Grace Church’s Statement of Faith
Download this statement (PDF).
I. The Bible
We believe that the Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God; that it is infallible, inspired by God, and without error in its original manuscripts. Scripture, therefore, has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct and is sufficient for all matters of life and godliness.
II. The One True God
We believe in the One True and living God, Creator of all things, perfect in holiness, justice, wisdom, power and love. To God alone we owe perfect and glad obedience, for He alone is worthy of all glory, worship, and praise. The triune God has eternally existed in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – equal in divinity and glory, yet distinct in role and function.
III. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, who is an infinite and unchanging personal spirit. He sovereignly decrees all that shall come to pass, He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, He graciously hears and answers prayer, and is willing to save from sin and death those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
IV. God the Son
We believe in God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, fully God and fully human, the unique Son of God. He has eternally existed, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins, was physically raised from the dead as prophesied, and ascended into heaven. He is now exalted, seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for believers as the sole mediator. He will return to earth, and ultimately every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
V. God the Holy Spirit
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is the divine agent in the inspiration of Scripture. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates and permanently indwells all true believers, enabling them to walk in the newness of the Spirit by obeying God and growing in Christlikeness. He gives spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the body of Christ.
VI. Man
We believe that God directly created man, male and female, without sin, in His image, to reflect Him in exercising dominion over creation. God immutably and graciously creates each individual as a man or woman. Adam was the representative head of the human race, and when he sinned the entire human race fell in him. Thus, every human being is, by nature and by choice, in a state of defiance against God, the sovereign Creator. Consequently, man is under God’s just condemnation and neither willing nor able to seek after God.
VII. Salvation
We believe that God, according to His elective purpose, saves sinners from His just condemnation unto eternal life, applying the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to all who believe in Him and repent of their sin. Through saving faith God credits the sinner with the righteousness of Christ, grants forgiveness of sin, brings freedom from the bondage of sin, and provides the promise of glorification.
VIII. The Church
We believe in the universal church, the living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all who are regenerate are its members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated in worship, service, and fellowship. God has commissioned the members of the local church to the primary task of building up the body of Christ through evangelizing the lost and edifying one another.
IX. The Ordinances
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has given two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both ordinances picture the gospel which saves us. We believe that Baptism was instituted by Christ as a means for each believer to signify faith in Jesus and union with Him in His death and resurrection. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for remembrance of His sacrificial death. It is our belief that these ordinances should be observed until the Lord returns.
X. The Family
We believe that God ordained the family as the foundation of human society. Accordingly, He ordained the sacred institution of marriage, which is and can only be a union of one man and one woman. Marriage is designed by God to display the union between Christ and His church, to provide intimate companionship, and to provide the appropriate context for procreation. Children are a gift from God, fully human from conception, and therefore their lives are worthy of protection.
XI. Civil Government
We believe that Civil Government is of Divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society. Our government officials are to be prayed for, honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture.
XII. Last Things
We believe in the bodily return of Jesus Christ. At the final judgment, the unrepentant will be raised to the resurrection of judgment and permanent punishment in hell. Believers, those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ, will enjoy the everlasting, personal presence of God in heaven. This is the hope for which we long, which motivates us toward godly living and propels us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.
We also encourage you to read our “what we teach” Doctrinal Statement.