Policy Statement on Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Grace Community Bible Church
Adopted January 2004

  1. We believe water baptism illustrates God's effective, saving work and that our practice of this ordinance should emphasize the matchless grace of God in salvation rather than the decision of the one being baptized.
  2. We believe water baptism is commanded by Jesus (Matt. 28:19) and the apostles (Acts 2:38) and therefore should be a normal step of obedience for the Christian.
  3. We believe water baptism is a symbol of Christss death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12), forgiveness through the cleansing of sins (Rom. 6:1-3; Acts 2:38; 22:16), the believer's union with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:11-12), and the believer's identification into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
  4. We believe water baptism is not salvific. No one is regenerated in, by, through or because of the waters of baptism (Eph. 2:8-10; 5:25-27).
  5. We believe water baptism is by immersion (Mark 1:5, 10; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:1-11; Col. 2:11-12).
  6. We believe the practice of the New Testament church teaches us that those who profess faith in Christ are the proper recipients of baptism (Acts 1:16 {cf. 16:17}; 2:41; 8:12; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 32-33; but cf. #1 above).
  7. We believe that baptism is important in the life and practice of believers in the local church (and therefore we must establish the parameters of our practice), but that it is not a doctrine that should rise to the level of division among believers who are united in their understanding of the Gospel of Christ. Agreement on the mode and recipients of baptism should not be a requirement for participation in the local church or for partaking of the Lord's Supper.
  8. We believe the Lord's Supper is commanded by Jesus (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26), is a symbol of the body and blood of Christ in which He is spiritually present (Matt. 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; Mark 14:22-24;), a proclamation of His death (1 Cor. 11:26), and should be partaken of by those who trust in Jesus alone for their salvation (1 Cor. 11:27-33) as they spiritually feed upon Christ and receive the benefits of salvation (John 6:53-57).