We consider our "structural doctrines" to be extremely important. They help to define who we are as a church. However, we also acknowledge that there is some room for disagreement among committed believers over these important issues. These structural doctrines are an important part of our beliefs, but are not a requirement to membership in our church.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the continuing work of God in the life of the believer. Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification. Positional sanctification, based on the death of Christ, occurs at conversion when the believer is set apart in the family of God. Through the continuing work of the Holy Spirit, the believer undergoes a progressive transformation of character. Ultimate sanctification will only occur when the believer sees Christ and becomes like Him. (Heb. 10:10, 14; John 17:15-17; Phil. 1:6; Eph. 5:26-27; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 6:11)
Assurance
Every person who is born of the Spirit through faith in Christ has the assurance, or confidence, of salvation and is eternally secure in Christ. This assurance of eternal security is not based on the work or the worth of the individual, but is based entirely on the testimony and promise of God in the Scriptures. God will never reject those who are his own, because of His character, promises, grace and power. (Luke 10:20; Rom. 5:1; John 6:37; John 10:27-29; John 17:12; 2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30; 1 John 5:13)
Church
The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ, formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects, universal and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. Its mission is to witness to its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations. It will be caught up to meet the Lord, after which He will return to set up His Kingdom. The local church is a group of believers voluntarily joined together in love to worship God with praise and thanksgiving, and to glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive effort to disciple others by the preaching of the Gospel, and the exercise of spiritual gifts.
Grace Church is evangelical, non-charismatic, and denominationally unrelated. (Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:24-30; 1 Cor. 12:4-13, 27)
Gifts
Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service, i.e., "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ." The Holy Spirit bestows certain special gifts upon believers within the body of Christ. In Paul's writings there are three different lists of the gifts; a fourth list is included in 1 Peter. (Rom. 12:1-8; 1 Cor. 12:4, 11; Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Peter 4:8-11)
Christian Life
Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit, which service includes the propagation of the gospel message to the whole world. There is promised reward in heaven for faithfulness in such service. (1 Pet. 1:15-16; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3)
Ordinances
Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances that Christ gave to His church to be publicly observed after His death and Resurrection. Baptism is a one-time act of obedience and is an outward testimony of a person's belief in Christ. Baptism is a symbol of unity among believers and signifies a spiritual identification with Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. Only those persons who profess a personal faith in Jesus Christ may be baptized. Immersion is the ideal means set forth in Scripture. The Lord's Supper is to be celebrated regularly as a memorial in remembrance of Christ's death on the cross, and in expectation of His return. The elements of the Lord's Supper represent the body and blood of Christ and are available to all believers who have confessed their sins to God. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; Acts 9:18; Acts 10:47; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
Angels and Demons
Angels (their name means "messengers") were originally created holy by God and are superior to humans in power and intelligence. Before the creation of the world, a prideful Satan led a rebellion against God. Because of Satan's rebellion, there is also an unholy demonic, angelic kingdom. However, these demons were defeated at the Cross and even though they oppose God and His people, they will face the final judgment. (Col. 1:16; Job 38:6-7; Ps. 148:2-5; Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:11-12; 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Pet. 2:11; Jude 6; Rev. 12:9)
Second Coming
The blessed hope of the church is the imminent return of Christ. The events of the return of Christ take place in the following order: the rapture of the church, the tribulation, the second advent, the establishment of the reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years, and finally the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and the eternal state of blessing for the saved. (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; John 14:1-3; Matt. 24:21, 29-30; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 3:10; 20:1-6, 11-15)
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