Constitution of Grace Christian Church

INTRODUCTION: This document is a summary of Grace Christian Church’s beliefs and practices. Its goal is to insure greater unity and effectiveness for Christ as a church.

Statement of Belief

Grace Christian Church holds the following statement of faith as being a summary of Christian doctrine in accordance with the Bible: We realize that many truly born again believers hold differing positions on certain aspects of doctrine. Our statement of faith is not designed to exclude anyone from our fellowship. It is the standard of belief for all leaders and teachers. This statement of faith is not put forth to divide believers but rather to insure unity in this body through consistency of teaching (Ephesians 4:13-14).

The Bible
We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the verbally inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit revealed God's truth to the minds of the human writers so that using their own individual personalities they composed and recorded God's perfect revelation to man (II Peter 1:21; I Corinthians 2:10-13). We believe that with the passing of the apostles the Bible was completed and that direct and divine revelation is not being given today (Acts 1:20-25; Ephesians 2:20; II Peter 1:21;

I Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 22:18-19). We further maintain that God has supernaturally preserved His revelation so that it is the infallible Word of God (Matthew 5:17-18; Psalm 119:160).

THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-each eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory and having the same divine attributes (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 9:14).

GOD-THE-FATHER
We believe God the Father is perfect in holiness, boundless in love, infinite in wisdom and measureless in power (Isaiah 6:3; I John 3:6; Psalm 147:5; Revelation 19:6). We believe that God the Father orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose (Psalms145:8-9). He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass, yet He is neither the author nor approver of sin (Ephesians 1:11; Habakkuk 1:13). We believe that in eternity past God planned for the provision of Christ’s redemptive work (Ephesians 1:3-5; I Peter 1:18-20). We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men and that God is Father to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men (I John 3:1; Acts 17:24-29).

GOD-THE-SON
We believe Jesus Christ, God the Son, eternally existed with the Father but in His incarnation was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (John 1:1-2,14; Matthew 1:18-25). As God / Man the Lord Jesus became perfect humanity and undiminished deity united in one person forever (Philippians 2:5-8). The Lord Jesus was sinless in His nature and life, making full payment for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross (I Peter 2:22; Romans 5:8). We believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28; John 20 and 21), His ascension into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11),Hispresent intercession for His people at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34) and His literal pre-millennial return to earth (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

GOd-THE-HOLY-SPIRIT
We believe in the deity and the personality of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-5). The Holy Spirit convicts the unsaved of their need for Christ (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit is the agent of the New Birth (John 3:5; Titus 3:5) who, at the time of salvation, permanently indwells, seals (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13,14) and baptizes (places) the believer into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13). He further ministers to the believer, teaching (I John 2:27), interceding (Romans 8:26), guiding (Romans 8:14), filling (Ephesians 5:18) and imparting spiritual gifts (I Peter 4:10; I Corinthians 12:11). We believe that the gifts of healing, tongues and other revelatory gifts served a unique purpose in the apostolic church but are not in operation today (Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 2:4; Acts 5:12).

ANGELS
We believe God created sinless spiritual beings called angels. They serve as God's ministering messengers, advancing the cause of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 26:53; Psalm 148:2-5; Hebrews 1:14). We believe in the existence of Satan. We believe that Satan was once the greatest of God’s angels who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19). He is now the arch enemy of God and man (Revelation 12:7-12) and he is destined to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire (Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10). We believe that a number of angels were led away into sin when they followed Satan in his rebellion against God (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:4,13) and that these fallen angels are commonly referred to as demons (Matthew 12:24).

MAN

We believe the literal biblical account of creation, with the days of creation being literal twenty-four hour periods (Genesis 1; Genesis 2:7; Colossians 1:16, 17). We believe that man was directly created by God, not by evolution. He was made in the image and likeness of God and was free of sin (Genesis 1:26, 2:7). When Adam, the first man, disobeyed God the entire human race was corrupted and plunged into a state of sin and incurred the penalty of physical and spiritual death (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Every person is born in the sinful condition inherited from Adam and also becomes a sinner by their choice to disobey God’s absolute perfect standards (Romans 1:18-3:18, 3:23). Every human being outside of Jesus Christ is under the sentence of separation and death and is absolutely powerless to change their sinful and condemned standing before God (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-9).

SALVATION

We believe that salvation from the power and penalty of sin is only found in the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17; I Corinthians 15:1-3). Full and complete forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal death and the reception of eternal life cannot be earned by self righteousness, good deeds or religious works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:23). Salvation is offered to man as a free gift of God’s grace. It can only be received when an individual realizes his lost and hopeless condition and exercises saving faith in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross and in His resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:3-9; Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 15:14; John 1:12).

At the moment of belief the very life of Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, regenerates the spirit that died in Adam (John 3:36, 5:24; Titus 3:5-6). The new believer is born into God’s family (John 1:12), and is made into a new creation before God (II Corinthians 5:21). In addition, the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to the believer so that he or she is declared righteous (Romans 3:21-26) and is fully accepted by God in Christ (Ephesians 1:6). Those who are trulyborn again can neverlose the gift of salvation (John 19:27-29; I Peter 1:5; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation from sin is sufficient for every person who would ever live (I John 2:2; I Timothy 4:10; II Peter 2:1). We believe that it is God’s clear desire for all people to respond to the gospel of Christ (I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:16-17).

CHRISTIAN MATURITY
We believe that every Christian should be a disciple of Jesus Christ, progressively growing in His likeness. (Titus 2:11, 14; Philippians 3:10-17; John 10:10). Authentic spiritual growth cannot occur by the keeping of religious rites, rules or The Law, but is a product of God’s grace (Galatians 3:1-3; Romans 8:2-3; Galatians 5:1-15).

At the moment of belief in Christ the believer’s identity is changed from a hostile and alienated sinner in Adam to a saint who is perfect and blameless before God in Christ (Colossians 1:20-22; I Corinthians 1:2). This new identity is a present reality (Ephesians 1:3-14) which is the primary New Testament motivation for progressive Christian maturity (Romans12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 3:1-5). The power for overcoming the flesh and indwelling sin is achieved through the believer’s identification with the crucified and risen Christ (Romans 6:1-14; Galatians 2:20).

As the believer, by faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit, daily appropriates his identity (motivation) and identification (power), the very life of Jesus Christ is lived out in the believer. Joyful obedience to God’s Word will occur with the progressive replacement of fleshly values, emotions and behaviors with those of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24).

THE CHURCH
We believe that the universal church is a spiritual organism composed of all born again people from Pentecost to the Rapture (Acts 2:14; 1 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:14-17).

We believe the local church is a congregation of believers who have come together in a local assembly for:

  • Exaltation of God
  • Edification in the faith
  • Encouragement in Christ
  • Equipping of believers for life and ministry
  • Evangelizing locally and in the world (Acts 1:8, 2:40-47; Ephesians 4:11-12).

We believe that the churches of the New Testament practiced two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water (Acts 8:36-39). Baptism is not a requirement for salvation (Acts 2:41, 8:35-38; I Corinthians 1:16) but rather an act of obedience (Matthew 28:19-20) which beautifully testifies of the believer's union with their crucified, buried and risen Savior (Acts 8:36, 38-39; 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-5). The Lord's Supper is a beautiful memorial of Jesus' death that bestows no merit for salvation. The unleavened bread represents Jesus' body that was freely given. The fruit of the vine represents His blood that was shed for the full payment of sin (Luke 22:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-28; Hebrews 9:14)

We also believe that the New Testament church is to be free of outside religious or state control and that Jesus is the head and leader of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). We believe in a simple leadership structure with two biblical offices of Elder and Deacon. Elders serve as Christ’s under-shepherds to the body, leading, feeding and caring (I Peter 5:1-4; I Thessalonians 5:12). Deacons lead in the care of the congregation and assist the elders in any way necessary (Acts 6:1-6).

LAST THINGS
The first event in God’s end time program is the rapture of the church. We believe Jesus Christ will come in the air for His church. At the moment of Jesus’ coming in the air all believers in Christ who have died will be raised in glorified bodies. The generation of Christians who are alive at this time will not endure physical death but will be changed in the twinkle of an eye, given glorified bodies and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air with the resurrected believers. We believe that the rapture of the church is imminent and will occur before the seven years of tribulation (pre-tribulation) (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 3:10).

We believe that following the rapture of the church will be the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:25-27; Revelation 11:2-3). This tribulation period is a Jewish period (Daniel 9:25-27) where God pours out his wrath on an unbelieving world (Revelation 6:17) and uses this chastening to bring a remnant of Israel to faith in Jesus (Jeremiah 30:7; Zechariah 12:10).

This period will end with the return of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the literal Millennium (1000 year) kingdom on earth (Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6, 11:1-9; Acts 2:29-30; Revelation 20:1-6).

At the close of the Millennium Kingdom all who have not believed in Christ from all ages will be physically resurrected to face the Great White throne judgment, resulting in the second death which is eternal, conscious punishment in the lake of fire (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15).

Following the Millennium Kingdom will be the eternal state. The present earth will be dissolved with fire and replaced with a new heaven and earth where only righteousness dwells (II Peter 3:10; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 21). Believers will enjoy fellowship with God and one another forever (Revelation 21:1-8, 22:1-5).

Statement of Practice
At Grace Christian Church we believe that the Bible is our sole authority of faith and practice. However, for the sake of clarity and unity the following statement of practice is set forth.

PURPOSE and Core Values
Grace Christian Church is a non-denominational church that seeks to fulfil the Lord Jesus’ great commandment of loving God and others and His great commission of making disciples.

Our core values are summarized in the acrostic G R A C E:

  • Grace motivated life and ministry
  • Relationships in our church are of a family nature
  • Assembling to celebrate our risen Lord and to grow in His likeness
  • Cells (small groups) provide our structure for care, encouragement and ministry
  • Evangelism is a team effort with cell members praying for and encouraging each other to share Christ’s good news with the world

Philosophy of Ministry
Grace Christian Church understands that the New Testament Church operated in simple ministry with believers meeting in large group worship and in small groups gathering in homes (Acts 2:42-47, 4:23-31, 12:12).

We believe that the large Group Celebration with small Group Cells is the New Testament pattern. Therefore, we at Grace Christian have chosen to function as what is often referred to as a “Cell Church”.
This means:

  • The small cell group meeting is of equal importance to the large group celebration.
  • Corporate praise and worship and expository preaching are best carried out in the large group gathering. Every other aspect of church ministry is carried out more effectively in the cell.
  • Cell groups provide decentralized pastoral care, encouragement and equipping to our body.
  • Cell groups provide a natural means for believers to discover their spiritual gifts, minister to one another and to function as the body of Christ.
  • Communication and input regarding important decisions happens through the cell structure.

CHURCH OFFICERS
Grace Christian Church operates under the conviction that the biblical church offices are that of Elder and Deacon.

The Office of Elder
The Elder’s Team Ministry
Grace Christian Church is an independent, autonomous church and is organized as the churches of the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the Head and Senior Pastor (Ephesians 1:22-23; I Peter 5:4). His under-shepherds in each local church are to be a plurality of elders (I Peter 5:1-3). The terms elder, overseer and pastor are used interchangeably to speak of one office (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; I Peter 5: 1-2). Therefore, the elders will function as a pastoral team providing shared leadership, care and instruction to the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:12; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:2). We further maintain that I Timothy 5:17-18 makes a clear distinction between vocational elders (staff pastors) who are financially remunerated for their ministry and non-vocational elders (elders) who earn their living through means other than the eldership. It is the operational principle of this church that both vocational and non-vocational elders are necessary for an effective and stable pastoral team to exist.

As ministry develops and additional staff pastors are necessary, they may be sought from within or outside the church. Both a description and compensation package shall be set by the non-vocational elders for the staff pastors. The compensation package for pastors shall be reviewed annually by the non-vocational elders. Consideration should be given to salary, benefits, allowances, vacation, sick leave and education/enrichment leave. Because we recognize that the public preaching and teaching of the Word of God is central to our worship (I Timothy 4:13; II Timothy 4:2), that adequate time is necessary for sermon preparation and that formal theological and Biblical training is an asset for such public speaking, the elder who fills the primary pulpit ministry should be a staff pastor. Staff pastors will be called to an indefinite term, provided they remain willing and qualified to serve.

Although the elders act jointly and equally in authority, we maintain that one elder will emerge as “first among equals” and will be designated as the “Lead Elder”. He will be first in the sense that his gifts, dedication, training and abilities will bring influence and direction to the body of elders, but equal in that he does not have authority to demand from or dominate elders or the congregation. This principle of “first among equals” is seen in Acts 21:8 and Galatians 2:12. It is recognized that most often the elder who emerges as the lead elder will be a staff pastor who by training, calling and time will be best prepared to give the needed direction. However, there is no reason why God cannot provide such leadership in a non-vocational elder. The elders will affirm God’s choice in this matter.

The Qualifications of Elders
1. Personal Character - All elders must meet the spiritual qualifications as outlined in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The elders are to hold to the highest expression of Christian character.

  • They are to be men who are fully committed and deeply devoted to Christ, family and ministry.
  • They are to be committed disciples of Jesus who are continually seeking to grow in His likeness.
  • They are to be men who are living out the humble servanthood of Jesus both in our church and in their homes.

2.Church Involvement - Elders must be men (I Timothy 2:11-14) who hold to the statement of faith and philosophy of ministry of Grace Christian Church. In the past they must have demonstrated both a deep desire and competency for ministry. In the present they must desire the office of elder
(I Timothy 3:1).
3.Ministry Skills - According to I Thessalonians 5:12 elders function in three spheres: in personal ministry, leadership and in the communication of the Word. The elders of Grace Christian Church must be gifted and/or equipped to serve in each of these ministry areas.
4.Bible Knowledge - All elders must have a good understanding of the content of the Bible and a working knowledge of Bible doctrine (Titus 1:9).