What we believe
Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine
Living By Grace Fellowship, Inc. has adopted the following as its Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine:
1. We believe that all Scripture (The Bible), both Old and New
Testaments, was given by inspiration of God, as the writers were
moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of God; and that the
Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:15-17;
1 Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12).
2. We believe in the one true God who has revealed Himself as existing
in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are co-equal and
co-eternal (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; 1 John 5:7). Jesus Christ,
God manifest in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead
(Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1,14).
3. We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man as recorded in the
book of Genesis. By voluntary transgression, he fell, and his only hope
of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31,
3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
4. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very man
(Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6).
5. We believe in the Salvation of Man
(a) Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus
Christ. On the cross, Jesus Christ became sin and sickness,
providing both salvation and healing for all mankind (Psalm 103:3).
This salvation comes by believing in your heart that God raised
Jesus from the dead and confessing with your mouth, Jesus as
Lord (Romans 3:24, 10:8-10).
(b) The inward evidence, to the believer, is the direct witness of the
spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of
true holiness and love (1 John 3:23; John 13:35).
(c) Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works;
However, our works are evidence of our faith and will determine
our rewards in eternity (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10, 14:10-12;
2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; James 2:18).
6. We believe in the necessity of Water Baptism by immersion as a
declaration to the world that a believer has died with Christ and that
they have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).
7. We believe in the celebration of the Lord's Supper by eating of the
bread and drinking of the cup as a remembrance of Jesus
(1 Corinthians 11:24-30).
8. We believe that all believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect
and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit, according to the command of Jesus Christ. With this comes the
endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of gifts and
their uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from
and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4-8; 2:38-39, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9;
1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
9. We believe in the Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The full
consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is
evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues
as the Spirit gives utterance and by the subsequent manifestation of
spiritual power in public testimony and service
(Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:2, 6, 1:8).
10. We believe the Church is the Body of Christ and each believer is an
integral part (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. We believe in the total prosperity of man
(a) Spiritual (John 3:3,11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10)
(b) Mental (2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:1; Isaiah 26:3)
(c) Physical (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
(d) Financial (3 John 1:2; Malachi 3: 10-11; Luke 6:38;
2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
(e) Social (Proverbs 3:4)
12. We believe in the Blessed Hope: Jesus is coming again to gather all
His Saints to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-52;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1).
13. We believe those who have not accepted the redemptive work of
Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead and will
burn in the Lake of Fire (Revelation19:20, 20:10-15).
14. We believe in the Millennial Reign of Jesus: The return of our Lord
Jesus Christ with His Saints from Heaven to rule and reign for 1,000
years on earth as the Scripture promised (Romans 11:25, 27;
2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-7). After this, there
will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21).