Core Beliefs
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. Various men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, we apply ourselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life, and holds highest authority over all other means of revelation. It is not to be added to or detracted from (Deut. 4:2;Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe in the one living and true God, eternally existing in perfect unity as three equally and fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit . Each member of the Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (Matthew 28:19-20; John 17:3;1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe God the Father created all things for His glory according to His own will , through His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3)
GOD THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, took on human flesh . Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him. He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man, and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission. (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 14:8-9).
GOD THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gi?ts to the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19;Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).
MANKIND
We believe that God created mankind—male and female—in His own image and likeness, free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship. Tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death and condemnation to all mankind. All human beings, therefore, are totally depraved by nature and by choice. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6;Romans 3:10-19;Romans 1:18, 32).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is made possible by God’s gracious and sovereign movement. God gave His Son, Jesus, as Savior to all who would believe and follow Christ as Lord. Salvation is secured and upheld by the person and work of Christ. His atoning sacrifice on the cross fully satisfied the righteous wrath of God toward persons who confess and repent of their sins and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God effectually calls people to Himself through the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is specifically through the Gospel that people are invited by God to trust in Jesus Christ and be saved. (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the ongoing assembly of Christ-followers who meet regularly for worship, fellowship, prayer, service, and spiritual growth. The church has the distinct purpose of magnifying Jesus Christ in the world. Christ is the head of the church and by the Holy Spirit has gifted the church with spiritual servant-leaders called pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men, as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. (1 Timothy 3)
BAPTISM AND COMMUNION
We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection symbolized by immersion in water. The Lord’s Supper is the united commemoration by believers of Christ’s death until He comes and should be preceded by a careful self-examination (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29).
MISSIONS
We believe it is the aim, duty, and privilege of every believer and local church fellowship to glorify God by responding as active participants in the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all nations. We believe the primary focus and priority of this call is centered on efforts that establish, strengthen, and reproduce biblically-based churches, which will then plant churches that plant churches for future generations and God’s glory. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15)
THINGS TO COME
We believe in and expectantly await the glorious, visible, and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed hope of His return has vital bearing on the personal life, service, and mission of the believer We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The lost will be raised to judgment and experience eternal wrath in hell. The saved will be raised to eternal joy in the new heaven and new earth in the manifested presence of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26).
IN A NUTSHELL
The doctrines of men and religious organizations are numerous. At Grace, we seek to focus on the main thing: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We try to live out the Christian faith in a way that is faithful to Scripture, consistent with Christian history, in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and impactful within our cultural context.