Grace Gems

OUR BELIEFS


1. The BIBLE alone is the inspired Word of God, and the only authoritative rule for Christian faith and practice. Scripture alone is able to make a man wise unto salvation. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousnessso that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. GOD is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, all wise, all good; and perfectly holy, righteous and just. He is altogether sovereign in creation, providence and salvation.

By the Trinity, we mean that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct and divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who are equal in every divine attribute, and execute distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of salvation.

3.
JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of God, condescended to be born of a virgin—thus becoming a perfect man, while remaining perfect God. He willingly died as a substitutionary atoning sacrifice for all the sins of all of His people.

4. At the time of salvation, all Christians receive the indwelling and fullness of the
HOLY SPIRIT, and are baptized by the Spirit into the spiritual Body of Christ. As he lives by the power of the Spirit, the believer is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world.

5. All
MANKIND are born in a state of total sinful depravity. Therefore, no person by nature, has the will or the ability to come to God in his own strength.

6.
SALVATION cannot be merited by our 'good works'—for we have none in our natural sinful state. Salvation is entirely a gift of God's sovereign grace. We are accounted righteous before God, only by the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is received by faith—and not for our own works and deservings. We maintain that in the matter of our justification by faith alone, our own goodness and works have nothing whatever to do. Genuine salvation, once received, cannot be lost.

There is only one way of salvation taught in Scripture:
  by grace alone,
  through faith alone,
  in Christ alone!

7. GOOD WORKS, which necessarily follow after justification, always spring out of a true and God-given faith. We maintain that a living faith may be as evidently discerned by the good works which spring from it—just as a tree is discerned by its fruit. Consequently, the man in whom no holy living can be seen—is not a converted man. God requires man to repent of his sins, and commit himself to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. With God continually preserving them, all true believers will persevere in the faith and in a holy lifestyle.

8. In ETERNITY the saved shall enjoy everlasting life in Heaven, being forever with their precious Lord and Savior. The lost shall suffer everlasting punishment in Hell, as the wages of their sins.

9. The universal CHURCH consists of all who are . . .
    chosen by the Father,
    redeemed by the Son, and
    born again by the Holy Spirit.
The church finds its visible expression in a local assembly of believers, gathered together by the Spirit, to glorify God by:
   promoting His worship,
   teaching His Word to believers, and
   proclaiming His gospel to the lost.

We hold and teach that the above doctrines are the primary and principal beliefs of true Christianity. We maintain that other points of doctrine, however important and valuable they are in their due place—are by comparison, things of secondary importance. On these secondary issues, true Christians may disagree. As had been said:
  "In essentials, UNITY.
   In non-essentials, DIVERSITY.
   In all things, CHARITY."

"All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." Philippians 3:15-16


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Please be aware that we publish no infallible materials. All authors have their particular theological strengths and weaknesses.

"Test everything. Hold on to the good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11


"When we eat an apple—we usually first cut out the blemishes, then eat what is good, and lastly throw the core away. Such a rule I would observe in reading human authors—the best may be defective, and the wisest may be mistaken. We are not only permitted, but enjoined, to call no man master."
John Newton


"
Remember your exalted privilege—you have the Bible in your hands, and are not bound to follow books or preachers any farther than what they teach agrees with the Oracles of Truth. We have great reason to be thankful for the instructions and writings of spiritual men—but they are all fallible, even as ourselves. One is our master, even Christ—what He says, we are to receive implicitly—but we do not owe implicit subjection to the best of our fellow-creatures. The Bereans were commended because they would not implicitly believe even the Apostle Paul—but searched the Scriptures to see whether the things which he taught were true. May the Lord give us a spirit of humility and discernment in all things." John Newton

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Chart of the 5 points of Calvinism

We unashamedly believe and teach the historic Doctrines of Grace—which are held by the Puritans, the Reformers, Charles Spurgeon, John MacArthur, etc.

  1. Total Depravity

  2. Unconditional Election

  3. Limited Atonement

  4. Irresistible Grace

  5. The Perseverance of the Saints

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New Hampshire Baptist Confession, 1853

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We also hold to the following:

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

The Danvers Statement

The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel

 

 

 
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