death the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery 82 until the final judgment when the soul and body will be reunited 83 and cast into the lake of fire 84, not to be annihilated 85, but to be separated from God forever 86 in conscious punishment 87.
We believe, according to His promise 88, that Jesus will physically return for His people 89. This truth has been revealed to provide the believer comfort and encouragement in his life 90.
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female 91. These two distinct, complementary genders 92 together reflect the image and nature of God 93. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person 94. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture 95. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other 96. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman 97. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, cohabitation, fornication, homosexual behavior 98, bisexual conduct 99, incest 100, and use of pornography) 101 is sinful and offensive to God 102. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration 103 to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ 104. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion 105, love 106, kindness 107, respect 108, and dignity 109. Hateful 110 and harassing 111 behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated 112 and are not in accord with Scripture or the doctrinal convictions or ethical stance of Gilbert Christian Schools.
We believe that all human life is sacred and created 113 by God in His image 114. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies 115, the aged 116, the physically 117 or mentally challenged 118, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend 119, protect 120, and value 121 all human life 122.
Our commitment is to love those students or other persons who struggle with the sin and state of gender dysphoria and/or same sex attraction 123. By love we do not mean agree with, affirm or enable 124. We will love those students by listening to, praying with and presenting a biblical worldview, consistent with the GCS Statement of Faith, that invites all into a relationship with Christ 125. It is through a relationship with Christ that the indwelling Holy Spirit confronts sin(s) 126, empowers us to deny our fallen nature along with its tendencies/expressions 127 and transforms our hearts and lifestyles to and for the glory of God 128.
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired 129, Inerrant 130 and infallible 131 Word of God that speaks with final authority 132 concerning truth 133, morality 134, and the proper conduct 135 of mankind, is the sole and final source of Christian belief and behavior in all matters. For purposes of Gilbert Christian’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Superintendent is Gilbert Christian’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application to the degree that He/she is interpreting Scripture within the framework of a literal, historical, grammatical context that is in keeping with its original authorial intent, context and conservative historical Christian orthodoxy. He/she will follow the analogy of Scripture in all matters. Where Scripture is ambiguous, he/she will interpret apparently ambiguous/unclear Scriptures within the light of the majority of Scripture’s message and meaning in the area under question and/or investigation.
