First and foremost, we are committed to the Word of God and the Mission of Jesus. Our beliefs distinguish us as a church and inform what we teach as we strive to see Christ exalted in every heart and home in West Michigan and beyond.
We are an independent, non-denominational, evangelical church that aligns with Reformation theology and holds to Baptist distinctives. You can learn more about our specific beliefs on this page, or you can learn about the history of Grace at the link below.
The following Articles of Faith are Grace Community Church's core beliefs based on foundational truths taught in the Bible. Our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
We believe that the Holy Bible was [a] written by men controlled by the Holy Spirit; [b] that it has truth without an admixture of error for its matter; and [c] therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
By “THE HOLY BIBLE,” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not contain and convey the word of God, but IS the very WORD of God.
By “INSPIRATION,” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
[a] 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25
[b] Psalm 119:105, 130, 160; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 17:17
[c] Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4;1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; Isaiah 8:20;Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31;Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:39, 45-47; 12:48We believe that there is [a] one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; [b] inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; [c] that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
[a] Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10
[b] Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30
[c] Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 12:4-6; Acts 5:3-4; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person [a] equal with God the Father and [b] God the Son and [c] of the same nature; [d] that He was active in the creation; [e] that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; [f] that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; [g] that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; [g] that He is the agent in the new birth; [i] that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. And that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) is the evidence of His indwelling rather than the speaking in tongues and other spectacular demonstrations.
[a] John 14:16, 17
[b] Matthew 28:19
[c] Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35
[d] Genesis 1:1-3
[e] 2 Thessalonians 2:7
[f] John 16: 8-11
[g] John 15: 26-27; Acts 5:30-32
[h] John 3:5-6
[i] Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 11:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18-21; John 1:33; 14:26; 16:13; Luke 3:16; 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27We believe that the sanctification has a two-fold meaning: [a] that of setting apart of things, days, or persons specifically for God, and that the believer at the time of his regeneration is so set apart by God the Father; [b] the progressive work of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer, obedient to the Word of God experiences the power of the indwelling Christ for holiness of life and victory over the old nature, which work will be completed when the believer stands in Christ’s presence.
[a] 1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10: 10, 14
[b] Colossians 1:26-28; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18We believe that Satan was once [a] holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and [b] drew after him a host of angels; that he is now [c] the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. [d] We hold him to be man’s great tempter, [e] the enemy of God and His Christ, [f] the accuser of the saints, [g] the author of all false apostasy, [h] the lord of the anti-christ, and [i] the author of all powers of darkness-destined however [j] to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and [k] to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
[a] Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17
[b] Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30
[c] 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1,3
[d] 1 Peter 5:8
[e] Zechariah 1:3; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4
[f] Revelation 12:10
[g] 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22
[h] 1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7
[i] Revelation 13:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11
[j] Revelation 12:7-9; 19:11, 16,20; 20:1-3
[k] Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and [a] that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; [b] that man was created directly in God’s image and after His own likeness; [c] that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; [d] that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
[a] Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6;Romans 1:20;Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Acts 4:24;17:23-26
[b/c] Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7
[d] Genesis 1:11, 24We believe [a] that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but [b] by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, [c] in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and [d] therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
[a] Genesis 3:1-6, 24
[b] Romans 5:12, 19
[c] Ephesians 2:1, 3; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18; 3:10-19
[d] Romans 1:20, 28, 32; Galatians 3:22We believe [a] that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; [b] born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and [c] that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
[a] Genesis 3:15
[b] Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians 4:4
[c] 1 John 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:47We believe [a] that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace [b] through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; [c] that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; [d] that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.
[a] Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24
[b] John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[c] John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2
[d] 1 Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; 1 John 2:2We believe [a] that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; [b] that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; [c] that it is instantaneous and not a process; [d] that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; [e] that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; [f] that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
[a] John 3:3
[b] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[c] Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 16:30-33
[d] 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13
[e] John 1:12-13; 3:8
[f] Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9We believe [a] in God’s electing grace; [b] that the blessings of salvation are made free to all through the gospel; [c] that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and [d] that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, [e] which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
[a] 1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30
[b] Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37
[c] Isaiah 55:6; Acts 2:38
[d] Isaiah 55:7; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; John 3:15-16; 5:40
[e] John 3:18, 36We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; [a] that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; [b] that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is imputed unto us.
[a] Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 5:1, 9; 8:1
[b] Titus 3:5-7; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; Romans 1:17; 4:1-8We believe that repentance and faith are [a] solemn obligations, and [b] also inseparable graces, [c] wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; [d] thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; [e] at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
[a] Acts 20:20
[b] Mark 1:15
[c] Acts 2:27-38
[d] Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalm 51:1-4, 7; Isaiah 55:6-7
[e] Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers [a] associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; [b] observing the ordinances of Christ; [c] governed by His laws; and [d] exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word [e] that its scripturally designated officers are elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; [f] we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize them; third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; [g] we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; [h] that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; [i] on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
[a] Acts 2:41, 42
[b] 1 Corinthians 11:2
[c] Ephesians 1:22-23
[d] Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11
[e] Acts 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:23; 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13
[f] Matthew 28:19-20
[g] Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 5:1-4
[h] Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32; Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24
[I] 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3We believe that Christian baptism is [a] the believer’s immersion in water; [b] into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; [c] to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; [d] that in scriptural order it (baptism) precedes the privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ; [e] the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine remind us of the love of God in Christ Jesus, “Who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all;” and that this ordinance is to be observed in anticipation of His coming and preceded always by solemn self-examination.
[a] Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:4-5; Matthew 3:6, 16
[b] Matthew 28:19
[c] Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
[d] Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:19-20;
[e] 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Romans 8:32We believe [a] that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; [b] that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; [c] that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and [d] that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
[a] John 8:31-32; Colossians 1:21, 23
[b] 1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:19-20
[c] Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30; Psalm 121:3; Hebrews 1:14
[d] 1 Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28-29; 16:8We believe that [a] there is radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; [b] that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; [c] while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; [d] and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
[a] Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:18
[b] Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34-35: 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:16
[c] 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Romans 7:6; 6:23; 6:16
[d] Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34-41; Luke 9:26;16:25; John 8:21; 12:25We believe that civil government is [a] of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; [b] the magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; [c] except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; [d] Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
[a] Romans 13:17; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22
[b] Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1;1 Peter 2:13-14, 17
[c] Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Daniel 3:17-18
[d] Matthew 10:28; 23:10; Revelation 10:6; Philippians 2:10-11; Psalm 72:11We believe in and accept the sacred scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value:
The Bodily Resurrection
Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:2, 4-6, 39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6
The Ascension
Acts 1:9 , 11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:1; 12:2
The High Priesthood
Hebrews 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1
The Second Coming
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; James 5:8; Hebrews 9:28; Matthew 24:27, 42; 25:13
The Resurrection Of The Righteous Dead
1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52
The Change Of The Living in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 3:20-21
On The Throne Of David
Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30
His Reign On Earth
1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 11:4-5; 32:1; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:1-4, 6
The following theological distinctives help further distinguish Grace Community Church from other congregations. While other Gospel-centered churches likely share many of our core beliefs, these distinctives describe our position on areas in which we may or may not differ from other ministries, while significantly impacting our teaching and ministry.
We are committed to expositional preaching. David Helm calls it “empowered preaching that rightfully submits the shape and emphasis of the sermon to the shape and emphasis of a biblical text.” In other words, the main point of the passage of Scripture is the main point of the sermon, which is then applied toward the goal of life transformation.
Acts 6:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Galatians 6:6
The New Testament makes it clear that the model for leadership in the local church is to be led by a plurality of elders. The elders are called to keep watch over and shepherd the church, teach sound doctrine, exercise spiritual oversight, and set an example of faithful Christian living. No person wields sole authority of the church, rather, the elders serve and submit to one another and the headship of Jesus as the over shepherd of the flock.
Acts 20:28; Titus 1:9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 1:21; 5:2-3
Belief and profession precede baptism. Baptism is the symbolic and external conformity to the inward reality of new life in Christ. Therefore, we believe it to be fitting that only those who have confessed belief in Jesus Christ alone for salvation are to practice this ordinance in obedience and conformity to the will of God.
Matthew 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:26-40; 9:9-18; 10:17-48
Scripture teaches that men and women are created equal in worth and value yet with distinction of form and function. These forms and functions are complementary to one another in roles and responsibilities within the home and the church. Upon this basis the Bible forbids women to teach or exercise authority over men in the church and, therefore, the office of pastor/elder is reserved for men. We believe that this promotes the greatest human flourishing because it patterns after the created order as God intended.
Genesis 1:27-31; 2:7, 22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23-25; 1 Timothy 2:12-14
Christians are exhorted to pursue all the spiritual gifts before the revelation of Jesus Christ, and we believe the gifts of the Spirit are still available for use in the church today. However, some gifts occur rarely and most occasionally in places where the Gospel is being preached for the first time or in times of revival.
Acts 2, 8, 10, 19; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 14:1
The Bible teaches us that we are dead in our sins and unable to save ourselves. It teaches us that we have suppressed the truth and that there is not one who seeks God. We believe that God must first give us the desire and ability to receive, by faith, the grace of God through the message of the Gospel. We see this as the sovereignty of God at work in the grace of new creation.
John 6:44; Romans 1:18-20; Ephesians 2:1, 8-9, 13; 1 John 5:1
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