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The Full Story

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
 

The Free Grace Bible Institute International (FGBI) exists to train men and women in the great doctrinal truths of Scripture (Bible Doctrine). Learning the doctrinal truths of Scripture (the renewed mind), combined with the filling and teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, results in personal transformation (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 5:16). As personal learning and transformation occurs then the willing individual is prepared to teach and encourage others in the truths of the faith as all believers are commanded to do (Hebrews 5:12; 10:23-25). This is the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, which is for the building up (spiritual advancement) of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16).

The ultimate goal of all training at FGBI is the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The narrower purpose of the Free Grace Bible Institute is to train men for the purpose of being Pastor-teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:2), men and women to be Bible teachers in other situations/positions (Hebrews 5:12), and men and women to be missionaries around the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Such a purpose emphasizes the need for men and women to correctly interpret and accurately teach the Word in various Bible study settings, as well as in personal counseling or relationships with others. In accordance with the Scriptures, we will only train men for the role of Pastor-teacher (1 Timothy 2:11-14). Women are encouraged to train and be equipped, on an equal basis with men, with the exception of this.

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FGBI is for the believer who desires:

  1. Personal growth and transformation in an intense and challenging biblical learning situation (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 3:18)

  2. To serve those for whom Christ died in specific ministerial roles

  3. To serve the Lord and His church willingly and seriously, with the right attitude, by being faithful, teachable, and submissive servants of the Lord.

  4. To demonstrate the above by submission to the Scriptures and the pastoral leadership of West Side Baptist Church (Hebrews 13:17). The student must also be willing to serve in the local church if one is available. The student who does not have a free grace, doctrinal teaching church available in their local area can become an “Away Member” of West Side Baptist Church.

  5. To be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-10) by fulfilling the primary mandate of the believer “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).

What We Belive

A Short Summary

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We believe in the verbal and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Bible, that the Bible is the infallible and inerrant Word of God, and the exclusive and sufficient guide for salvation, doctrine (what the Bible teaches on any subject), and the spiritual life of the believer. The canon of Scripture is complete and closed. It consists of the historically accepted thirty-nine Old Testament books and twenty-seven New Testament books, and no other book or books, either ancient or modern can now or ever be inspired Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21

We believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, their co-equality and eternality. Matthew 28:19

We believe God is the creator of all things and that He did not work through any form of evolution. God personally created the heavens and the earth with Jesus Christ the One through whom all things came to be and through whom they continue to exist. He created all things from nothing. He created the world as we know it today in six literal twenty-four-hour days and rested on the seventh day as an example to all mankind. Genesis 1 and 2; Exodus 20:11; Isaiah 40:26, 42:5; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2-3

We believe there is a biblical gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 and that the condition of the earth in 1:2 is the result of divine judgment following the fall of Satan. This absolutely does not allow for any evolution ideology or the existence of man or any other thing listed in Genesis 1 before the restoration. Genesis 1:1-3; Exodus 20:11; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 45:18; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41

We believe the angelic conflict is a spiritual reality and that, because of this, all believers are in spiritual warfare. Genesis 3:1-7, 15, 24; 19:1-3, 10-16; Job 1:6-12, 38:4-7; Isaiah 6:1-7; 14:12-15; Ezekiel 1:4-14, 22-25; 28:12-19; Daniel 10:12-13; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-15; Revelation 4:5-11; 5:8-11; 12:7-9; 20:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 5:12, 6:10-18

We believe in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross as the unique, once and for all substitutionary spiritual sacrifice for the personal sins of all mankind. John 1:29, 3:16, 36; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:2

We believe in the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. John 20:1-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20

We believe a person is born in sin, spiritually dead, and needs personal spiritual life from a Savior who is, and only is, Jesus Christ (Messiah). Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:10, 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 26:18; 1 John 5:11-12

We believe a person gains unconditional eternal salvation through faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone, and this gift is absolutely free. John 1:12, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30-31; Romans 4:4-5, 12-19; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Titus 3:5; Revelation 22:17

We believe the focus of faith necessary to receive eternal life is Jesus and His promise of unconditional eternal life given freely to all who believe His promise.  John 6:47, 11:25-27.

We believe the gift of salvation is eternal – it is eternal life - thus the believer is eternally secure - "unconditional once saved, always saved." John 5:24, 10:28-29, 11:25-27. Romans 8:38-39

We believe in the universal full indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer at the moment of salvation. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13

We believe the goal of the Holy Spirit is to bring believers into the fullness of Christ's stature; He gives gifts to every believer to serve in the building up of the body of Christ. These gifts are to be used in accordance with biblical guidelines and priorities. The miraculous sign gifts were for the time period of the founding of the church before the completion of the written Scriptures and are no longer functioning in the church today. This includes the sign gift of spontaneously spoken unlearned human languages or tongues. The filling of the Holy Spirit occurs as the individual believer confesses sin in accordance with 1 John 1:9. Acts 2:6-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 13:8-10, 14:9, 20-23.

We believe we are in the dispensation of the Church Age (also called the Age of Grace) and are believer-priests, each with direct access to God. 1 Peter 2:5-9; Hebrews 4:14-16

We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and the physical resurrection of all believers from the church age at this time. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10

We believe that all Church Age believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be evaluated in reference to their lives. Those with a positive evaluation (approval) will receive rewards, inheritance, praise, and a fullness of joy; those with a negative evaluation (disapproval) will suffer loss of reward, be disinherited, rebuked, and be ashamed. The believer never loses their spiritual eternal life for any reason, although the quality of this in eternity may be diminished.  1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10; Luke 19:11-27; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Colossians 3:23-25; Romans 3:16-17; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21; 1 John 2:28.

We believe that God will enact a seven-year tribulation on planet Earth sometime after the Rapture of the Church. John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; Revelation 3:10

We believe in the Second Coming of Christ to the earth and His reign on planet earth for 1,000 years, followed by His eternal reign from the new earth over the new heavens and new earth.  Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-5; 1 Cor 15:24-28; Revelation 20:4; 21 & 22 

We believe Israel has a special plan from God as a nation, based on the Abrahamic Covenant, and after the Second Coming, they will receive all the promises of the Covenants in the literal, earthly, Messianic Kingdom. Isaiah 62:1-12; Jeremiah 23:3-4; Ezekiel 28:25-26; Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 20:4

We believe in the eternal condemnation of those who have never believed in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life in the Lake of Fire from which there is no escape. Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:11-15

We believe the church is primarily a place for the teaching of sound Bible doctrine, under a spiritually gifted Pastor-teacher, and its main goal is to bring believers to spiritual maturity through the learning and application of Bible doctrine. This is the objective of the pastoral ministry. Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-13; Colossians 1:28-2:2; 2 Timothy 4:1-5

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion) are the ordinances set in the church by the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save. As such it follows one’s personal trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Lord’s Supper (communion) is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the body of Christ, through the partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the broken body and shed blood of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ and celebrates His victory over sin and death. It is not in any manner a sacrifice for sin, nor does it make present the sacrifice of the cross. It is a time of special fellowship for the family of God and is open to all born-again believers. While its observance points backward to the crucified Lord on Calvary, it also points forward to the returning Lord in glory. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Matthew 26:26-29;                     1 Corinthians 11:23-32

We believe that we are to give the good news of eternal life to those who are unbelievers and then to guide those who believe in a life of discipleship. Matthew 28:19-20

We believe in separation from those groups, churches, and organizations that violate or teach against sound (correct) Biblical doctrines. Cooperation is desirable among various Christian churches when it is consistent with Free Grace biblical doctrine and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word, as revealed in the New Testament.  Acts 13:2-3, 15:1-35; Romans 16:17; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16

Vision

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