Beliefs

Grace exists to glorify God by guiding people to become like Christ in all of life. We are transformed by Grace and biblical Truth, committed to relational discipleship and engaged in ministry.

What We Believe

The Holy Scriptures

We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the verbally inspired Word of God. Inspiration is God’s superintending of human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the original autographs. All Scriptures are authoritative and without error in any category of knowledge, including science and history, and are of supreme and final authority in all matters about which they speak. We believe the Scriptures are to be interpreted in a literal and normal way. This means considering history, grammar, context and harmony with other Scriptures as guidelines for interpretation. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides the believer to understand the Bible. We believe that God’s revelation to man is complete and that He speaks to man primarily through the Scriptures. (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19)

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, eternal in being, identical in essence, equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfection. (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14)

The Alienated Condition of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, became alienated from God and is totally unable without God’s grace to regain its former position. (Genesis 1:26, 3:1-24; Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:12)

The Person & Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that our redemption and salvation is guaranteed to us by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. (John 1:1, 14, 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25)
 
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in Heaven, exalted to the right hand of God, where, as His people’s High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy. (Hebrews 1:3, 3:1, 7:23-25, 9:24, 12:2; I John 2:1-2)

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He also, in the present age, regenerates believers in Christ, baptizes them into the Church, the body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon each one and fills those yielded to Him. (John 3:8, 14:16, 15:26-27, 16:7-15; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)

Salvation

We believe that salvation is a gift of God in grace and is received by man through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8)

The Eternal Security of the Believer

We believe that all those who have genuinely put their trust in Christ as Savior and Lord have become new creations in Christ and are kept eternally secure by the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Jesus Christ. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 7:25; I Peter 1:5)

The Church

We believe that the Church is the universal bride and body of Christ. This body is composed of all “born again” believers in Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation or church membership. (I Corinthians 12:4-27; Ephesians 1:22, 5:23-30)
 
We believe that the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus Christ who have the privilege and responsibility to voluntarily join together in one locality for the purpose of equipping each believer to be obedient to God through vital, personal and corporate experiences: with Him, in His Word, with one another and in evangelism.
 
We believe that the local church is God’s primary means of leading people to Christ and presenting each believer mature in Christ. (Matthew 16:18-19, 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-47)
 
We believe that the Lord Jesus instituted the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by all believers until His return. (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the personal imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own, the Church and His subsequent pre-millennial return to earth to set up His kingdom. (Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:9-10, 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6)

The Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all persons. Believers are to be resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God and unbelievers to experience judgment and then eternal suffering apart from God. (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:52; I Thessalonians 4:16; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:4-6, 21:1-8)

The Responsibility of Believers

We believe that all believers should seek to walk by the Spirit, not bringing reproach upon their Lord and Savior, and that separation from sinful pleasures and practices is commanded by God. (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:14, 7:1; Galatians 5:16, 25)

 

We believe that it is the obligation of every believer to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all the world. (Acts 1:8)

 

We believe that it is the responsibility of all believers to remember the work of the Lord in prayer and to support it with their means as the Lord has prospered them. (I Corinthians 16:2)

 

We believe that Scripture teaches that the local church shall have priority in our giving. (Acts 2:37-47; I Corinthians 9:11, 16:1-2)

 

Download a PDF of Grace’s Statement of Doctrine.

Our Position

Throughout church history, church leaders have been asked what the Church or their local church believes about particular cultural, current or theological topics. After studying Scripture, praying and discussing these issues, church leaders put forth papers on these things. Historically speaking, this is how creeds and doctrinal statements were developed in traditional churches.

 

Throughout Grace’s history, the church leaders have written papers to address various biblical and cultural issues not covered in our doctrinal statement. These position papers reflect the views of the Elders and Pastors.

 

We believe that the Bible defines what is true and as believers in Christ, we are to obey what God says even if it puts us into conflict with our culture or society. People that disagree with our positions need to see us express love, grace, kindness and compassion as Jesus demonstrated to those who encountered him. We are God’s ambassadors in this world. His call is to bring people into a right relationship with the Father. We do this by aligning ourselves with the Truths taught in Scripture.

Church Authority and Pastoral Service

Learn about our position on the role of the elders and pastors for the governance of the church.

Restoration Process

Learn about our position on the process of restoring the individual in their walk with the Lord and fellowship in the church.

Sacredness of Marriage and Sexual Relationships

The subject of sacredness of marriage and sexual relationships is one of the major subjects for debate in the evangelical church today. Learn about our position on the sacredness of marriage and sexual relationships.

Dignity of Humanity and The Unborn

We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, giving all human lives dignity.  Further, we believe that life begins at conception and support the right to life of an unborn child. We also recognize our calling as followers of Christ to show compassion and love in Christ’s name to those who might differ with our views, or who might have experiences with abortion in their past.

Learn about our position on abortion and the church by reading the position paper titled linked below. We also recommend that you listen to Dr. Cassidy’s sermon entitled “Every Human Life is Sacred”, which was recorded on Sunday, July 11, 2021, linked below.

Worship

Learn about our position on individual and corporate worship.

Giving

Learn about our position on tithing and giving in the church.