Our church's name reflects our vision and core beliefs. We want to keep things simple, upfront, and easy to remember. Below is a more in-depth look at what we believe and preach.
listen to sermonsThere is much to say about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the promised Messiah foretold in the Old Testament and the Son of God revealed in the New Testament. Jesus is fully God and fully man, born from the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. He is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation, the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, our great High Priest, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Redeemer, our Mediator, the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is also Immanuel (God with us), Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace. Jesus is still more to us, which is why we are His church.
Colossians 1:15-23; Matthew 1:21-23 & 16:13-20; Revelation 1:4-8; Hebrews 4:14-16; Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6
We believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture. The Bible is therefore without error (inerrant) in its original manuscripts. God has supernaturally preserved the Bible, and it is the sole and final authority for faith and life, providing encouragement, guidance, comfort and instruction for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:14 & 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14
We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers.
Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:6; John 1:12-13, 5:19-21 & 17:1-5; Isaiah 40:21-28, 43:10-13 & 46:8-11; Romans 8:14-16
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity Who specially came into the world on the day of Pentecost to glorify Christ and to enable men to appropriate the salvation wrought by Christ. He is the primary agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration. Simultaneously with salvation, the Holy Spirit imparts new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (His church), permanently indwells the believer, and securely seals the believer unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit fills (directs and controls) those believers who are yielded to Him, enables believers to bear fruit, and empowers believers to live a life free from sin’s dominion. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of scripture.
1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13, 13:8 & 14:22; John 16:7-8; Ephesians 1:13-14 & 4:30; Galatians 5:16-17 & 5:22-23; Romans 8:5-13 & 12:3-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11
We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct act of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Man was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and enjoy fellowship with Him. Man fell through sin by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him from God. Man’s nature was thus corrupted and he is utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving himself and coming back into right relationship with God by his own merit or effort.
Genesis 1:26, 2:6,17 & 3:17-24; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:9-19,23 & 5:8; Luke 18:26-27; Ephesians 2:13
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s grace. Salvation is effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by man’s works or personal merit. Salvation is only appropriated by a person placing his faith in the finished work of Christ. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and is a part of but not separate from believing faith. “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy spirit unto the day of redemption” being kept by the power of God.
Ephesians 1:7, 1:13-14 & 2:8-10; John 1:12-13, 3:1-7, 3:14-16 & 10:27-29; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 1:16, 8:14-17, 8:31-39, 10:9-10 & 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Peter 1:3-5
We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head and whose members are those who have truly received Christ by faith. The local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the body of Christ are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth.
Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23, 4:1-6 & 4:12-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 17; Colossians 1:24-29
Our sincere interpretation of what to expect from one another as a member of our Lord Jesus's family, known locally in Genoa, IL as Gospel Life Bible Church can be found at: Church Life Covenant.
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:38-39
Communion is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship. We do this in remembrance of Him.
Matthew 26:26-27; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 & 11:23-26; Luke 22:14-23
We, the members of Gospel Life Bible Church, adopt this Constitution and Bylaws as our articles of governance,to be interpreted at all times in a way that brings glory to God, reflects the character of Jesus Christ, follows the Holy Bible, and agrees with this church’s Articles of Incorporation, Statement of Faith and Membership Covenant. The full Gospel Life Bible Church Constitution can be found at: Gospel Life Bible Church Constitution
