Our Statement of Faith

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19;
1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father.  Jesus was born to a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying in our place on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30;

Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4;

Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.  He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Christ.  He also lives in every Christian from when they receive Christ.  He provides the Christian with power for godly living, the understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.  He is the promise of a future home in heaven for the true believer.  He provides every believer a spiritual gift.  As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8;

1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25;

Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God’s Word to us.  It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

2 Timothy 3:16;  2 Peter 1:20,21;  2 Timothy 1:13;

Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6;  Proverbs 30:5

People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character and to be in fellowship with Him.  People are dead in our sins and face an eternity (in Hell) apart from God if our relationship is not restored.  We believe that man was tempted by Satan, fell under the influence of sin, and chose to become disobedient to God.  We believe that people are unable to fix the problem of sin and therefore are in need of salvation.  Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by sin.  We need help from God to restore fellowship.  Jesus Christ came to free people from the penalty and power of sin and restores them to relationship with God.

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; John 3:15-17; Romans 3:23, 5:12-21;

Isaiah 59:1-2

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it.  We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or doing good things.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.  Eternal life with God begins the moment one receives Jesus into his life by faith.

Because God offers us salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity.  Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12, 5:24, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1, 8:1;

 John 10:28-29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven.  Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18;

Revelation 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9

We believe that Satan is the enemy of God and all people.  He rebelled against God and became the author of sin.  Satan is at war with God for control of the earth.  As a result, he attempts to obstruct the work and workers of God.  His most destructive work is done through deception, temptation, and accusation.  God is and ultimately will be victorious over Satan and his followers who will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.

Job 1:6; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 22:31; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8; John 8:44; 1 Thessalonians 3:5;

 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:10, 20:10

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the unity of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and 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.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God

We believe in order to preserve the function and integrity of Grace Community Church as the local body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Grace Community Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Grace Community Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement of Faith / Doctrinal Statement

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all those who confess and forsake their sin, seeking his mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harrasing behavior or attitudes directed towards any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Grace Community Church.

Gen 1:26-27, Gen 2:18-25, 1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4, Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10, .Matt 5:16;

Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22, Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11, Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image.  Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including preborn babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

This 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 Community Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Senior Pastor/Elder Board is Grace Community Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.