top of page

Free Grace Bible Institute 

WHO ARE WE

The Free Grace Bible Institute International was founded in in 2007 as a ministry of West Side Baptist Church, Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. Five primary reasons for the existence of this Bible Institute are:

​

  1. Very few Bible schools or seminaries are Free Grace and doctrinally focused.

  2. Traditional Bible schools, even on-line Bible schools, are usually costly and create much debt for the student.

  3. The belief that solid Bible education should be sourced in a local church and under pastoral authority.

  4. Every believer is to be trained in Bible Doctrine.

  5. Future Pastor-Teachers should be trained in the local church under their Pastor-Teacher. 

 

In 2014, the Distance Education program was launched. Since 2018, there have been major revisions to the courses offered, allowing one to complete all certificate levels without making any book purchases.

The Education Studies Program utilizes primarily electronic materials provided at no cost to the student. Printed materials are available in a local church working with FGBI. All courses use a workbook or study guide for evaluation. We believe it is important to not only learn the material but also to be able to discover how to find answers in the study material, so all study evaluations are “open book.” This trains the student in the use of biblical study resources.

All work submitted to the Institute locations for evaluation will be either submitted online or submitted by hand for the local church working with FGBI. Distance education students must duplicate the workbook questions electronically to avoid the expense of mailing.

The Free Grace Bible Institute invites you to review this material and consider Bible training through our Education Program. Our studies are designed to take you through a comprehensive program, similar to or superior to most Bible Institutes or Bible Schools, with some materials at a seminary level.

Success in the Free Grace Bible Institute takes maturity, persistence, and a determination to succeed. The student should have a deep desire to be pleasing to the Lord in their studies, or they will probably not complete the required course of study.

OUR BELIEFS

  1. Unconditional eternal life is received by faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone (John 5:24, 6:47, 11:25-26; Ephesians 2:8-9). The gift of eternal life is absolutely free and without any cost, commitment, or activity on the part of the recipient (John 4:14; Revelation 20:17). The focus of faith is the promise of Jesus to give eternal life to all who believe in Him alone for that life (John 6:47; 11:25-26).

 

  1. The critical importance of learning all the Bible teaches on any given subject, that is, Bible Doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18).

 

  1. A focus on personal transformation into spiritual maturity through the learning and application of Bible Doctrine under the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:15, 22-24). This is progressive sanctification.

 

  1. The importance of the local church (1 Timothy 3:14-15) with (1) its existence as a teaching center for biblical truth and (2) its mission to evangelize those without eternal life (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

  1. The doctrines of the Judgment Seat of Christ, rewards, and inheritance as primary motivations in the believer’s life (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; Luke 19:12-27; Romans 8:17; Revelation 3:21).

 

  1. We keep a clear distinction between the reception of the free gift of eternal life and the doctrines of sanctification and rewards.

 

  1. The dominating mandate of pastor-teachers, as well as all teachers in the local church, is to communicate correct doctrine, counter false doctrine, and help believers apply doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-4; Titus 1:9; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Jude 3).

 

  1. To clearly teach that the goal of the pastoral ministry is to bring individuals under their care to spiritual maturity (Colossians 1:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-16).

bottom of page