Inasmuch as Grace Community School (GCS) is interdenominational and theologically conservative, the basis of GCS is the Word of God and the great fundamentals of Christianity found in the following unalterable, irreducible essentials of the Christian faith:
The Authority and Truth of the Bible. The Bible, consisting of the original texts of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and free from any error or defect. (II Timothy 3:16)
The Person and Power of God. There is one God who exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternal in being, identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection. God is the self-revealed Creator, Upholder, Governor, and Lord of the universe. He is eternal in his self-existence and unchanging in his love, goodness, justice, wisdom, and faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14)
The Creation and Condition of Man. Creation was a direct act of God as set forth in the Bible. Man was created by God in the image and likeness of God and is not in any sense the product of evolution. Man inherited a sinful nature due to the disobedience of the first man, Adam, and as a result, mankind became alienated from God and is totally unable without God’s grace to reestablish a relationship with God. This sinful nature separates mankind from God, resulting in spiritual death, and there is no hope for salvation, eternal life, or a right relationship with God without the loving, supernatural intervention of God. (Genesis 1:26, 3:1-24; Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:12)
The Person and Work of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal and only Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and miraculously born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. Jesus showed His power and love by working mighty miracles that were not contrary to nature but superior to it. Jesus was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell, and rose from the dead three days later with the same body with which He had suffered. He ascended into heaven, where He sits on the right hand of God the Father and fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy. Jesus will come again to earth the second time personally, bodily, and visibly. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:16-38; John 1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:1-8; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 1:7)
The Salvation and Redemption of Man. Salvation of people is available as a free gift of God, by His grace alone, and is based solely upon Christ’s atoning death and finished work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. No works of man play any part in salvation. God accomplished man’s redemption through the death of Jesus on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. Salvation is received by faith. Persons who receive Christ and His salvation by faith become completely forgiven, spiritually alive, right with God, born of the Spirit, children of God, new creations in Christ, and heirs of eternal life with God. (John 1:12-13; 3:16-17; Romans 5:1; 10:9-13; I Corinthians 15:17; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7, 2:1, 8-10)
The Person and Presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates believers in Christ, lives within believers permanently, empowers believers to live godly lives, and gives spiritual gifts to every believer to be used for God’s purposes. (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9, 11; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5)
The Mission and Responsibility of the Church. The church, or the body of Christ, is composed of all true believers in Him, that is, those who have received Christ by faith, regardless of denominational affiliation or church membership. The mission of the church is to fulfill the command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 12:4-27; Ephesians 1:22-23)