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Sunday School 9:30AM 5605 S. Franklin Rd. |
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A caring congregation seeking to help every individual reach full potential as a follower of Jesus Christ |
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The most important decision a person will make is to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Click here to learn about God’s plan of salvation. The theological position of Grace Church is known as Mid-Acts Dispensationalism. Click here to learn more.
INTRODUCTION I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE of your calling: ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM. ONE GOD and FATHER of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us in given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Eph. 4:1-7)
We affirm that the seven-fold unity expressed in this passage is the Holy Spirit’s DOCTRINAL STATEMENT for the Church which is the Body of Christ. We believe that all expressions of doctrinal position and requirements for this Dispensation of the Grace of God must be in full accord with the Holy Spirit’s outline. We recognize other doctrinal unities for other dispensations, but we affirm that Eph. 4:4-6 stands alone as the Doctrinal Unity for this dispensation.
Desiring to be in full accord with the Mind of the Spirit, we hold and require the following doctrinal beliefs.
THE BIBLE The entire Bible in its original writings is verbally inspired of God, and is of plenary authority. (II Tim. 3:16-17, II Pet. 1:21)
THE GODHEAD There is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4, Jn. 4:24 & 10:30, Eph. 4:6)
THE PERSON OF CHRIST Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true Man. (Lk. 1:35, Phil. 2:6-9, Rom. 1:3-4)
TOTAL DEPRAVITY All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins, and are therefore totally unable to do anything pleasing to God. (Eph. 2:1-3, Rom. 8:7-8)
REDEMPTION God justifies ungodly sinners by His grace, upon the ground of the blood of Christ, through the means of faith. This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man’s works. (Rom. 3:20-28 & 5:1-9, Eph.2:8-9)
ETERNAL SECURITY All the saved are eternally secure in Christ. (Col. 2:9 & 3:1-4, Phil. 1:6)
PERSONALITY AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, and who regenerates, baptizes, seals, indwells, enlightens, and empowers the saved. (Jn. 16:8, Tit. 3:5, I Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:13, 1:17-18, & 3:16)
THE CHURCH In the present dispensation there is only ONE Bible Church, which is called the Body of Christ, having a membership composed of all the saved. (I Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:22-23, & 3:6) GIFTS The only gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those enumerated in Eph. 4:7-16.
WALK By reason of Christ’s victory over sin and of His indwelling Spirit, all the saved may and should experience deliverance from the power of sin by obedience to Rom. 6:11, but we deny that man’s nature of sin is ever eradicated during his life. (Rom. 6:6-14, Gal. 5:16-25, Rom. 8:37, II Cor. 2:14, & 10:2-5)
BAPTISM All saved persons have been made members of the Body of Christ by ONE Divine baptism. By that ONE baptism every member of the Body of Christ is identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. In the light of the statement concerning ONE baptism in Eph. 4:5 and the statement concerning baptism in Col. 2:12, and Paul’s statement in I Cor. 1:17 that “Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel”, we affirm that water baptism has no place in God’s Spiritual program for the Body of Christ in this day of grace.
RESURRECTION Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead, and at His coming He will raise all of the saved to everlasting glory, and at the end, He will raise all of the lost to everlasting condemnation. (Luke 24:39, I Cor. 15:22-24, Rev. 20:11-15)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST The second coming of Christ will be personal and pre-millennial. He will come first to receive the Church unto Himself, and then to receive His Millennial Kingdom over which He will reign. (I Thess. 4:13-18, Phil. 3:21, Rev. 19:11 to 20:10)
STATE OF THE UNSAVED DEAD The Scripture in no place extends the hope of salvation to the unsaved dead, but instead reveals that they will ever continue to exist in a state of conscious suffering. The teachings of Universalism, of probation after death, of annihilation of the unsaved dead are opposed by us as being thoroughly unscriptural and dangerous doctrines. (Lk. 13:23-28, Rm. 1:21-32, Jn. 3:36, Eph.5:5, Phil. 3:19, Col. 3:6, II Thess. 1:9, II Cor. 5:6-8 & 12:3-4, Phil. 1:23, Rev. 14:11 & 20:14-15)
MISSION The mission and commission of the Church is to follow the Apostle Paul and the revelation of truth which our Lord Jesus Christ in glory gave to Him for us. (I Cor. 4:16 & 11:1, Phil.3:17, I Thess. 1:6, Rom. 11:13 & 15:16, Eph. 3:1, I Tim. 2:7, II Tim. 1:11 & 2:2) That Gospel which Paul called “my gospel” in contrast to the gospel of the circumcision in God’s message for today. (Rom. 2:16 & 16:25, II Tim. 2:8, Gal. 1:9, 1:11, 2:2, & 2:5-7) We, as Paul, should strive to preach the gospel in the regions beyond where Christ is not yet named. (Rom. 15:20, II Cor. 10:16) (Our great Commission for this age: II Cor. 5:18-20.) |