WHAT WE BELIEVE
ABOUT GOD
We believe in one and only one true God, eternally existent in three distinct persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – each having the same divine essence, glorious attributes, and eternal purpose; but executing distinct, yet harmonious offices in the work of redemption. Each Person is wholly and fully God, yet there is only one God (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-6).
ABOUT GOD THE FATHER
The first person of the Trinity Who orders all things according to His own purpose and grace, and who continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events for His own glory. All people are called the offspring of God (Acts 17:29); therefore, there is a sense in which God is the Father of all people as their Creator. However, spiritually God is only the Father of those who believe in Christ (Galatians 3:26).
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God, and the one and only Son of God the Father. He is without beginning and without end. Jesus possesses all of the divine attributes and is co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father. Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. To become a man, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He led a sinless life, was crucified as the payment for our sins, and was resurrected bodily after three days. We believe in His personal, future return in power and glory (John 1:1-2; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Acts 1:9,11).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit possesses all of the divine attributes, thus co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. He is sent from God to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, cleanse, and secure from sin. He is the indwelling guide, teacher, and strengthener of the believer.
ABOUT THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word. It does not merely contain God’s Word, but it is God’s Word. The original texts were received through inspiration, as godly prophets wrote what they were led to write by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is complete, true and without error. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) We don’t argue over Bible versions, we simply focus on trying to live by the precepts and principles contained within the Scriptures.
ABOUT MANKIND
Adam and Eve were created sinless in God’s image, but chose to disobey their Creator and Father. As a consequence of their willful sin, all mankind has inherited a sinful nature and falls under God’s judgment (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:28, 5:12; Galatians 3:22).
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is obtained freely and solely by God’s grace (no works involved) through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ Who died in our place and paid our sin-debt in full, once and for all. Without the shedding of Jesus’ blood, there is no forgiveness for sin. A person is saved by realizing his sinful condition, repenting of his sin, and calling on the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven and no man can come to God the Father except through Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10, 13; Acts 4:12).
ABOUT THE CHURCH
Every believer is part of Christ’s church (1 Corinthians 12:12-15). The local church was ordained by God as His chosen organization to carry out His great commission and great commandment. The local church is a body of born-again believers who unites together for the purposes of exalting the Lord, encouraging believers and evangelizing the lost. It is also designed as a place to serve one another with spiritual gifts, to be accountable to one another, to love one another, and to carry out the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Philipians 2:4; John 3:34; 1 Corinthians 11:26).
ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism is one of the ordinances that Christ put under the authority of the local church. Biblical baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, after his decision for salvation. The purpose of baptism is to publicly identify with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-55).
ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance that Christ left His church. It serves as a time for personal introspection and a reminder to believers of Christ’s sufferings on the cross and the blood He shed to pay the penalty for our sin debt (Luke 22:19-20; Luke 22:19-20).
AFFILIATION
While Grace Church and Highlands Christian Academy are committed to the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000; we respect the right of our students and families to affiliate with other evangelical denominations.