TENETS OF FAITH AND DOCTRINE
GRACE CHURCH

The church accepts the Scriptures as the revealed will of God
and adopts these statements of fundamental truths and doctrine.

 

Printable Version

 

THE SCRIPTURES - The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim, 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD - Our God is one, but manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Phil. 2:6).

God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14).

The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14).

The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal
(John 15:26).

MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION - Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Rom. 5:14; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; I John 3:8).

SALVATION - Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8 Rom. 10:9-1 0). Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7;10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5) 

HEAVEN and ETERNAL LIFE - Heaven is a wonderful place full of life, prepared for those who have experienced salvation. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” carry the thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God. Heaven is a place for only life, no death. There will be no more pain or sorrow in that place.  ( John 14:3; Rev. 3:3-4)

THE LORD'S SUPPER - The celebration of the Lord’s Supper by eating of the bread and drinking of the cup is a remembrance of Jesus (1 Cor. 11:24-30).

1Corinthians 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

 

WATER BAPTISM - Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.”

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST - The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received any time following the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4).

SANCTIFICATION - The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Heb. 12:14; 1Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30).

TOTAL PROSPERITY
(A) Spiritual (John 3:3,11; Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21)
(B) Mental (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isa. 26:3)
(C) Physical (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Gal. 3:13)
(D) Financial (3 John 2; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Deu. 28:1-14)
(E) Social (Prov. 3:4; IThess. 5:23)

DIVINE HEALING - Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, by the laying on of hands and by the anointing of oil. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Mark 11:23- 24; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16; Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2-24).

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST and THE RETURN OF OUR LORD - The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “...this same Jesus. . . shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “. . . the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air .(Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6).

HELL and ETERNAL RETRIBUTION - The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:15; Rev. 19:20).