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Grace & Faith Fellowship Statement of Faith
The Scriptures: We believe 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. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (II Tim. 3: 16; I Thess. 2: 13; II Pet. 1: 21)
The Godhead: We believe our God is one, but manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. (Phil. 2: 6) God the Father is greater than all; the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. (John 14: 28; John 16: 28; John 1: 14) The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1: 1; John 1: 18; John 1: 14) The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15: 26)
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ – We believe Jesus is 100% God, and 100% man. We see His Deity expressed through the virgin birth, His sinless life, miracles, death, burial, bodily resurrection from the dead, and His exaltation at God’s right hand. We do not believe that He is a way to the Father, but rather the only way through which we can receive righteousness, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification (Matt. 3: 17; 17: 5; Luke 3: 22; Isaiah 9: 6; Jn 1: 33, 34; Is. 7: 14; Heb. 2: 17, 18; John 11: 47; 12: 37; I Cor. 15: 14; Eph. 2: 19-23)
Man, His Fall and Redemption (salvation of man) – We believe 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. “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no, not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Rom. 5: 12-15; 3: 10; 3: 23; I John 3: 8). 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: 8-10).
Eternal Life and the New Birth – We believe man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life (II Cor. 7: 10; I John 5: 12; John 3: 3-5).
Water Baptism – Baptism in water is by immersion, 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).
Holy Communion – This symbolizes the broken body and shed blood of our Lord, our participation in the benefits of His atoning death, and the covenant which He sealed with His own blood. It represents our union with Him who is the sustenance of our spiritual life. It is a memorial of His death and looks forward to His coming again. It was instituted by our Lord, and He commanded His disciples to observe it. We are instructed to search our hearts diligently and examine ourselves carefully before partaking of Holy Communion. (Luke 22: 19, 20; Matt. 26: 26, 27; I Cor. 11: 24; I Cor. 11: 27-32)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit – We believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all 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; 2: 38-39; 19: 1-7; 2: 4) Along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are the nine spiritual gifts of the Spirit given to the Church through the believer “…for the profit of all…,” as the Holy Spirit wills. (I Cor. 12: 1-11)
Sanctification – We believe 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 at Christ’s return. (Heb. 12: 14; I Thess. 5: 23; II Pet. 3: 18; II Cor. 3: 18; Phil. 3: 12-14; I Cor. 1: 30)
The Church Its Mission and Ministry – We Believe the Church is the living body of Christ, with divine appointments to fulfill the great commission. Christ has given to the Church the Five Fold ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers; “…for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Matt. 28: 18-20; I Cor. 12: 27, 28; Eph. 4: 7-16)
Healing- We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross has provided healing for the human body (Mark 16: 18; James 5: 14, 15; I Pet. 2: 24; Matt. 8: 17; Isa. 53: 4, 5)
The Return of Jesus Christ for His Church- We believe that Jesus Christ will return for His church as is recorded in the scripture. ( John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
Heaven and Hell – We believe in heaven and hell. Heaven will be the eternal resting place for all believers after their death. All unbelievers (who do not repent and believe on Christ in this life) will eventually be cast into the lake of fire and spend eternity there. (Heb. 9: 27; Rev.19:20, 20:11-15, 21:1-8)