I. THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.
II. GOD
There is only one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things. He is perfect and infinite, and all creatures owe Him the highest love, reverence and obedience.
III. THE TRINITY
God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
IV. PROVIDENCE
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; however, God is in no way the author or approver of sin.
V. ELECTION
Election is God’s eternal choice of some people to everlasting life – not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ – as a result of this choice they are called, justified and glorified.
VI. THE FALL OF MAN
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God. Man fell from his original state of holiness and righteousness, and subjected all humanity to a corrupt nature that is wholly opposed to God and His law. As such, all humanity is under condemnation and as soon as they are capable of moral action will themselves violate God’s law.
VII. THE MEDIATOR
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried but rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He forever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
VIII. REGENERATION
Regeneration is a change of heart, done by the Holy Spirit, who brings new life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. He enlightens their minds spiritually, brings understanding of the Word of God and renews their whole nature, so that they love God and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
IX. REPENTANCE
Repentance is worked by the Holy Spirit who by grace makes a person aware of sin and its wickedness. That person, being humbled by this awareness, hates sin and purposes to fight against sin and to walk before God in a way that pleases Him.
X. FAITH
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of that which is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is worked in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces leading to a life of holiness.
XI. JUSTIFICATION
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin. Through the full payment that Christ has made; not for anything done by them; but on account of the obedience and sacrifice of Christ, they receive and rest in Him and His righteousness by faith.
XII. SANCTIFICATION
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive as God supplies His strength, which His people seek, pressing toward Christlikeness in obedience to Christ’s commands.
XIII. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Those who God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally or finally fall away from His grace. They will persevere to the end and though they may fall into sin through neglect or temptation and grieve the Holy Spirit, lose the confidence they have in Christ, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, they will be renewed again and kept by the power of God through faith to salvation.
XIV. THE CHURCH
The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and He is its supreme authority. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with other believers in local churches. In each of these churches He has given authority to the elders and deacons for administering order, discipline and worship which He has appointed.
XV. BAPTISM
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus. In obedience, every believer is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of forgiveness of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.
XVI. THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, symbolized by the elements of the bread and the cup and to be observed by His church until He returns. It is not a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of fellow believers, to be a bond and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
XVII. LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE
God alone is Lord of the conscience. He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men when they are contrary to His word or not contained in it. Civil authorities are ordained by God and we are to be subject to them in all lawful things commanded by them.
XVIII. THE RESURRECTION
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God – the righteous to rest with Him and the wicked to be kept in darkness until the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
XIX. THE JUDGMENT
God has appointed a day when Jesus Christ will judge the world. Everyone will be judged according to their deeds, the righteous will enter everlasting life and the wicked will go into everlasting punishment.
* Acknowledgements: The Grace Community Church of Kansas City doctrinal confession is taken in part from the Abstract of Principles set down by James Pettigru Boyce