What We Believe
Grace & Glory’s
Mission
We exist to develop mature followers of Christ, whose purpose in life is to know the Triune God, and to make God known.
Creed
1) WE BELIEVE in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons (God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit) co-eternal in being, in nature, in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14).
2) WE BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became man without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, redeem sinful people, mediate on humanity’s behalf, and show us how to walk with God (John 3:16; Colossians 1:15-20).
3) WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit who lives in all who have put their trust in Jesus and received Him as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is God working immediately in the lives of people and is the supernatural agent in regeneration, empowering people with gifts for the work of building God’s Kingdom together as God’s people (Acts 1:8; Matthew 16:18).
The foundational beliefs that guide our actions
4) WE BELIEVE in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God and our final authority in all matters of faith and life. It is reliable in guiding us to know God and our purpose in God's plan (2 Tim 3:16, 17; 2 Pet 1:20, 21).
5) WE BELIEVE in humanity created in the image of God with the ability to think, feel and choose, as well as to have fellowship with God As a result of willful sin and a rebellious nature, humankind became alienated from God and by ourselves are unable to remedy our lost connection with God (Gen 1:26, 27; Rom 3:23; Eph 2:1-3).
6) WE BELIEVE salvation is the gift of God brought to humanity by grace and is received by personal faith in Jesus Christ. In great mercy God sent Jesus to give His life as an atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sin to reestablish our relationship with God. In the second-coming of Christ Jesus, those in relationship with God will live in fellowship with God for eternity (John 1:12; Eph 2:8-9; 1 Pet 3:18; Titus 2:13).
7) WE BELIEVE the church is the community of believers gathered together for instruction, worship, prayer, fellowship, and service; called to be an ambassador for sharing the love of Jesus and extending the Kingdom of God (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:19-25).
Covenant
Our agreement with God’s Community
Covenant Purpose:
When we enter into a relationship with God through faith in Jesus we enter into two covenants. The first is a personal covenant to journey with God and to love God fully. The second is a community covenant to journey with other Christ Followers in a local church. At GGCC, being a covenant member means being grounded in these two covenants and their purposes.
“You are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…and in Him you are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19
“Just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5
As Covenant Members we are to be:
⬥ Connected to other believers relationally reflecting the relationship of Trinity. (John 17:23)
⬥ Contributing to the needs and the growth of the other members. (Acts 2:42-47;Eph 4:16)
⬥ Committed and submitted to one another in reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)
⬥ Cooperating with the other members in the mission of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12-14)
Roots
The foundations of our Faith and Life in Christ and The Church
2 Purposes of The Church
1. The Great Commandment
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
2. The Great Commission
“Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I am with you always!” (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Individual’s Place in the Church
⬥ The above purposes come alive in us when we begin a relationship with God through Christ.
⬥ This is known as the “Great Confession,” confessing Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9).
⬥ Then as members of the Body of Christ we allow the Spirit to live in us, define our being and direct our lives (Acts 17:28).
⬥ Which leads to the proclamation of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the church’s purposes above.
7 Pictures of The Church
1. Household and Family of God. (Ephesians. 2:19)
2. Body of Christ. (Romans 12:4-5)
3. Building of Living Stones. (1 Peter 2:4-5;9-12)
4. Bride of Christ. (Revelation 19:7)
5. Instrument for establishing the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 16:18)
6. Foundation of the Truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)
7. Local Gathering of God’s People. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
5 Priorities of the Church
1. Glorify God in relationship to God, one another and the world. (Ephesians 1:6,12)
2. Love one another. (John 13:34-35)
3. Reproduce mature Christians. (Colossians 1:28-29, 2:2-3)
4. Exercise our gifts to extend the Kingdom of God. (Romans 12:1-8; John 17:23, 20:21)
5. Live, walk, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18-20; Galatians 5:1, 13, 22-25)