About Grace Baptist Church
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Welcome to the web page of Grace Baptist Church in Pekin, Illinois. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself - baptism as a symbol of entrance into the body of Christ and the Lord's Supper a regular reminder of the death, resurrection, and return of Christ. Baptism symbolizes the believer's death to sin and new life in Christ. Those baptized are done so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Together they are simultaneously God's pledge to us, divinely ordained means of grace, our public vows of submission to the once crucified and now resurrected Christ, and anticipations of his return and of the consummation of all things.
At Grace Baptist Church we believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel's promised Messiah-was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
About Jesus Christ: We believe that in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus Christ accomplished salvation for sinners. In His life, He kept God's law on our behalf. In His death, He suffered as our substitute and satisfied the divine wrath we deserved. He took our guilt upon Himself and credited His righteousness to our account. In His resurrection, we receive newness of life now and eternal life to come. In His ascension, He poured out the Holy Spirit on His church and He continually intercedes for us. This entire salvation is the free and gracious work of God alone.
About Separation of Church and State: We believe that each local church is self-governing, and must be free from interference by any external ecclesiastical or political authority; that every human being is ultimately responsible to God in matters of faith and life; and that each person is free to worship God according to the dictates of his/her conscience. We further believe that governments are established by God; that Christians, as good citizens, should be subject to governing authorities insofar as possible, recognizing our greater allegiance to God and His kingdom in matters wherein human authorities conflict with clear, biblical mandates.
