Our Beliefs

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal, co-essential, co-substantial, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 5:7).

1. Father: God, the Father, is seen in God's Word to be the Administrative Head of the Trinity, with the following examples:

a. God, the Father, chose us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4).

b. God, the Father, gave and sent His Son for us (John 3:16).

c. God, the Father, sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17,26).

2. The Person and Work of Christ:

a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal only begotten Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2,14; Luke 1:35).

b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as justification is made sure by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).

c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is High Priest and He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2).

3. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:

a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling, and sealing them unto the Day of Redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).

b. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; I John 2:20,27; Ephesians 5:18).

We believe that Satan is a created being, the first to rebel against the Creator, and the original tempter of humanity; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:1).

We believe the book of Genesis provides a simple and historical account of creation. We believe the personages are real, the events are literal, and the time frames are factual, including the six days of creation and one day of rest. We believe all life forms, including mankind, were made by direct, supernatural, creative acts of God (i.e., not by natural, physical processes over millions of years). We believe the creative agent of the Trinity (Godhead) was Jesus. We believe that Genesis 1-11 provides the literal, historical framework that explains both the origin and present existence of the universe (Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2).

We believe that mankind, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born with a sinful nature, are guilty of personal sin, and are without excuse (Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans 5:10-19; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18).

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin honored the Divine Law by His personal obedience; and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. Christ's atonement was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinners place, the just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that,

having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior (Hebrews 9:12,22; 10:19; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:1; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:17; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3-11; II Corinthians 5:21).

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is an instantaneous act and not a process, and that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life (John 3:3,6-8; II Corinthians 5:17-19; I John 5:1; Acts 16:30-31; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5-7).

We believe that all the saved have "eternal life"; and shall never perish, and that they are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time (John 10:28-29; I John 5:10-13; I Peter 1:5; Ephesians 1:12-14).

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16; and I John 3:5-9).

We believe that sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive beginning at conversion. In its instantaneous sense, it is positional, and has to do with our standing. In its progressive sense it is experiential and has to do with our walk and state of mind (Hebrews 10:14; I Thessalonians 4:1-7; 5:23).

1. We believe that God has proved Himself by signs, wonders, and miracles and we now have the complete Word of God, the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers, these being sufficient "for the perfecting of the saints, for the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:7-12; I Corinthians 13:8- 13; I Corinthians 12:4-12.

2. We believe that at the moment of salvation every child of God receives a spiritual gift(s) with which they should exercise within the local body, but not at the exclusion of ministering in any area where there is a need or opportunity (I Corinthians 12:11; Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 13:8-10).

3. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accordance with His own will (James 5:14-16; I John 5:14-16; John 15:7; Hebrews 4:16; James 1:5-7; Philippians 4:6).

1. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again believers (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; and II Corinthians 11:2).

2. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:24; 20:17,28,32; I Timothy 3:1-13; and Titus 1:5-11).

3. This local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word and Spirit. Its Elders, Deacons, qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Jesus the Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, and that the one and only head is Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for New Testament churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that in all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-24; Acts 15:13-18).

4. We believe that God's Word teaches that discipline is to be sought within the local assembly, and that those things described in the Bible as being detrimental to the proper functioning of the local church must be corrected by mutual exhortation in the Spirit. Refusing correction, offending individuals place themselves in a position of alienation from the church and so remain until, by a true spirit of confession, they are once again restored to fellowship (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1-2).

1. We believe that since there can only be one Scriptural mode of physical baptism, it is the immersion in water of the believer, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior; and that every new convert should be baptized by immersion as soon as possible. (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 28:19-20).

2. We believe the Lord’s Supper, as instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, is for the express purpose of commemorating Christ’s death amongst His redeemed Church. The natural elements of the supper bring to our remembrance the shed blood and broken body of Christ on the Cross. By practicing this ordinance, we preach the Lord’s death until He comes. As such, this practice shall be observed by professing believers regularly in the normal worship gatherings of the Church. (Luke 22:7-23; Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in life and after death, in the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; I John 5:19; Romans 7:6; 6:3; Luke 6:25,16:19-28; John 18:21; Psalms 37:28).

When Jesus Christ came to earth, He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He shared God’s grace with compassion and proclaimed God’s truth with conviction. In this statement on marriage and sexuality, we want to reflect Jesus Christ by proclaiming both grace and truth.

1. THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S AMAZING GRACE

a. We believe that the good news of God’s amazing grace is that any sinner can be forgiven, cleansed, and declared righteous and holy in God’s sight because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess their sins (including any of the sins mentioned below) and who seek His mercy and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:9), seeking to live a life worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1).

b. We believe that every person must be afforded grace, compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church (Matthew 7:12; 22:39; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 2:17).

2. BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT MARRIAGE

a. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8).

b. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:25; Proverbs 5:15- 20; Hebrews 13:4).

c. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God (Exodus 20:14; 22:19; Leviticus 18:6-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18; 27:21; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9- 20; Ephesians 5:5-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Hebrews 13:4).

d. We believe that believers in Jesus Christ should only marry “in the Lord.” In other words, a believer should not seek to be “unequally yoked” by marrying a non-believer (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15).

e. We believe that marriage is the joining together by God of a man and a woman in a sacred union. Therefore, we believe that it is not God’s plan for that union to be broken by divorce (Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31- 32; 19:1-6; Mark 10:1-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-14) and that those who are divorced should not remarry except for, scriptural concessions including but not limited to, marital unfaithfulness and spousal abandonment (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:11,15-16).

f. In accordance with our beliefs, we will provide marriage-related services that align with this biblical view of marriage. These services include but are not limited to: conducting premarital and marriage counseling, officiating wedding ceremonies, and renting the facility for showers, weddings, marriages, receptions, and other events.

g. Grace Church consists of people who rejoice in the truth of the good news of God’s amazing grace: that although unrepentant sinners “will not inherit the kingdom of God,” we have been “washed,” we have been “sanctified,” and we have been “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

1. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and fulfillment of God's will; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Bible, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and coming Prince of the kings of the earth (Romans 13:1-7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 5:17-20; Acts 4:18-20; Daniel 3:17-18).

2. We believe in the principles of religious liberty separate from government control. We also believe that the church should exercise a biblical influence on the government (I Peter 5:1-3; I Peter 2:13-17; Matthew 22:21).

We believe in the blessed hope (Titus 2:13), the personal, visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rapture the redeemed, to judge the world, to rule on earth for a thousand years, and then reign eternally with the saints in Heaven (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9; Rev 19:11-16; Revelation 20:1-6; Revelation 21:1-4).

We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead, that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at His coming and be joined by the living raptured and transformed saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their eternal punishment (John 5:21-30; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 20:11-15).

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, and those who consistently lead or teach in a ministry capacity, should agree to and abide by the Grace Church Statement of Faith, and conduct themselves accordingly.

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Grace Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Grace Church Board of Elders is the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s application.