Grace Community Fellowship

The following are the basic doctrinal beliefs of Grace Community Fellowship in Starke, Florida.

1. The Bible. The scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man.  We accept the New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, to be the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.  (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
2. God. The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternal, self-existent “I AM,” the creator of heaven and earth and the redeemer of mankind.  He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22)
3. His virgin birth.  (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:3,11,35)
4. Jesus Christ and His work. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  The scriptures declare:
   1. His sinless life.  (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
   2. His miracles.  (Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38)
   3. His substitutionary work on the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
   4. His bodily resurrection from the dead.  (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)
   5. His exaltation to the right hand of God.  (Acts 1:9,11; Acts 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)
5. Sin. Man, made in the likeness and image of God, was created good and upright.  The voluntary transgression and fall by Adam thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.  (Genesis 1:26,27; Genesis 3:6; Romans 3:10,23; Romans 5:12-19)
6. Salvation. In order to adequately deal with the issue of sin, man must secure redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works of the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ producing fruits acceptable to God.  (Ephesians 2:8)
   1. Conditions of salvation:  Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life.  (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5-7)
   2. Evidences of salvation:  The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).  The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
7. Baptism in water. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized as commanded in the scriptures.  The ordinance is a symbol of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.  (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4)
8. Sanctification. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord.  We believe in sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the same time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation and Christ’s return.  (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
9. Holy Communion. The Lord’s supper, consisting of the elements of the bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “until He comes.”
10. The Holy Spirit. All believers are entitled to and should already expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowal of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).  This experience is distinct from the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 15:7-9).  With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), a consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love in Christ, for His word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).  The most common immediate evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the sign of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4), although the most significant evidence is the supernatural ability to witness (Acts 1:8).
11. Divine Healing. Divine healing, or wholeness, is an integral part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Deliverance from all sickness and oppression, whether mental, emotional, or physical, is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.  (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16,17;  James 5:14,16)
12. The resurrection of the just and the return of Christ. The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is imminent and the blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13).  Jesus Christ will come again to earth the second time (Hebrews 9:28), personally (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16), boldly (Acts 1:1, Colossians 2:9), and visibly (Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7).  He will return with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years, and His coming will precede the age of the universal peace and righteousness, foretold in the scriptures.  (Matthew 24:29,30,42; 2 Thessalonians 2:7,8; Revelation 20:1-6)
13. Future life and judgement. There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works.  Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).  “We according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22)