GRACE CHURCH WILMINGTON
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe in the doctrines below:
God
We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God.
God
One God eternally existing as three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
One God: The Bible confirms God's monotheistic nature.
- Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
- Isaiah 45:5–7: "I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God."
Three distinct persons: The New Testament reveals the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16–17): The Son is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven.
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19): Jesus instructs baptism in the "name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," indicating one name (one essence) for three persons.
Each is fully God: All three persons possess divine qualities and actions.
- The Father is God (John 6:27): Jesus identifies God the Father as the one who gives eternal life.
- The Son is God (Colossians 2:9): Paul writes, "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily".
- The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3–4): Peter tells Ananias, "You have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God".
Revelation
God has made Himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and creation.
Revelation
God has made Himself known in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, and creation
In Jesus Christ (Special Revelation): Jesus is presented as the most complete revelation of God.
- Hebrews 1:1–2: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son."
- John 1:18: "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known."
In the Scriptures (Special Revelation): The Bible is the inspired, written record of God's communication.
- 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
In Creation (General Revelation): God's existence, power, and nature are observable in the world.
- Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
- Romans 1:20: "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made."
Creation and Providence
We believe that God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places.
Creation and Providence
God created the world from nothing and governs all things
Creation from nothing (ex nihilo): The Bible indicates that God created the world without pre-existing materials.
- Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
- Hebrews 11:3: "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Providence (governing all things): Scripture attests to God's continuous control over creation.
- Colossians 1:17: "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
- Acts 17:28: "'In him we live and move and have our being'".
- Psalm 103:19: "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all."
Humanity
We believe that all humanity is created in the image of God and possess intrinsic dignity and worth.
Humanity
Created in the image of God and possessing intrinsic dignity and worth
Created in God's image (imago Dei): This unique creation gives humanity special dignity.
- Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Intrinsic dignity and worth: All human life is valuable because God created and loves it.
- Psalm 8:5: "Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Sin
We believe that sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need for salvation.
Sin
Sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need for salvation
The origin and spread of sin: Sin entered the world through Adam and affects all humanity.
- Romans 5:12: "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned."
The universal need for salvation: All humanity has sinned and fallen short of God's glory.
- Romans 3:23: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Fractured creation: The effects of sin extend beyond humanity to the entire created order.
- Romans 8:20–22: "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption."
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Salvation
By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
Saved by grace: Salvation is a free gift from God, not earned.
- Ephesians 2:8–9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Through faith: Grace is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
- John 5:24: "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life."
In Christ alone: Jesus is the sole mediator and source of salvation.
- Acts 4:12: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Church
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God.
Church
The body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God
The body of Christ: Believers are united with Christ and with each other.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27: "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
- Romans 12:4–5: "For as in one body we have many members... so we, though many, are one body in Christ."
Sent into the world (mission): The Church is to be an agent of God's reconciliation.
- Matthew 28:19–20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
- 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Resurrection and Consummation of the Kingdom of God
We believe that Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead.
Resurrection and Consummation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead
Jesus' return: The Bible promises the physical return of Christ.
- Acts 1:11: "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
To judge the living and the dead: The final judgment is given to Jesus.
- John 5:22: "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son."
- 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
- Matthew 25:31–32: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory... he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another."