Grace Care Center

I. THE SCRIPTURES: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, are preserved of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

II. GOD: There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things. He has in and of Himself all perfections, and is infinite in them all. To Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

III. THE TRINITY: The one true and living God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

IV. PROVIDENCE: God from eternity decrees and permits all things that come to pass, and continually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events. Yet in doing so, He is in no way the author or approver of sin nor does He destroy the moral choice and responsibility of intelligent creatures. In His ordinary providence God makes use of means, yet is free to work extraordinarily, without, above, and against all means at His pleasure.

VI. THE FALL OF MAN: God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God. By this he fell from his original holiness and righteousness. As a result, all who have been born since then inherit a nature that is corrupt and opposed to God and His law. They are born sinners and are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

VII. THE MEDIATOR: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered, and died upon the cross for the salvation of those sinners the Father gave to Him. He was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended to his Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of His people, and Sovereign of the Universe.

VIII. REGENERATION: Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens those who are dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.

IX. REPENTANCE: Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made aware of the evil of his sin, humbles himself, with godly sorrow, hating it, and turning from it, purposes and endeavors to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

X. FAITH: Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Jesus Christ. It receives and trusts Jesus Christ alone for justification and eternal life. Saving faith is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

XI. JUSTIFICATION: Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of those sinners who repent and believe in Jesus Christ, from all sin. When they receive and trust Him and His righteousness by faith they are declared righteous and therefore justified. Justification is accomplished through the satisfaction that Jesus Christ has made, not for anything from within them or done by them; but solely on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Jesus Christ.

XII. SANCTIFICATION: God’s Spirit dwelling in believers also sanctifies those who have been regenerated. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a holy life in loving obedience to all Christ’s commands.

XIII. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: Those whom God has accepted in the Jesus Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from this state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and chastening upon themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

XIV. THE CHURCH: A New Testament Church is an assembly of regenerate persons, baptized upon a profession of faith in Christ; united in covenant for worship, instruction, the observance of Christian ordinances, and for such service as the gospel requires. Each church recognizes and accepts Jesus Christ as their only Head, His Word as their only and sufficient rule of faith and practice in all matters of conscience and religion, and bishops (elders/pastors) and deacons as their only Scriptural officers.

XV. BAPTISM: Baptism is a local church ordinance authorized by the Lord Jesus. It is the obligation of every believer that they be immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as a sign of their fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving themselves up to God to live and walk in newness of life. Baptism is to be administered by one properly appointed by the church. It is prerequisite to church membership and fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.

XVI. THE LORD’S SUPPER: The Lord’s Supper is a local church ordinance authorized by Jesus Christ. It is to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by his churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians. It is a bond, a pledge, and a renewal of their communion with Jesus Christ and of their church.

XVII. THE LORD’S DAY: The Lord’s Day is the New Testament expression that identifies the day upon which Christians observe a Sabbath unto God. This day is the day blessed by God and made for His people to cease from the ordinary labors, business, entertainment and distractions of the other six days in the week in order to devote themselves particularly to worship, to spiritual devotion, and to works of mercy. While there are changes in details from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the spirit of the day remains the same; namely, to find joy and satisfaction in the Lord of the Sabbath.

XIX. THE RESURRECTION: The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

XX. THE JUDGMENT: God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.