Statement of Faith
Doctrinal Statement of Faith of NCGM
The Godhead (Holy Trinity)
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit — co-eternal in being and nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor 13:14; Isa. 44:6-8; Matt 28:19-20; Mk 12:29-34; Jn 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4, Deut 4:35, 39, 6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 19:15; Jn 10:29-30, 17:3; Eph 4:4-6; 1 Cor 8:4-6; 1 Tim 2:5) We believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God—eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty, completely wise, just and good, and the overflowing source of all good. (The Belgic Confession year 1560)
The Word of God
We believe the Holy Scripture of both the Old Testament and the New Testament to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. (2 Tim 3:15–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; Matt 5:18; Jn 16:12–13, 1 Thess 2:13; Heb 4:12)
We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered by the will of men, but that holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit, as Peter says. Afterward our God — because of the special care he has for us and our salvation — commanded his servants, the prophets, and apostles, to commit this revealed Word to writing. (Article 2 and 3 of Belgic Confession)
The Means by Which We Know God
First, we know God by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe. Since that universe is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures (great and small) are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God — his eternal power and his divinity. The apostle Paul says all these things are enough to convict men and to leave them without excuse (Rom 1). Second, he makes himself known to us more openly by his Holy Spirit and divine Word, to reveal Jesus as the Savior, for His glory and to save all who believe.
The Sufficiency of Scripture
We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently thought in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one — even an apostle or an angel from heaven — as Paul says (Gal 1:8) ought to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us. For since it is forbidden to add to or subtract from the Word of God (Rev 22:18; Prov 30:5–6) this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects.
Therefore, we must not consider human writing — no matter how holy their authors may have been — equal to the divine writings. Nor may we put custom, nor the majority, nor age, nor the passage of time or person, nor councils, decrees, or official decisions above the truth of God, for the truth is above everything else. (Article 7 Belgic Confession)
The Person and the Work of Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became fully man without ceasing to be fully God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary so that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (Jn 1:1–2, 14; Lk 1:35, Matt 1:23; Jn 1:1-4, 14, 29; Acts 1:11, 2:22-24; Rom 8:34; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 2:5-11; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 1:1-4, 4:15)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice. Moreover, our justification and eternal life is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom 3:24; 1 Pet 2:24; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:3–5)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. Where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9, 10; Heb 7:25; Heb 9:24; Rom 8:34; 1 Jn 2:1–2) We believe Jesus is coming again to judge the living and dead. (1 Pet 4:5; Rom 14:9; 2 Tim 4:1)
Again our ancient fathers spoke of the divinity of Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only Son of God — eternally begotten, not made nor created. He is one in essence with the Father — coeternal — the exact image of the person of the Father and the “reflection of his glory, being in all things like him. (Col 1:15; Heb. 1:3)
He is the Son of God not only from the time he assumed our nature but from all eternity, as the following testimonies teach us when they are taken together. Moses says that God “created the world” (Gen. 1:1); and John says that “all things were created by the Word,” (Jn 1:3) which he calls God. The writer of Hebrews says that “God made the world by his Son” (Heb. 1:2). Paul says that “God created all things by Jesus Christ” (Col. 1:16). Moreover, so it must follow that he who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ already existed when all things were created by him. Therefore, the prophet Micah says that his origin is “from ancient times, from eternity” (Mic. 5:2) and that he has “neither beginning of days nor end of life” (Heb. 7:3). So then, he is the true eternal God, the Almighty, whom we invoke, worship, and serve (Belgic Confession).
The Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and is one with the Godhead. That he is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the Supernatural Agent in the regeneration of sinful man. That he baptizes believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. That Jesus Christ sends him as a comforter to all believers. (Jn 16:7-11; 2 Cor 3:6; Rom 8:9; Eph 5:16-18)
We believe that all of the redeemed have the Holy Spirit resident in their lives. Moreover, that also the Holy Spirit in Scripture and present day has poured out his Spirit in such a way as to bring renewal, refreshing and the addition of power in the spiritual gifts and the preaching of the Word to the lost. We believe that all the gifts mentioned in Scripture are present and available today. Moreover, that they are distributed as the Spirit so desires to build up the body and impact the lost world. (Joel 2:28; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4, 17, 38-39; 8:14-17; I Cor 12)
We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit as an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. He empowers Christians to live righteous and holy. We believe in the power and spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to build, unite and sanctify the ekklesia. (Jn 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 4:31; Rom 1:11, 8:26, 12:4-8, 15:13,16; 1 Cor 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 2 Cor 3:17-18; Gal 5:16-18; Eph 3:14-19; I Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6-7; Heb 2:4, 9:14; I Pet 4:10-11)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God. That through Adam’s sin, the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God and spiritually dead. Man is totally depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen 1:26–27; Rom 3:22–23; 5:12; Eph 2:12–13)
Salvation
We believe that all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. He is the only salvation for a lost and sinful humanity. Only through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit and God’s living Word. (Luke 24:46-47; Jn 3:17, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 3:23-24; 2 Cor 5:10-11; Eph 1:7, 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7)
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on the Cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or any human effort. (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16, 3:8; I Pet. 1:18-19; Rom 10:9-10)
Salvation comes only through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ; there is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus. Christ (Heb 9:12, 16, 22; 1 Tim 2:3-6; Jn 14:6)
Salvation has a two-fold meaning. One, all of our sins are forgiven by the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross; and two, by His resurrection, Jesus has given us eternal life and He now lives in us and through all believers. (Eph 1:7-8; Col 2:13-14; Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:11-13; Gal 2:20; Acts 17:2)
The Church
We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again believers. (Eph 1:22,23: 5:25-27; I Cor 12:12-14, 27; 2 Cor 11:2) The universal church is all believers past, present and future, respective of time and place. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; 18:22; 20:17; I Tim 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11)
We believe in the spiritual and functional unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and that all true believers are members of His body, His ekklesia—the called out ones. (Jn 17:21-23; Eph 4:3,11-13; Col 2:12-14; Matt 28:19; Rom 15:5-6; Eph 3:16-19; Jn 3:5-8)
The church we read about in the New Testament was “organic” and sustained by spiritual life instead of constructed by human institutions, controlled by human hierarchy, shaped by empty rituals, and held together by religious programs.
Two Sacraments
We believe in agreement with the Belgic Confession that, “our good God, mindful of our crudeness and weakness, has ordained sacraments for us to seal his promises in us, to pledge his good will and grace toward us, and also to nourish and sustain our faith…. For they are visible signs and seals of something internal and invisible, by means of which God works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. So they are not empty and hollow signs, to fool and deceive us, for their truth is Jesus Christ, without whom they would be nothing.”
Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water as an act of obedience/faith and as a testimony to the world (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38). Again we confess with the ancient creeds that, “Having abolished circumcision that was done with blood, he established in its place the sacrament of baptism.”
The Lord’s Supper: We are called by the Word of God to remember the saving work of Christ on the cross, that his body was broken for us and that his blood was shed for us. In this, Christ took our place, suffered the wrath of God for us and now also imputes his righteousness in us. When we take the elements of the cup, representing his blood and the bread, representing his body we are reminded of his past and present work on our behalf as well as in us. We are to partake of these elements with reverence, awe, and joy. We are to examine ourselves and come to the table of the Lord with a clean conscience and a thankful spirit. (Matt 26:26-29; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48; I Cor 10:16, 11:23-25)
Resurrection
We believe that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after his death on the cross. That Jesus was the first to be resurrected to eternal life and is now the first fruits of the coming resurrection of both the saved and the lost. That the saved will be resurrected to life with Christ in eternity and that the lost will be resurrected to eternal damnation. (Lk 24:16, 36, 39; Jn 2:19-21, 20:26-28; Acts 24:15; I Cor 15-42-44; Phil 1:21-23, 3:21; 2 Cor 5:8; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Rev 20:11-15; Dan 12:2; John 3:15-16,36, 5:28-29
Second Coming
We believe that Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish his Kingdom. He will then create a new heaven and a new earth from which he will reign forever. (Matt 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 1:7-8; Rev 1:7, 21:1-3)
Secondary Beliefs Important to New Covenant GraceLife Ministries
Evangelism
We believe that the ministry of evangelism and discipleship is a responsibility of all followers of Jesus Christ. (Matt 5:14-16, 28:18-20; Mark 15:16; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:9-15; 1 Cor 9:22; Eph 4:11-17; 2 Tim 2:2,15, 4:5; Titus 2:1-8; 1 Peter 3:15)
We believe it is vital to surrender to God’s kingdom purpose in prayer and service: To model the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, to submit to His authority and will, and to disciple the nations. (Psalm 40:8, 143:10; Prov 3:5-6; Matt 28:22:37-39, Jn 4:24, 5:30, 15:7,14; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 6:10; Eph 6:6,18; Phil 4:6 Col 1:3, 2:6-10, 4:2; 1 Thess 5:16-18, 1 Tim 2:1-4, 2:8; James 1:21-22; 1 Peter 3: 13-17)
Sanctification
We believe that the Holy Spirit is present to bring about the development of — through process — Christ’s character in each believer. Through yielding oneself to the movement of the Holy Spirit. The believer is formed into an ever-increasing embracing of all things that God has for us. In short, all Christians are being transformed into the image of Christ. (I Thess 4:3, 5:23; 2 Cor 3:18, 6:14-18; Rom 8:29-31; Heb 2:11)
Complete Forgiveness
We believe that by the “shed blood of Jesus” all our sins are totally and completely forgiven and cleansed, they are taken away forever, never to be remembered by the Father. All Christians can live by faith in complete confidence and assurance before God and man. (Eph 1:7-8; Jn 1:29; 1 Jn 4:10; Heb 10:10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19-23; Heb 4:16, 1 Jn 1)
New Covenant Grace
We believe that Christians no longer live under or by the Old Covenant law but under or by the New Covenant of grace. Believers now live by the Law of Christ written in their hearts and minds through the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. (Heb 8: 7-10; Rom 6:14; Heb 10: 15-18; Rom 8: 1-2; Gal 5; Gal 2: 15-21 & 3:1-14)
Life “In” Christ
We believe that it is impossible to live the Christian life apart from Jesus. This is why the Apostle Paul says, “Christ in me the hope of glory,” “It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me” and “For me to live is Christ.” (Jn 15:4-5; Col 1:25-29; Gal 2:20; Phil 1:21)
New Creation
We believe that all Christians have eternal life in Christ. that we are a new creation with a brand-new eternal identity. That believing in these truths by faith, is the precursor or beginning of changed thinking, beliefs and behaviours. (Jn 5:20, 24; 2 Cor 5:17; 2 Pet 1:1-4; Prov. 23:7)
Rest “In” Christ
We believe that we are to rest in the finished and sufficient work of Jesus Christ by faith and our faith will express itself in love for God and others. (Matt 11:28-30; Heb 4:1, 3, 9-11; 3:19; 11:6; Gal 5:6; Eph 5:1-2)
Eternal Security or Assurance of Salvation
We believe that a true born-again, spirit regenerated Christian cannot lose their salvation and nothing can separate them from the love of God because of the finished work and life of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 1:3, 23; Phil 1:6; Heb 13:5; Jn 10:27-30; Rom 8:28-39; 1 Thess. 5:24; Phil 2:8-11; Jn 19:30; Heb 1:2-4; 1 Jn 5:11-13; Eph 1)
Marriage
We believe God’s sacred plan for human sexuality expressed only within the context of marriage. God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other for propagation. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is an exclusive, lifelong faithful relationship, the union of one genetic male and one genetic female. (Gen 2:7,18-25; Lev 18:22-23; Matt 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9,18; Eph 4:19,5:3,21-33; Heb 13:4)
Further, based on the biblical understanding of Holy Matrimony (marriage) the Ministers, Pastors, Elder Shepherd’s, and Shepherds of New Covenant GraceLife Ministries shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of New Covenant GraceLife Ministries shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.
Human Life
We believe that all human life is created by God in His image and sacred. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death and that we must have and demonstrate compassion for the physical and spiritual needs of our fellowman. (Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17; Psalm 139:13-15; Isaiah 44:2,24, 49:1,5; Jer 1:5; Matt 5:21-26, 19:18)
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humanity. It is the sole and ultimate source of all that we believe. For purposes of New Covenant GraceLife Ministries faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Executive Director and Board of Trustees are New Covenant GraceLife Ministries final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.