Beliefs & Core Values
Essentials of Faith
The following points of our doctrinal statement represent those truths believers through the ages have considered essential for orthodox Christian faith as given in the Scriptures. This church requires affirmation of these truths for membership.
The Bible is actually God’s Word given to His people. Every concept & every word were recorded exactly as God intended because His Holy Spirit worked through the men who wrote the original books. Because these words are ultimately God’s, they are absolutely truthful, accurate, & without error.
This is why we happily depend upon the Bible as the basis for how we think about God & His Word (theology) & for how we behave (ethics). We also consider translations of the Bible that accurately reflect the intent & words of the original languages to be the Word of God.
It is our privilege to seek to understand God’s message & apply it responsibly to our lives as well as share it in relevant ways with others. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Matt. 24:35)
There is only one living & true God, without limits, separate from sin & His creation, sovereign, everywhere-present, all-powerful, all-knowing, & eternal. We believe that God is the loving Creator & Sustainer of all that exists both seen & unseen. God exists as the Trinity in three persons yet one God: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. While each person is fully & equally God in every way, each has unique functions to fulfill. This teaching is a mystery to man but is clearly taught in the Bible.
Though He has no needs, God passionately desires a relationship with us & towards this end continually invites us into a relationship of faith & a life of obedience, learning, & service. (Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Matt. 3:16-17)
We believe in the absolute deity of Jesus; that is, He is & always was fully God. He has existed as an equal person with the Father and the Spirit throughout eternity. He took on humanity and a body through miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in Mary, who was a virgin. During His earthly life & even now, He is both fully God & fully human.
It is the unique role of Jesus to reveal the other members of the Godhead and to provide salvation for the world through His death & resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven to be our advocate in the Father’s presence and to prepare a heavenly home for His people whom He will gather together to be with Him when He returns at the end of this age.
Jesus is, therefore, the only way we can come to God & have a relationship with Him. In His life He modeled how He desires us to live. (John 1:1-2,18; 1 John 5:20; Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:26-38; Heb. 1:1-2; John 14:1-7; I John 2:1)
We believe in the absolute deity of the Holy Spirit equal with the Father & the Son & yet enjoying a unique role. With regard to all people, including the lost, He convicts us of sin, teaches the perfect way God desires man to live, & warns of the judgment for failing to do so. With regard to believers, He calls out a community of people to demonstrate to the world the power of the good news of Jesus.
He lives inside all who believe in Jesus. He teaches, comforts, & empowers us, giving each follower diverse gifts, fostering unity, interdependence, productivity, Christ-like character, & love among Christians.
By dependence upon the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity of demonstrating the power of God to create a new community that experiences & expresses the kingdom of heaven. (2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:16 17; Rom. 8:14 17)
Men & women are created in & reflect God’s image: we have the ability to think, to choose, & to feel. The abilities to reason, strategize, plan, appreciate beauty, “create” in terms of literature, music, & art, & to experience joy & heartache are all traceable to God’s image stamped on each human being.
Because God is a trinity, we are inherently designed for relationships both toward man & God. Because we are created, we are finite creatures who have limits & are completely dependent upon the Creator.
Adam & Eve, who were created with the freedom to choose, were tempted by Satan & voluntarily chose to rebel against God. Adam’s sin plunged them & their descendants into condemnation & death. Now all their offspring are sinful from the very beginning of life & become practical sinners with the first expression of personal choice & so are without excuse before God. Adam’s sin mars the image of God in man so that our reasoning, choices, & feelings are colored by sin.
Because each person is created in God’s image, each has intrinsic value. We seek to participate in God’s work of restoring each person to the full image of God. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-26; Psalm 51; Rom. 5:10 19; Col. 1:28, 29; 3:10)
Our relationship with God was ruined by Adam’s choice, & the restoration of our relationship can only be accomplished through the reconciling work of Jesus, the sinless & perfect human being (who was also God), who took the punishment that was due us for our sin when He suffered & died voluntarily on the cross.
The blessings of a restored relationship with God are freely given on the grounds of grace alone to all who put their trust in Him. Belief in Jesus means that having acknowledged our own sinfulness & rebellion against God, we now call upon the Lord Jesus to forgive us, & we entrust our lives to His direction & care.
We trust that Jesus’ death is alone sufficient to pay the penalty for our sin & to restore our relationship with God & that Jesus also provides the example & teaching for us to follow to enjoy our renewed relationship with God. The Bible teaches that the person who believes in Jesus is justified; that is, he is declared to be right with God as Christ’s right living is credited to him while his sin & condemnation has been placed upon Christ at the cross.
The most important dividing line within humanity is between those who still live under God’s judgment, & those who have been set free from condemnation through Jesus’ death on the cross in their place.
There are only two possible states of existence, with two radically different outcomes. This means the message of salvation through Jesus is the focal point of Christian teaching & mission. (Rom. 3:21-31; 10:9-13; John 3:1-7; I Cor. 15:17; Titus 3:5-7)
We believe that the true church is composed of all those who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. Each local church is a visible extension of the body of Christ in a given place.
A local church is composed of believers who are bound together in common faith & obedience to Jesus, who teach the Word of God, & who observe the ordinances of Christ. These believers are governed by the New Testament & are answerable to Christ. The offices of the church are pastors (also called overseers & elders) & deacons.
As Christ’s body, the church in both universal & local forms is to do on earth what Jesus would do if He were here. The community of believers who make up a local church are also to model their shared life through manifesting Christ’s love toward each other & serving each other with the enabling gifts given by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:41 42; Eph. 1:22 23; 3; 4:1-16; 1 Tim. 3; Col. 1:18)
Historic Distinctives
Within Christian history, divergent views on doctrinal issues have emerged even among true Christian believers. This church, recognizing its responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God, affirms the following doctrines as accurate expressions of biblical truth, & will teach only these views of the subjects in question.
Members must abide under these teaching positions. In cases where different groups of Christians may hold other views, we will hold our views with charity as well as clarity.
We believe that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are set apart by God as His own unique people. This act, called sanctification, is also a process that continues throughout the earthly life of the believer.
We are given a new set of desires, motivations, & empowerment by the Holy Spirit, & as inheritors of eternal life, we are eternally secure in Christ. This means that we experience a new beginning & new life that we can never lose. It also means that the life & character of each believer will inevitably change as we are conformed to the character of Jesus throughout our lives. The lack of such change of character is cause to question the validity of one’s salvation.
Sanctification means not only that we separate ourselves from false doctrine & conduct as Jesus did, but also that we engage the culture with the heart & mind of Christ while we pursue holiness. Further, we evidence sanctification by extending grace towards genuine believers with whom we disagree on non-essential matters of the faith. We should make every effort to mature in Christian character. (John 10:27 30; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 John 3:1-10; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
We believe that there are two church ordinances, or observances, that were given by the Lord Jesus to the church: baptism & the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water & serves as a powerful testimony of identification with Christ’s death & resurrection & of cleansing from sin for a believer after conversion. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic meal instituted by the Lord Himself as a frequent reminder of His death.
Baptism & communion provide two powerful testimonies of the saving work of Christ. Baptism serves as a public declaration of the beginning of a new life while in communion the believer continually reaffirms his faith in God’s salvation. (1 Cor. 11:23 30; Luke 22:14 20; Acts 2:41; 8:35 39)
God created the heavens & the earth, including all life by direct act & not by the process of evolution. He completed His work in six literal consecutive days & rested on the seventh. God’s creatorship means that He owns the earth & all its inhabitants. As stewards of both our lives & the earth, we value life & are accountable to Him for the way we invest our lives & treat His creation. (Genesis 1:1-2:4; Col. 1:16 17; John 1:3)
Satan, also called “the Devil,” is a distinct person who was created without sin, but subsequently rebelled against the Creator. He currently engages in conflict against God & His work & is the ruling power of this age. However, Satan, as a created being, is limited to actions permitted by God. Satan will be defeated by God & is destined for eternal judgment in the lake of fire.
We should expect that conflict with the evil one should be a normal part of our lives, & that we need continual protection & provision from God in daily living. (Job 1:10-12; 2:5-7; Matt. 4:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 20:10)
Spiritual gifts are empowerments for service to the body of Christ given when the Holy Spirit comes into the life of the believer at conversion. Miraculous signs & gifts were given during the early days of the Church to authenticate the apostles as Jesus’ representatives but were not intended to be a pattern for the present day.
God gives spiritual gifts for the benefit of the local body of Christ. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11)
The Bible clearly teaches that the future victory of God’s kingdom is assured. Jesus has promised to return for His people in triumph at the end of history. Following the resurrections of the saved & unsaved, God will judge all those who are not His children, & because their sin condemns them, He will sentence them to a never-ending, conscious punishment in the lake of fire. Those who are God’s children have the promise of a never-ending life in His presence in what is called “heaven” & “the new heavens & the new earth.”
We believe in the bodily & personal return of Jesus Christ for the Church in an event called the rapture before a seven-year tribulation period. At the close of this period He will establish a literal reign upon the earth for 1,000 years in fulfillment of prophecy.
Our confidence in God’s final triumph allows us to face the uncertainties of today with the assurance that they cannot undo the promises of God ultimately to reward faithfulness, to welcome us into His presence, & to overcome all evil & pain with good & joy. (1 Thes. 4:13 18; Matt. 25:31 36; Rev. 19-20)
Discipleship Pathway
We need a roadmap or a pathway to help us know how to reach our intended goal. What are members at Grace expected to believe, know, and do as a part of Christ’s church?
There are four essential elements in our discipleship pathway that are clearly reflected in our church covenant: Gather for Worship, Grow in Community, Give through Ministry, and Go on Mission. These are not slogans. They are strategies to help us pursue our mission together. Each of these commands are accompanied by subpoints that outline key components to clarify and illustrate the scope of these spheres of discipleship. While being a disciple certainly involves more than just these core principles, these serve as the foundational priorities that guide us as we pursue our mission to be and make disciples.
1. Believe in the Gospel of Christ: The church is made up of people who understand, believe, and are transformed by the gospel. (1 Pet 2:9) God the Father has called us to faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit
2. Commit to the Body of Christ: Members of this local covenant community affirm their accountability to one another, submission to their leaders, and engagement in Christ’s mission. This commitment is clearly demonstrated in baptism and church membership. (Eph 2:19-22) We are now part of the universal church and members of this local church.
3. Assemble in Worship of Christ: Members are engaged and obedient participants in the gathered worship of the church and the responsibilities of church members. (Col 3:16-17, Heb 10:23-25) We commit ourselves to assemble together as a church to worship under the Word, baptize believers, and celebrate communion.
1. Grow Deep in Biblical Discipleship: Every believer is called to be a disciple of Jesus – learning to obey all that he has commanded. Smaller community groups provide a context where we are able to study, understand, and apply biblical truth in community. We need the counsel, encouragement, and exhortation of other believers. And we all have a responsibility to help others in their spiritual growth as well. Our discipleship efforts also focus on equipping and encouraging people toward spiritual leadership. (2 Pet 3:18, 2 Tim 2:1-2) We commit ourselves to biblical community in which we disciple one another and are discipled…
2. Grow Strong in Authentic Friendships: We learn in formal settings but our lives are also shaped as we walk alongside one another in the rhythms of everyday life. Smaller community groups provide environments of trust where we can pray for one another, confess our sins to one another, encourage one another, and counsel one another. (1 Thess 2:8, 5:11-14) We commit ourselves to biblical community in which we…know one another and are known…
3. Grow Mature in Loving Relationships: Our growth in Christ transforms our relationships as we live out our new identity and fulfill our one-another responsibilities. Jesus made it clear that his followers would be identified by their love for one another. We should increasingly manifest the fruit of the Spirit which shapes how we communicate, resolve conflict, extend forgiveness, love our spouse, parent our children, and submit to leaders. Smaller community groups establish healthy spans of care where no one is left alone. This mutual care is a vital part of our witness in the world. (Eph 4:15-16, Col 3:12-13) We commit ourselves to biblical community in which we…care for one another and are cared for…
1. Invest Time: This might include formal responsibilities in a specific ministry or informal opportunities such as prayer, hospitality, encouragement, or listening. Membership in a local church does not mean greater privilege but greater responsibility. (Phil 2:17)
2. Leverage Gifts: Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and gifted by God to contribute to the health and unity of the church. Therefore, we are called to use our gifts for the building up of the church. We reject the temptation to be passive or apathetic to the needs around us. Rather, we will give ourselves over to the ministries God has put before us. (Rom 12:5-6)
3. Steward Resources: God has entrusted financial and material resources to every believer and they are responsible to give regularly, generously, and sacrificially to the work of Christ’s church. (1 Pet 4:10) We commit ourselves to local and global ministry by giving sacrificially of our time, abilities, and resources to advance the gospel.
1. Engage: Believers should cultivate relationships of influence with neighbors, coworkers, and family members who are not yet saved by living out the gospel with integrity and transparency. We are called to live each day on mission with a sense of gospel urgency. Our attitudes, actions, and character reveal the grace of the gospel and the character of Christ. (Matt 5:13-16)
2. Proclaim: Believers should share the message of the gospel with unbelievers and invite them to place their faith in Christ through intentional evangelism and discipleship. We display and declare the gospel through gospel conversations and an explicit gospel call to repent and believe in Christ. Our relationships provide the opportunity to share the gospel, especially when people are in trouble, under tension, and in transition. (Matt 28:19-20)
3. Partner: Believers should collaborate with kingdom partners to strengthen, support, and plant churches both locally and globally. Partnership may include praying, supporting, going, training, and sending as we live our lives with Christ’s mission as our passion. (Acts 20:24, Phil 1:7-8) We commit to our mission of being and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.