VISSION STATEMENT:
“Sharing God's Plan. Teaching God's Word. Encouraging God's People.”
MISSION STATEMENT:
“Sharing God's Plan” (Evangelism) – Making God's redemptive plan of salvation
known to a lost and fallen world.
“Teaching God's Word” (Education) – Making educated disciples who can explain
and defend their faith and the Holy Scriptures.
“Encouraging God's People” (Edification) – Making believers aware of their value
by viewing them through the lens of God's grace while teaching them to do like-
wise.
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Vision and Mission Statements of True Grace Ministries/True Grace Theological
Institute are accomplished primarily through offering accessible biblical and theological
education to those who hunger for more of God and His Word. Private, Christian counseling is also available.
GENERAL BELIEFS:
True Grace Ministries/True Grace Theological Institute holds to the common faith, confessed by Christians from all denominations throughout history, which is summarized nicely in the Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible
and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, being of one substance with
the Father, through whom all things were made. For us humans and for our salvation He
came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was
made human. In our place He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was
buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens
and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the
living and the dead, His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son together He is worshiped and glorified. He spoke by the prophets.
There is one holy, universal, and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins, we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
While we have, and encourage, fellowship in Christ with all who hold to these truths, we realize the importance of other doctrines about which Christ-followers have differed. Although we operate and accept individuals according to the creedo attributed to St. Augustine, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity (love),” the following statements express in more detail the specific doctrinal stance of True Grace Ministries/True Grace Theological Institute.
SPECIFIC BELIEFS:
The Trinity:
We believe in the one and only Creator-God, who eternally exists in three distinct but equal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – all three having the same nature and characteristics and are worthy of the same honor. As Creator, our God sovereignly controls history and works all things for His purposes. The so-called “gods” of other religions are nothing and one day all of humanity will give an account of themselves to the one and only Creator-God. (One God: Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5. Tri-unity: Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ:
Jesus is God in human form. We believe that God the Son became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, who was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and who is both true God and true man. God entered into time and space as the man, Jesus, who has two distinct natures (divine and human) united in one person. Jesus is the only Savior and the living King. He was resurrected in the body and He ascended into heaven. He now serves in heaven as intercessor and advocate on our behalf with the Father. (John 1:1, 14; 8:24, 58 compare w/Exodus 3:14; Colossians 2:19; Hebrews 1:8; John 20:28; Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:25; John 2:19-21; Acts 1:9-11)
The Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, possessing all of the divine attributes. He is God. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He regenerates, seals, and sets apart the believer to strive for a holy life. At regeneration He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ and comes to reside in that person permanently. (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 9:14; Titus 3:5; John 1:23-34; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Galatians 4:6; John 16:13; Romans 15:16)
Scripture and Truth:
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the written word of God, true and without error in whatever it affirms, and therefore, of absolute authority in all matters about which it speaks. The Bible must be interpreted according to the intentions of the inspired authors and in accord with the unified testimony of the whole of Scripture. Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit creates faith and provides a more than sufficient doctrinal and moral guide for the church. We affirm that God the Creator is the source of truth. While humanity knows only in part, God knows all things absolutely and truly. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)
Creation and Salvation:
We believe God created heaven and earth; and He made human beings, both male and female, in His image as stewards of creation. God upholds all things by His providence and He begins human life at the point of conception and ends it when He sovereignly decides. The guilt of Adam's sin is upon the entire human race and its consequences have corrupted all of creation. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and we sin in thought, word, and deed. We believe that whoever “by grace through faith” trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior receives forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Believers are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the sealing of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Christ. We await the restoration of all creation at the return of Christ. (Genesis 1; John 1:1-5; Genesis 3; 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Corinthians 12:14; Romans 3:23; John 6:64-65; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:22; John 6:37-40, 47; 10:27-28; Ephesians 4:1-5; Philippians 1:6; Acts 3:21; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1-4)
The
Christian Life:
While all believers still possess an underlying sinful nature, we believe God has made full provision for believers to live for God through submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit. All believers are responsible to nurture their walk with Christ through biblical and theological education, worship, fellowship, and service in the body of Christ and in the community. However, “good works” do nothing to aid one in obtaining or keeping salvation. But, “good works” do come as a result of salvation. We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to each believer as He sees fit. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
The Church:
We believe that all who have faith in Christ are united with Him as members of His Church universal, which is also called His Body. The unity of the Body of Christ reaches beyond local church or denominational affiliation; and believers should rise above non-essential differences that divide in order to love one another in humility and peace. Christ ordained water baptism for all who confess faith in Him; and He instituted the celebration of the Lord's Supper, or Communion, until He returns. (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38)
We believe that the purposes of the church are biblical education, worship, community, and mission, that is, celebrating our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, nurturing and discipling one another toward Christ-likeness, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42; Psalms 100:4; 150)
Future Things:
We believe in the literal, bodily return of Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all humanity at Christ's return. Believers are resurrected to enjoy rewards and eternal life with God. Unbelievers are resurrected to experience judgment and eternal suffering apart from God. We long for Christ's return and His restoration of the created order in the New Heavens and The New Earth. (Hebrews 9:28; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Colossians 3:23-24; Revelation 22:12; 20:11-15; Romans 2:16; 2 Peter 2:4-10; Acts 3:21; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1-4)