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Statement of Faith and Purposes
The programs and activities governing the form of worship
at Grace Christian Center, Incorporated, shall be based upon,
and at all times shall be consistent with the following creed
and beliefs:
A. 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. We accept the New Covenant,
as recorded in the New Testament, as our infallible guide
in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim.
3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; II Peter 1:21)
B. The Godhead. Our God is One manifested in three
Persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Phil.
2:6; Matt. 3:16-17)
God the Father is greater than all; the Source of the Word
(Logos) and the Begetter. (John 14:28; John 16:28; John
1:14)
Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, the Word flesh-covered,
the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the
beginning. (John 1:1; John 1:8; John 1:14; John 10:30)
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the
Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)
C. 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. "For
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. He gave His life and shed His blood to redeem
and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Rom.
3:9-10; 1 John 3:8; Gal. 3:13-14)
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)
D. Eternal Life and New Birth. Man's first step toward
salvation is Godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New
Birth is necessary to all men, and when believed with the
heart and confessed with the mouth produces eternal life.
(II Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
E. Water Baptism. Baptism in water is by immersion
and 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, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen."
F. 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 those who are believers in this dispensation
and is received subsequent to 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)
G. 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. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23;
II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30)
H. 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, and by laying on of hands. It is provided
for in the atonement of Christ, and it is the privilege of
every member of the church today. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-20;
1 Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5)
I. Resurrection of the Just and the Return of our Lord.
The angels said, "...this same Jesus...shall so come
in like manner..." 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)
J. Hell and Eternal Retribution. The one who physically
dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally
lost in the lake of fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity
of hearing the Gospel or for repentance. 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 noting the duration of joy and
ecstasy of the saints in the Presence of God. (Heb. 9:27;
Rev. 19:20; Hebrews 6:1-2)
K. Communion - The Lord's Supper. We partake of the
Lord's supper to show the Lord's death 'till He come. (I
Cor. 11:23-31) The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken
body. (Is. 53:5; I Cor. 11:24) The cup represents the
new covenant in His blood which provides us forgiveness and
relationship with God. (Heb. 9:1; I Cor. 11:25) We
judge ourselves and realize that this is our salvation and
receive it (I Cor. 11:28-30). For if we receive it
unworthily - without giving it honor as our salvation - we
are guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (I Cor.
11:27)
L. Laying on of Hands. A simple belief that power
or anointing or any other necessary quality can be transmitted
by one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced
by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16
as a blessing, and it is our grounds for baby dedication instead
of baptism. Laying on of Hands for Healing (Mark 5:22,23
and 41; Mark 5:28-31; Acts 28:8; Acts 19:11-12); Laying
on of Hands to confer office (Acts 6:2-6); Laying on
of Hands to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:16-18);
Laying on of Hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing
and to cultivate the anointing (I Tim. 4:14); Laying
on of Hands for Ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary
ministry tools. (I Tim. 4:14)
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