Faithful to the Scriptures

Most basically, we as a church submit ourselves to the truth and authority of God’s inspired Word, the Bible. Everything we do and teach, and the way that the church is led, must be according to what God has revealed to us in Scripture. We seek to be a church that is centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the redemptive work of God on behalf of sinful people that lies at the very center of the Bible’s revelation.

True to the Reformed Faith

By Reformed, we mean that we are connected to the teachings of the historic church and the doctrinal beliefs recovered by the Reformation. As a PCA church, the leadership of Grace Church subscribes to the theology and doctrine of Scripture and the Westminster Confession of Faith. The WCF was composed in 1646 in England, and has served as a faithful articulation of the reformed Christian faith for centuries. It is not equal to God’s Word, the Bible, in authority, but our denomination, along with the leadership of our church, subscribe to it as both truthful and helpful in communicating our beliefs about God, humanity, sin, salvation, the church, and our world. In short, this is what we believe the Bible teaches:

• We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.

• We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.

• We believe that salvation is by God alone, as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.

• We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.

• We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.

• We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.

• We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.

• We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Obedient to the Great Commission

We emphasize the gospel (good news of salvation) through faith in Jesus Christ in accordance with his command to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28.19-20). Faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the means by which God restores us in relationship to him and to his people, and it is our joyous work to proclaim his gospel to others, near and far.