DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
GRACE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Our Doctrinal statement addresses those areas that historically and Biblically have been regarded as essential to the Christian faith. This statement is provided to show the cords of grace and truth in our doctrinal beliefs. And while we strive for unity in the core beliefs (Ephesians 4:4-6), we encourage liberty in areas where scripture may allow (Romans 12:1, 4, 12, 22). In all our beliefs we strive to show love (I Corinthians 13:2).
GOD: We believe God is the creator, sustainer, redeemer, and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and are one God. Though each person of the Godhead possesses the same nature, attributes, and perfections, each person functions differently in respect to God’s dealing with mankind. (Gen. 1:1, 26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19-20; John 4:24; II Cor. 13:14)
GOD THE FATHER: We believe the first person of the trinity orders and directs all things according to his own purpose, pleasure, character, and grace. He created the universe apart from any preexisting materials and without any other means than His power. As an infinitely loving father, He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men and women, longing for their salvation and spiritual growth. (Matt. 6:9; John 5: 19-24; II Peter 3:9; Eph. 1:3-6)
JESUS CHRIST: We believe Jesus Christ is God’s only Son (John 3:16) and our sole mediator (I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6). We believe in His pre-existence (John 1:1), His incarnation (John 1:1-14), His virgin birth (Matt. 1: 23-25), His sinless life (Heb. 4:15), His example of ministry (John 13:14-15), His substitutionary atonement (Rom. 3:23-25), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:22-27), His ascension to the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9-11), and His bodily return from heaven (Titus 2:13).
THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe the Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their sin, their need for repentance, and their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they receive Christ. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding truth, and guidance for doing what is right in God’s eyes. As Christians, we seek to enjoy His presence and live under His control daily. (Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; John 16:5-16; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12-13, 6:19, 12:4-13; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5-7)
THE BIBLE: The Bible is God’s word to us. We believe that the Bible contains truths that can powerfully change lives and we center our ministry on God’s word. Even though the Bible was written by human authors, we believe that every word in the original manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures is inspired by God, complete, unified, and without error (Matt. 5:18; II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21). Therefore, we believe that the Bible is the final standard of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ, for His church, and for the world.
MAN AND SIN: We believe that people are spiritual beings, created in the image of God, and designed to be like Him in character and conduct. We believe that mankind sinned in Adam; that people are now sinners by nature and by choice; that because of sin, man is in need of redemption; and, that mankind remains in God’s image even though fallen. (Gen. 1:26-27, 3:1-6; Rom. 3:23-24, 5:12-14; James 3:9)
SALVATION: We believe that Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross so that we might have eternal life with God in heaven. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must personally receive it by faith. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. We believe that the evidence of salvation is a changed life. (John 20:31; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 5:19-24)
SECURITY: We believe that once a person has placed their faith in Jesus Christ, God guarantees through the Holy Spirit that He will take that person to heaven. Their assurance of salvation is based upon: 1) the promises of God (John 5:24); 2) the payment of Christ on the cross (Col. 2:13-14); 3) the power of Christ (John 10:27-30); and 4) the presence of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 4:30).
THE CHURCH: We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and that Christ is the head of the Church. We believe that there is a two-fold aspect to the Church: the universal church consisting of all believers world wide, and the local church consisting of believers in a specific location seeking to experience their relationship with Christ together under a common vision. (Eph. 1:22-23; Philemon 2; I Thes. 1:1)
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: We believe that every believer has a spiritual gift(s) and that the gifts are bestowed sovereignly by God, the Holy Spirit, as He wills, to each believer. When each believer utilizes his gift, he contributes to the working and maturing of the body of Christ. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-31; Eph. 4:1-16; II Peter 4: 10-11)
THE GREAT COMMISSION: We believer that Christians are sent into the world by Jesus Christ, just as Christ was sent into the world by God the Father. Our mission is to be ambassadors who go into all the world telling others about Christ and to make disciples. (Matt. 28:18-20; John 15:8, 17:18, 20:21; II Cor. 5:20)
ABOUT ETERNITY: We believe that God created people to live forever and that they will exist eternally separated from God by sin or they will exist eternally united with God in heaven. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life in heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 5:25-29, 11:25-26; I Cor. 15:51-57; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15)
GRACE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Our Doctrinal statement addresses those areas that historically and Biblically have been regarded as essential to the Christian faith. This statement is provided to show the cords of grace and truth in our doctrinal beliefs. And while we strive for unity in the core beliefs (Ephesians 4:4-6), we encourage liberty in areas where scripture may allow (Romans 12:1, 4, 12, 22). In all our beliefs we strive to show love (I Corinthians 13:2).
GOD: We believe God is the creator, sustainer, redeemer, and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and are one God. Though each person of the Godhead possesses the same nature, attributes, and perfections, each person functions differently in respect to God’s dealing with mankind. (Gen. 1:1, 26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19-20; John 4:24; II Cor. 13:14)
GOD THE FATHER: We believe the first person of the trinity orders and directs all things according to his own purpose, pleasure, character, and grace. He created the universe apart from any preexisting materials and without any other means than His power. As an infinitely loving father, He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men and women, longing for their salvation and spiritual growth. (Matt. 6:9; John 5: 19-24; II Peter 3:9; Eph. 1:3-6)
JESUS CHRIST: We believe Jesus Christ is God’s only Son (John 3:16) and our sole mediator (I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6). We believe in His pre-existence (John 1:1), His incarnation (John 1:1-14), His virgin birth (Matt. 1: 23-25), His sinless life (Heb. 4:15), His example of ministry (John 13:14-15), His substitutionary atonement (Rom. 3:23-25), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:22-27), His ascension to the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9-11), and His bodily return from heaven (Titus 2:13).
THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe the Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their sin, their need for repentance, and their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they receive Christ. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding truth, and guidance for doing what is right in God’s eyes. As Christians, we seek to enjoy His presence and live under His control daily. (Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; John 16:5-16; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12-13, 6:19, 12:4-13; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5-7)
THE BIBLE: The Bible is God’s word to us. We believe that the Bible contains truths that can powerfully change lives and we center our ministry on God’s word. Even though the Bible was written by human authors, we believe that every word in the original manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures is inspired by God, complete, unified, and without error (Matt. 5:18; II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21). Therefore, we believe that the Bible is the final standard of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ, for His church, and for the world.
MAN AND SIN: We believe that people are spiritual beings, created in the image of God, and designed to be like Him in character and conduct. We believe that mankind sinned in Adam; that people are now sinners by nature and by choice; that because of sin, man is in need of redemption; and, that mankind remains in God’s image even though fallen. (Gen. 1:26-27, 3:1-6; Rom. 3:23-24, 5:12-14; James 3:9)
SALVATION: We believe that Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross so that we might have eternal life with God in heaven. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must personally receive it by faith. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies. We believe that the evidence of salvation is a changed life. (John 20:31; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 5:19-24)
SECURITY: We believe that once a person has placed their faith in Jesus Christ, God guarantees through the Holy Spirit that He will take that person to heaven. Their assurance of salvation is based upon: 1) the promises of God (John 5:24); 2) the payment of Christ on the cross (Col. 2:13-14); 3) the power of Christ (John 10:27-30); and 4) the presence of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 4:30).
THE CHURCH: We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and that Christ is the head of the Church. We believe that there is a two-fold aspect to the Church: the universal church consisting of all believers world wide, and the local church consisting of believers in a specific location seeking to experience their relationship with Christ together under a common vision. (Eph. 1:22-23; Philemon 2; I Thes. 1:1)
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: We believe that every believer has a spiritual gift(s) and that the gifts are bestowed sovereignly by God, the Holy Spirit, as He wills, to each believer. When each believer utilizes his gift, he contributes to the working and maturing of the body of Christ. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-31; Eph. 4:1-16; II Peter 4: 10-11)
THE GREAT COMMISSION: We believer that Christians are sent into the world by Jesus Christ, just as Christ was sent into the world by God the Father. Our mission is to be ambassadors who go into all the world telling others about Christ and to make disciples. (Matt. 28:18-20; John 15:8, 17:18, 20:21; II Cor. 5:20)
ABOUT ETERNITY: We believe that God created people to live forever and that they will exist eternally separated from God by sin or they will exist eternally united with God in heaven. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life in heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 5:25-29, 11:25-26; I Cor. 15:51-57; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15)