Our Doctrine

The Process of Knowledge

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:3-4

We believe in the desire of God our Savior (Jesus Christ) to see all men saved and to COME toward the knowledge of truth. Both salvation and the knowledge of truth are very different facets of our journey in Christ. Salvation alone is that which a child can attain with limited understanding and great faith. The knowledge of truth is that which a studied, faithful, and responsible steward of God’s Word can and will achieve by the grace of God who opens eyes to the fullness of Himself. Any truth gained along the way is a step in the process of knowledge, for it is neither immediate, nor is it quick. Each of us must continue to strive TOWARD such knowledge, but must remain in the humility of wisdom which allows us to admit openly that we will always be in the “process” until we are removed from this flesh.

The Ability to Teach

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” 2 Timothy 2:24-25

We believe that all those who have understood the process of knowledge may equally gain a desire to teach and implore the Body toward the truth. Yet not all instruction given in this current world is productive, profitable, or beyond vanity. In order to faithfully serve the cause of instruction, there must be meekness, humility, and gentleness within the nature and heart of the instructor. While we believe this to be lacking in the present age, it is our goal to be as such. The challenges thrown against one’s willingness to be meek, gentle, patient, humble, or gracious are only battles fought within one’s self. For it is in the pride of man that the benefit of knowledge can become a curse. We seek to allow knowledge to serve its purpose of God’s glorious grace, not our human agendas.

The Word Rightly Divided

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Having a common knowledge that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness,” we believe that in order to properly attain this “profitable doctrine,” one must rightly divide as a foreground principle. To divide anything, the person doing so “rightly” will always begin to see the two different sides during the process of division. Just as 6 can be “divided” by 2 (having first studied the arithmetic necessary to do this), so is our responsibility in knowing where to visually see lines of doctrinal shift, change, or audience within the Biblical texts we read. We believe that ALL Scripture is useful, but not all Scripture is applicable (as there are many things that have little or nothing to do with the Body of Christ… whom we are). Having said that, we do not disregard, belittle, or deny the inspiration, godliness, and righteousness of ALL Scripture whether applicable or not.

The Body of Christ

“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

We believe that the church is more specifically referred to in Christ as “The Body.” Among the many methods of defining our collective group, the Body of Christ as rung through as the most firmly rooted in the way we are called. In today’s generation of pop culture and easy claims of salvation, we believe that a person can be more quickly identifiable if they are aware of their role in the Body, rather than simply knowing that they “go to church.” For it is the foolish who resort to the simplicity of terms they have not considered, but it is the wise who uphold the nature of things they have studied. Surely we cannot and will not ever make claim to the salvation of anyone’s life in Christ, but it is not absurd to consider whether one identifies themselves with the Body vs. simply identifying themselves with the church.

The Grace of Christ Jesus our Lord God and Savior

“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:2b

Without question, we believe in the grace of God through Christ Jesus. This grace, we believe, is our salvation, for apart from it we have nothing. With so many perceptions in this world, this nation, and our communities on what allows a man to be saved, there is none so true as the grace of God in the way we have come to understand it rightly divided. In as much as He has often been merciless in times past, His current graciousness is acknowledged far above all wealth. We believe that this grace is a “gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8), but that it also comes with a learned contentment (Philippians 4:11) and peace that the Apostle Paul speaks about in each and every epistle he wrote. Not only do we have a hope in future glory, but we have the privilege of His peace right here and now. Our current understanding and experience exemplifies that apart from having endured trials, challenges, or tribulations in this life… one cannot gain such “learned” contentment as to achieve peace. This peace is only granted upon the closure of long-suffered endurance where the realization stands to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

The Apostle Paul and the Dispensation of God’s Grace

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;” Ephesians 3:1-3

Probably the most unique aspect of “who we are” and “what we’re about” is continuing to study, grasp, teach, implore, and uphold this revelation that Paul received regarding the “dispensation of the grace of God.” Often referred to as the “age of grace,” we believe that God has temporarily (albeit a lengthy temporary) created “one new man” (Ephesians 2:14-16) from what was once Jew and Gentile respectively. Unlike many ages past, the Gentiles have now been welcomed into the eternal inheritance (Ephesians 3:6) prepared beforehand in Christ Jesus. All men, both Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave or free, are given the free gift of salvation by the gracious mercy of God.

The Gift and Seal of Salvation

“...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13

The gift of salvation is not given or received through the taking or the acceptance, but the belief and acknowledgement of that which is not seen. Salvation is a gift by which one must simply believe in the person of Christ Jesus and His completed work through the cross. Upon having believed, we are sealed (permanently stamped) with the Holy Spirit of promise. Salvation itself can, at times, be a tremendous mystery because of how little it is deserved, favored, or even understood, but the ultimate reality of HOW one comes to know salvation is found in whether they believe.

The Progressive Distinctions of Understanding

“Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.” Ecclesiastes 8:17

When all is said and done, we believe that all knowledge will fall into the lap of God’s foresight as we behold His glory. Though we seek to find all knowledge and all wisdom and all understanding, there will no doubt continue to be progressive distinctions through our various studies as there is no possible way for fallible and imperfect flesh to attain that which is perfect in mind. The process of knowledge requires that we not only comprehend the experience and the journey, but that we also acknowledge our own imperfections and capacities for incorrect conclusions. Many of our paths have led us through one perception of truth that we were so adamantly firm on… only to find that it was necessary we see that for a time as God opened our eyes to see something more. This is the nature of understanding within our realistically imperfect minds. Were we to begin believing that we had “arrived” at all knowledge, it would be the beginning of our own destruction.

Conclusion

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” 2 Timothy 4:16

In this current “age of grace,” it has become a common trend among grace-believing fellowships to forsake one another upon a disagreement or a difference of understanding. While it breaks the heart of he who has compiled this doctrine of G.R.A.C.E., we have not lost hope in the character of shared fellowship. With all the breaks, all the splits, and all the hate that exists between brethren, it is the goal and concluded doctrine of G.R.A.C.E. that we will not allow ourselves to stray from productive dialogue over the things that differ in the Word, in our understanding, and in our human nature.

Nearing the end of his life, Paul looked to his left and to his right and saw very few standing next to him. We, as the servants of His grace, will do all we can to stand next to you in the court of mercy. When others may seem to have abandoned you, we will not be the ones who look away.