RADIO MESSAGE
What do those people out at Grace Baptist Church believe? We believe in the INSPIRATION and AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect (or complete), throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16-17). The Scriptures were written by, "Holy men of God (who) spake as they were moved (or infallibly guided and directed) by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:21). The biblical doctrine of inspiration is just this. The Scriptures, including both the Old and New Testament,were written by men under the supernatural influence and direction of God the Holy Spirit. The Bible does not simply contain the Word of God. It is the Word of God! It contains no errors and no contradictions. It was written by fallible men, just like you and me; but the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit made them infallible in writing the Books of the Bible. The very foundation of our faith is the INFALIBILITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. We will not and cannot endure anything that deminishes the total, absolute, perfect inspiration of the Bible.
Most conservative religions claim to believe in the inspiration of the Bible. But, here at Grace Church, we also believe in the AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. When I talk about the authority of Holy Scripture, I simply mean this - The Bible is OUR ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE. Most religious organizations have three sources of authority: The Bible, Tradition, and Logic. They build their doctrines and practices upon church tradition, human logic, and the Bible. Regretably, modern religion has developed a fourth basis of authority, and that is human opinion. If something is acceptable and approved by the majority of the people, it will soon become acceptable and approved by the church. Upon this basis and this basis alone Baptist churches started having "altar calls" at the close of the service about a hundred years ago. And it is upon this basis that queers and lesbians now seek admittance into the World Council of Churches. At Grace Baptist Church the Bible is our only source of authority. What we believe, what we preach, and what we practice is not in any way determined by history, tradition, human logic, or public opinion.
Every point of DOCTRINE which we hold to is founded upon the plain, clear statements of Holy Scripture. We do not accept anything as doctrinal truth, except that which God has spoken in his Word. All that we PREACH is the Word of God. Nothing is ever preached from our pulpit, by this pastor or by any guest preacher, except that which is plainly taught in Holy Scripture. If something is taught in the Bible, we bow to it, we believe it, and we preach it. If it is not taught in the Bible we reject it. And all of our PRACTICES as a church are founded upon the plain statements of the Word of God. We do not do anything as a church or in our worship services without precedent in the New Testament. We observe the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and Baptism just as the Scripture requires. We admit no customs or traditions into our worship services. And we place no rules and regulations upon our members except those which are plainly set forth in the Bible. We do not attempt to legislate to our members what they can or cannot do, where they can or cannot go, what they can or cannot eat and drink, or what they can or cannot wear. At Grace Church every man stands or falls before his own Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. We enforce no laws but his law.
At Grace Baptist Church we believe in the inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture. We take those words at the close of the Book very seriously - "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book: if any man shall take away from the words of this Book, God shall take away his part out of the book of life" (Rev. 22:1-19).
Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, Ky.