Doctrine
What We Believe
Doctrinal distinctives and what we teach.
Grace Church Gore is a Reformed Presbyterian church with an evangelical spirit.
We hold to the Bible, as originally given, as the inspired, sufficient, and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour—our final rule on all matters of faith and practice. Through Scripture, we know God, understand His purposes, and are equipped for every good work.
We also affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith as a faithful and helpful summary of biblical truth.
These following points flesh out some of the basics a little more:
The Triune God
There is one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Creation
God created the world from nothing by the power of His Word in six literal days.
Scripture
The Bible is the inspired, sufficient, and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behavior.
Human Sinfulness
Since Adam and Eve fell into sin, all humankind is sinful and guilty, subject to God's righteous wrath and condemnation.
Redemption
We are redeemed from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin through repentance and faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, was truly God and truly man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and after burial, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He intercedes for His people.
Justification
Those who trust in Christ are pardoned of all their sins and accepted in God's sight. This justification is an act of God's undeserved mercy, received solely by faith and not by human effort.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit indwells every true believer at conversion, transforming them into Christlikeness and empowering their witness in the world.
Christ's Return
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person to judge the living and the dead—sending unbelievers to punishment and eternal separation from Him (which the Bible calls Hell), and welcoming believers into eternal life in the new heavens and new earth (which the Bible calls Heaven).
Marriage
Marriage is a divine institution between one man and one woman, intended for life. It is the only form of partnership approved by God for sexual relations.