About Grace Fellowship

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to man, and thus the 66 books of the Bible, given to us by the Holy Spirit, constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21). 

We teach that the Word of God is an objective, propositional revelation (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16), absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed.

We teach that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (Matthew 5:18, 24:35; John 10:35, 16:12-13, 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).  

We teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship.  The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man (2 Peter 1:20-21) without error in the whole or in the part (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16). 

We teach that, whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation.  The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies hermeneutical, exegetical and grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the illumination and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17, 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20).  It is the responsibility of believers to ascertain carefully the true Authorial intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that proper application is binding on all generations.  Yet the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it. 

GOD THE FATHER 

  We teach that God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. God has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who carry out distinct but harmonious ministries in the work of creation, providence and redemption. These three are co-equal in every divine perfection and are one God. 

Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 1:13; John 4:24; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:5,6

GOD THE SON

  We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s one and only eternal Son, who was conceived in the flesh by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. The Lord is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus humbly came, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the Father’s elect by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. As Christ, He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday as judge of the living and the dead.

Matthew 1:22, 23; Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; 20:28,30,31; Hebrews 4:14,15; 9:28; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans1: 3,4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 3:16; 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

  We teach that 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 Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives believers spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. 

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; 15:26,27; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Galatians 5:22-26; 2 Peter 1:3

MAN

 We teach that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness.  Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9).

 We teach that God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).

 We teach that in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence, incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost.  Man’s salvation is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8).

 We teach that, because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception.  All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23, 5:10-12).

SALVATION

 We teach that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of any human merit or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

 Regeneration 

We teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5).  It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (John 5:24) when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit responds in faith to the Gospel.Good works are the proper evidence and fruit of regeneration (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10).  This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).(Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3).

 Election

 We teach that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (Romans 8:28-40; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2).

 We teach that sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ezekiel 18:23, 32, 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36, 5:40; Romans 9:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17).  Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of  receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith, and all who come in faith the Father will receive (John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; James 4:8). The desire to be saved comes from God (John 3:27; Philippians 2:13).  Man in his lost, spiritually dead, depraved condition is incapable of  holy aspirations and longings, and is therefore completely dependent on the divine initiative of God (Luke 19:10; John 6:44; Romans 3:10-12). Repentance and faith are both gifts from God (Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25) which He sovereignly bestows.

 We teach that the unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own part or to God’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy (Ephesians 1:4-7; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2).  Election is therefore consistent with foreknowledge, but is not based on foreknowledge (Romans 9:10-13; 1 Peter 1:1-2).

 We teach that election should not be looked upon as based merely on abstract sovereignty.  God is truly sovereign, but He exercises this sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love (Romans 9:11-16).  This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:25-28; 2 Timothy 1:9).

 Justification

 We teach that justification before God is an act of God (Romans 8:33) by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Isaiah 55:6-7) and confess Him as sovereign Lord (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Philippians 2:11).  This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man (Romans 3:20, 4:6) and involves the imputation of our sins to Christ (Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24) and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).  By this means God is enabled to “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

 Sanctification

 We teach that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification, declared to be holy, and is therefore identified as a saint.  This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification.  This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or practical condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30, 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11, 3:1, 10:10, 14, 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2).

 We teach that there is also, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification.  Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17, 19; Romans 6:1-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 5:23).

 In this respect, we teach that every saved person is involved in a daily conflict -- the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh -- but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The struggle nevertheless stays with the believer all through this earthly life and is never completely ended.  All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural.  Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin (Romans 6:11-14, 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

 Security

 We teach that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10, 8:1, 31-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 7:25, 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24).

 We teach that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (Romans 6:15-22, 8:16, 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 5:10-13).

 Separation

 We teach that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that the Scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days apostasy and worldliness shall increase (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

 We teach that, out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us, and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, all the saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God and so as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior.  We also teach that separation from all religious apostasy and worldly and sinful practices is commanded of us by God (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

 We teach that believers should be separated unto our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-2) and affirm that the Christian life is a life of obedient righteousness that reflects the teaching of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12) and a continual pursuit of holiness (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10).

THE CHURCH

 We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), the Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18).  Since Christ is the Head of the Church, the Church is theocratic in nature, not democratic in nature, and should function in practice as such.  In Scripture, God has always chosen theocratic government for His people.  Theocratic government is found in eternity past, in the Garden of Eden, and in Israel; in the Millennial Kingdom, and eternity future, but for now it is God’s will for the Church.  Since God the Son is the one who bought the Church with His blood (Acts 20:28), He is the one who owns it.  Therefore, He alone has the right to dictate how it is to operate, which He clearly does in His Word.

 We teach that the formation of the Church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

 We teach that the Church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present age (Ephesians 2:11-3:6). The Church (1 Corinthians 10:32),as being a mystery not revealed until this age (Ephesians 3:1-6, 5:32) is the fulfillment of the one people of God that was Israel in times past.

 We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23, 27, 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 72 Thessalonians 1:1) and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25).

 We teach that the one supreme authority for the Church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures.  The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, overseers, pastors, and pastor-teachers; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11). These spiritual leaders, being required to meet certain biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5), are to lead and rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17-22) and have His authority in directing the church.  The congregation is to submit to their godly, loving, biblical leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).  There also exist the office of  deacon or deaconess, which is the office of an exemplary servant.  Their primary responsibility is the meeting of physical needs, such as caring for widows and orphans (Acts 6:1-7).  Like elders, deacons and deaconesses are required to meet certain biblical qualifications (Romans 16:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

 We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2), mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5-14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matthew 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15;Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16, 3:10; James 5:19-20).

 We teach the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5).  We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith.  Each local church, however, through its elders/pastors and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation.  The elders/pastors should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well (Acts 15:19-31, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

 We teach that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13-16), by instruction of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15, 3:16-17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8, 2:42).

 We teach the calling of all saints to the work of service (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:12; Revelation 22:12).  Every member is a minister (servant).

 We teach the need of the church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world.  To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts.  He calls and appoints men for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7-12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities or divine enablements to each member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

 We teach that there were two kinds of spiritual gifts given to the early church:  miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given primarily for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles’ message (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another.  With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man’s message.  We also acknowledge that miraculous gifts can be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even believers (1 Corinthians 13:13, 14:12; Revelation 13:13-14).  Spiritual gifts in operation today are primarily for edification (Romans 12:6-8).

 We teach that when it comes to divine healing that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted (Luke 18:1-6; John 5:7-9; 82 Corinthians 12:6-10; James 5:13-16; 1 John 5:14-15).  However, we also recognize that sometimes God chooses not to heal for His own purposes.

 We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church:  baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38-42).  Christian baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36-39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, and his positional union with Christ in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1-11).  It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42), and is the primary way in which a believer publicly confesses Christ as Lord.  Partaking of the Lord’s Supper and/or baptism, does not in any way provide salvation or the forgiveness of sins to any individual.

 We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).  We also teach that, whereas the elements of the Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so is present, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16).

ANGELS

 Holy Angels

 We teach that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped.  Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14, 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14, 19:10, 22:9).

 Fallen Angels

 We teach that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin.  He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19), by taking numerous angels with him in his fall (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-14; Jude 6), and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:1-15).

 We teach that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10); that he is the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20); and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

 LAST THINGS

 Death

 We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8), that there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24), and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), which initiates the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54).  Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).  We teach the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).

 We teach that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment in hades until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body will be united (John 5:28-29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell [gehenna], the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46), cut off from the life of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

 The Judgment 

We teach that following the release of Satan after the Millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7), Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9).  Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10), whereupon Christ, who is the Judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne Judgment.

 We teach that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment (Romans 14:10-13), they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15).

 Eternity Future

 We teach that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15), the saved will enter the state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells (Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15, 21:1-27, 22:1-21).  Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another (John 17:3; Revelation 21-22).  Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

 Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation.  Consider the following truths found in Scripture:

 God Is Sovereign Creator

 Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution.  But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him.  The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16).  Therefore, He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19).  That means He has authority over our lives, and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.

 God Is Holy

God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God demands holiness of us as well.  First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

 Mankind Is Sinful

According to Scripture, everyone is guilty of sin:  “There is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46).  That does not mean we are incapable of performing acts of human kindness.  But we are utterly incapable of understanding, loving or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12).

 Sin Demands a Penalty

God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4).  That is why simply changing our patterns of behavior cannot solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.

 Jesus Is Lord and Savior

In Romans 10:9 it says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”  Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18).  Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby securing forgiveness and salvation for those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26).

 The Character of Saving Faith

True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin.  Repentance is confessing your sins to God, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9) and pursue Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; John 17:3) and walk in obedience to Him (1 John 2:3).  It is not enough to believe certain facts about Christ.  Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they do not love and obey Him.  True saving faith always responds in obedience (John 3:36; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 5:9; James 2).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT SALVATION

Reformed Soteriology

Total sin: Often called total depravity. We believe the Bible

 teaches that all thoughts, actions, and words of anyone without

 Jesus Christ are corrupted by sin. Thus, even good actions or

 intentions lead to ungodly results. 

Unconditional selection: By His grace, God chose to save some, 

not based on anything they had or would do, but based on His own

will and purpose. 

Limited salvation: The purpose of Christ’s atoning death was not to merely make men savable and thus leaving the salvation of humanity contingent on man’s response to God’s grace. Rather, the purpose of the atonement was to secure the redemption of a particular people (Ephesians 1:4–6; John 17:9). All whom God has elected and Christ died for will be saved (John 6:37–40, 44).

Irresistible Spirit: Those God chose, the Holy Spirit brings to 

salvation. God’s purpose in salvation will not be thwarted. The

Spirit knows those God elected and works to soften the heart, 

enlighten the eyes, and regenerate the heart so the the individual will 

understand and respond affirmatively to the truth by faith. 

Perseverance of the Saints: since God saved us, then He will 

keep us. No person can come to God apart form the calling and 

grace of God. No person who has come to God by faith through the 

work of the Holy Spirit can remain in the faith by personal will 

power. It is God who keeps those who belong to Him, completing 

the work that He began.