Complete Statement of Faith
The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have been given by the verbal plenary inspiration of God and therefore are inerrant (Ps. 19:7-13; 119:89,105). They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are fully inspired by God and, therefore, serve as the authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life, and ministry (2 Timothy. 3:15-17). The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded, or changed by tradition or any supposed later revelation (Isa. 8:20; Gal. 1:8-9). Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:29-33; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23). All redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the most accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition, and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating an understanding through the Word and applying the message to the heart ( 1 Cor. 2:7-16).
Salvation
Salvation, the gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1; Acts 16:31) and His literal, shed Blood (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:12 and 10:19; Rev. 1:5). Recognizing his need for a Savior and looking to Christ and His vicarious atonement for sin, man is born anew unto eternal life by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:4-7; Acts 3:19-21). There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which man may be saved (Acts 4:12). Through His great redemptive act, there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world, and freedom in His Spirit (Eph. 1:17; Gal. 6:14-15).
Man was Created
Man was created in the image and likeness of God. It was by man’s free volition that he disobeyed God, incurring physical and spiritual death (separation from God). Each human being is born with a sin nature. Because of this each human is a sinner by nature and is in need of a divine salvation.
Greater Grace Church believes that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25.)
The Church
The Church, which is the Body and future Bride of Christ, is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments / ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as the practice of good works (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:22; 5:23, 26,27; 1 Peter 2:5, 9- 10; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and to make disciples, bringing the Gospel into every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls , through the obedience to the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).
Satan
Satan, we believe, was created a perfect angelic being (Ezekiel 28:15). He rebelled against God (Ezekiel 28:15-18; Isaiah 14: 12-17). As a result, he became depraved, the Devil, the leader of the host of angels who fell with him, and the adversary of God and God’s people (Revelation 12:4, 10-17; Revelation 13:7; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan has been defeated and judged at the Cross. He now awaits his ultimate doom at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ (John 16:11; Revelation 20:1-2, 7-10).
God is Triune
God is triune. There is but one God, infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love (Deut. 6:4; I Cor. 8:4,6; Isa. 44:6-8; 57:15; 1 John 4:8; Gen. 17:1; Ps. 145:3). In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are co-existent, co-equal, co-eternal (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14). The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is true Deity. One God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the foundation of Christian faith and life (John 14:23,25; 15:26; 16:13-15).
Jesus Christ the Son is fully God
Jesus Christ the Son is fully God and fully man; the only Savior from the sins of the world (John 1:1, 20:28; Col. 1:19; 1Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:14-18). He was the Word made flesh; supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; and was perfect in nature, teaching, and obedience (John 1:14; Matt. 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:35; John 8:29; Heb 5:8). He shed His Blood on the Cross as the vicarious atonement for the sins of all mankind. He rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory (John 19:33-37; Rom. 4:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; 2 Cor 5:21; 1Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). He is the Head of His body the Church, and Victor over all the powers of darkness. He reigns at the right hand of God the Father (Col. 1:8, 2:15; Heb. 1:3-4).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; unites man to Jesus Christ in faith; brings about the New birth; and dwells within the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Holy Spirit, thus enabling them to grow in the experience of sanctification (John 15:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:13; John 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9- 11; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Cor. 3:17-18). The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges, and kings in ancient times; anointed Jesus Christ for His ministry, filled the church with power on the Day of Pentecost, and will transform the mortal bodies of believers into one like Jesus in the glory of the resurrection (1 Please read carefully the following. If you wish, you may want to check the information with your pastor for guidance. We expect that you may not thoroughly understand all this information, at least not as much as a graduating Bible College senior might. At the end, please state if there is any reason why you object to any information herein, and whether that objection may hinder you from completing your studies successfully. We believe in the right of every individual or student to have his / her own convictions and beliefs allowing that the College will teach within the framework of the cardinal doctrines below. 2 Peter 1:20-21; Luke 4:1, 18-21; Acts 2:4, 4:31; Rom. 8:11; Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 John 3:2). The Holy Spirit is imparted to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior (Acts 2:38-39; Luke 11:13). The promise of the Father that the Holy Spirit would be sent in power was not only made to the early disciples, but continues through generations to come. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s sovereign action for edifying the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28-31; 14:1, 13; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Pet. 5:10-11). The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers were given by the Lord Jesus Christ for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit directed gifts to the Body of Christ. They are the direct results of the Lord Jesus Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit to guide all believers into the truth (Eph. 4:7-16; Lk. 11:28; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).
The Consummation
The consummation of all things includes the Rapture of the Church, followed by a literal seven year period of tribulation on the Earth, the Second Advent of Jesus with His literal one thousand year reign on the Earth from Jerusalem, and the final, White Throne judgment of the unsaved (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3: 11-15; Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Zech 12:10 and 14:3-11; Rev 20:11-15). Satan with his hosts, and all humanity outside of Christ will be separated eternally from the presence of God, enduring eternal punishment in a literal hell (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:47-48; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). All who have been redeemed by Christ from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be secure with Christ in the New Jerusalem with the new heaven and new Earth forever (Rev. 21:1-4).
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