We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, was, as originally given, written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; that it is verbally inspired of God; that it is inerrant, infallible, sufficient, and eternal, and therefore of supreme and final authority in faith and life (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:16-21).
GOD The Trinity
We believe in the Triune nature of God: that there is but one God existing in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Who are coeternal, consubstantial, and coequal (Matthew 28:1920; John 10:30; 16:7-15; II Corinthians 13:14).
The Father We believe that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Heavenly Father of all who have come to a saving knowledge of His only begotten Son (John 1:14; 20:17; Romans 4:11; I Peter 1:3-5).
The Son, Jesus Christ We believe in the absolute deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, His incarnation by means of the Holy Spirit's begettal and virgin birth, His sinless life and miraculous ministry on earth, His death on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of all men, His bodily resurrection from among the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on high as Lord, Mediator, Priest, and Advocate, and His personal return to bring into consummation His work of redemption by ultimate triumph over Satan and his hosts (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20; John 3:1-2; 14:1-3; 19:16-20; 20:30-31; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; ll Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9; 4:14-15; 9:24; Revelation 19:11; 22:21)
The Holy Spirit We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, that it is by His power that sinners are brought under conviction of sin and are drawn to Christ for salvation, that through Him men are regenerated and sanctified, that by Him the saints are indwelt with the Divine Presence, and that by His power God's people are enabled to serve the Lord acceptably. We believe that He is the D{vine Witness, Seal, Earnest, Anointing, Guide, Teacher, and Administrator (John 14:26; 16:7-13; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4; 5:1-4; Romans 8:14-27; 15:16; I Corinthians 12-14; II Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1;13-14; 4:30; 5:18; I John 2:20,27).
Creation We believe that the entire universe was brought into existence by the creating act of the Triune God (Genesis 1:1-2:3; John 1:1-3).
Satan We believe in the personality of Satan, "the old serpent, the Devil, and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world", that he is the arch-enemy of God and man, and that in God's own appointed time he will suffer ultimate defeat at the hand of the Lord Jesus and will be tormented throughout eternity in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; John 8:44; Revelation 12:9-10; 20:12, 7-10).*
Man We believe that man was originally created by God in His image, but that by disobedience to his Creator he incurred both spiritual and physical death, and that the entire human race was plunged into sin and death (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7-3:24; Romans 5:12).
Sin We believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of sin and that there is no remission of sins apart from the shedding of the blood of the Son of God and man's repentance (Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; 7:13-14; Hebrews 9:22).
Salvation We believe that salvation is wholly of Divine Grace apart from any works of merit of the sinner, that it is provided in the atonement of Jesus Christ, wrought by God, and is received by a sinner when he puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour (Jonah 2:9; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:3; 24:46-47; John 1:12-13; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 20:30-31; Acts 16:31; 17:30-31; 20:20-21; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7).
The Ordinances We believe that there are two Christian ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
The Church We believe that the Church, the body of Christ, was constituted and empowered by the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, that it was purchased with the blood of Christ, that it was founded upon Christ, the Rock, that its mission is to bear to the ends of the earth a Spirit-filled testimony to the judgment of God against sin and the salvation of sinners who repent towards God and exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that a local New Testament Church is a body of baptized believers in Christ, associated together under the direction and government of the Holy Spirit for worship, instruction, fellowship, service, and the spread of the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 16:17-18; 28:18-20; Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 3:9-17; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 5:25-27; Colossians 1:18).
World Evangelization We believe that it is the heart's desire of Almighty God to save sinners, that He has committed Himself to the faithful witness of His redeemed children to reach them with the gospel, and that He has commissioned his people to be diligent and zealous in publishing the saving message of Jesus Christ throughout all the world so that sinners may be challenged and exhorted to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:4648; Acts 1:8; I Timothy 2:3-6; II Peter 3:9).
The Resurrection We believe that there will be two resurrections and that all the dead will be raised: that the righteous dead will have part in the first resurrection which will issue in eternal life and that the wicked dead will have part in the second resurrection which will issue in eternal damnation (Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:20-26; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15).
Eternity We believe that eternity will be composed of Heaven and Hell: that Heaven is a place of blessedness and that Hell is a place of eternal suffering; that all true believers in Jesus Christ will be fully redeemed from sin's penalty, power, and presence, will be glorified with the Lord when He comes, and will enjoy the blessing of unbroken fellowship with God forever; that all unbelieving sinners and rebels against God will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ according to their deeds, without respect of persons, by the glorious Gospel of God, and will be cast out from God's presence to suffer the torments of the lake of fire forever
(Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Romans 2:1-16; II Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 3:20; Revelation 20:1-15; 21:22). ---------------------------- Board of Directors
Nancy Aldridge Wanda Doolittle Bob Martin (President/Director) Dr. George Ball Frankie Warren York Craig Bob Bradford Jan Stewart Jimmy Morton(Financial)
Service Times
04/01/2021
About fifty years ago a Jackson area Bible study began. Lynwood
Bowdoin, former pastor of Jackson Bible Church and father of
Priscilla Cox, assumed the responsibility of the Bible study
ministry, which became an incorporated ministry, P.A.T. H.
(Preaching and Teaching Helps). These Bible studies offered a place
where believers from different local churches could gather to hear
God’s Word taught and invite others in a non-denominational setting.
For many years the classes have been taught one morning and one
weeknight at Riverwood Bible Church and for the last 28 years by our
pastor, John Ward.
P.A.T.H., INC is an independent 5013C ministry, not affiliated with
Riverwood Bible Church or GBC. It has a separate board of directors
and still has the mission of mid-week Bible study for those seeking
to get a deeper study of God’s Word, normally taught in a line by
line, verse by verse format.
The Elders and Deacons at GBC have graciously offered to the
leadership of P.A.T.H. INC the use of our facility seeing it as an
opportunity to reach more people in the community for Jesus Christ.
With that offer, the P.A.T.H. Bible studies are being relocated from
Riverwood Bible Church to GBC beginning next week, Tuesday April
6th, 2021.
The P.A.T.H. schedule at GBC will be as follows:
Tuesday Evenings from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, where the current study is
in the book of Hebrews. (This class can also be found on Sermon
Audio where it is archived and available afterwards for those unable
to attend.)
Wednesday Mornings from 10:00am-11:00am, where the current study is
in the book of Romans. (This class will also be offered on ZOOM for
any who are unable to attend in person and also available on Sermon
Audio for those who want to access at a later date.)