Beliefs
Our Basic Beliefs
Any short statement like this can't be exhaustive, but perhaps you will get an idea of some of what we believe. And we are always glad to answer questions or to give some more detail when you are ready.
The beliefs of Grace Mills River are expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. We affirm the statements of faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Grace is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America.
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God (inspiration). We believe it is without error in the original writings (inerrant), that it is the complete revelation of God's will for our salvation, and that it is our supreme and final authority in all matters of our faith and life (infallible and authoritative).
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
We believe there is only one true God; and that it is He alone whom we must serve and worship, and that He alone is worthy of our lives and trust. We believe God is eternal, infinitely perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing, and holy (separate from humanity and morally perfect). We believe this one God exists and works in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (trinity). We believe He owns and controls all things according to His will.
Eph. 1:11; 3:11; Acts 4:24-27.
We believe that God alone has existed from eternity past and, in His wisdom, decided to create the universe using nothing which had pre-existed.
Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Isaiah 44:24
We believe that human beings were created by God in His own likeness (image) in order to have an intimate relationship with Him (fellowship) and to bring Him glory. Therefore, we believe humanity has tremendous dignity and value (Gen. 1:26; Col. 3:17). We also believe, however, that humanity broke that relationship through rebellion and disobedience (sin), and thereby became spiritually dead, separated from God, under His condemnation, totally unable to please Him or earn a restored relationship (salvation).
Rom. 3:9-19; 8:7,8
We believe that Jesus Christ is truly God (Rom. 9:5), and that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, becoming also truly human (Luke 2:1-40). We believe He did this in order to represent both God and humanity (as a mediator) and to become the bridge that restores our relationship to God. Because of His humanity, and His suffering and being tempted in every way like we are (yet without sinning), He is also able to be compassionate and sympathetic toward us (Heb. 4:14-16). We believe that Jesus is the only savior and way back to God (1 Tim. 2:5); that He suffered, died on the cross and took the full punishment of our sins as our substitute and sacrifice (Rom. 3:25a), and thereby redeemed us (bought us back) and reconciled our broken relationship with God (Rom. 5:10). We believe Jesus physically and truly came back to life after three days (resurrection; Matthew 28), demonstrating His deity and power, and the effectiveness of His sacrifice. We believe that He then ascended into heaven in the sight of His disciples and now reigns with God the Father (Luke 24:50-53). We believe He is now our advocate (continually "standing up" for us; Rom. 8:34).
We believe that God sends the Holy Spirit to live in each believer. He gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him, produces the strength for a new way of living, creates new character (fruit), and brings new abilities (gifts) to help the church grow together in love.
We believe in the Gospel, the Good News: that, through Jesus and His sacrifice, sinners (like we all are), can have an intimate, loving relationship with God again, and one day live with Him forever. We believe God's plan and provision to send Jesus to redeem us was purely out of love for us and by grace alone (doing good for those who deserve the opposite). We believe that only faith, trusting in who Jesus is and what He did, is the means to receiving the gift of salvation; and that nothing we do by the way of good deeds or religious exercise can earn it. We believe faith is the gift of God and the work of the Holy Spirit; and that it is accompanied by our admitting we are great sinners in need of a great savior (repentance). We believe the results of salvation by grace through faith alone include: the total forgiveness of our sins (past, present and future), the complete removal of guilt in God's sight, acceptance and approval by God, the crediting of Jesus' obedience to our record, our adoption into God's family as His sons and daughters (with all its rights and privileges), the power to become more and more like Jesus throughout our lifetime, and the guarantee of being united with Him at our death in order to live with Him forever.
John 3:16; Rom. 3:22-24; Eph. 2:1,4,5,8-10.
Why We Baptize
From Genesis on, God made a Covenant of Grace with his people. In the ancient near east, a covenant was a sacred promise and pact where commoners would pledge loyalty and payments to a ruler in exchange for rights and protection. If a commoner failed to keep his promises he could face exclusion or even death. In the Bible God adopted that cultural practice but also adapted it. He unilaterally pledges to carry the burden of relationship graciously, and he takes the penalty of any failure upon himself. As a response to such mercy, God then also outlines covenantal responsibilities for his people.
In the New Testament, the covenant remains the same and is further developed as Christ came to bear the penalty for any failure and to achieve a righteousness he would gift to his people. But, while the covenant promise remained, the symbol and ceremony changed (just as the Lord’s Supper replaced the Passover). Instead of blood, water would now be the symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people. Jesus’ blood was entirely sufficient for the forgiveness of sins and met all the requirements of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Therefore the shedding of blood is no longer needed. Additionally, baptism is far more inclusive, allowing for Christ’s work on behalf of women and Gentiles to be more clearly stated.
As a sign and seal (reinforcing and strengthening) of the covenant, Baptism is commanded and functions in several ways:
- It marks and identifies a person as being part of God’s promises and community. The individual’s faith is strengthened and others see their connection to Christ;
- As in the Lord’s Supper, there is a supernatural and mysterious promise of and infusion of grace and blessings to the one baptized;
- It signifies and assures us of our being washed of sin and guilt and given the support and power of Christ;
- For parents baptizing their young children, it is a demonstration of their trust in God’s promises on their behalf;
- For believers, it is an outward sign of salvation and inward transformation;
- For children, it is an outward sign of the child being included in the covenant promises and church community.
Because we believe baptism is a vital part of one’s faith journey, we require that members be (or have been) baptized. However, we do not require complete agreement with all the details of our understanding or that a person be baptized in our particular church or tradition. We also do not believe baptism is required for salvation or that the sacrament saves a person (which is by faith through grace alone). A child who is baptized will still one day have to possess his or her own personal trust in Jesus as savior. At that time, their baptism and the promises their parents were trusting will have come to fruition as he or she becomes a believing member of the church.
If you are interested in baptism for yourself or for your child, please email us below. We will send you some information regarding the theology of baptism and will connect you with an elder to answer any questions you may have.
We believe Jesus promises to personally and visibly return again one day and bring all things to their completion and culmination. We believe there will be a final judgment by God, where He will take His own to be with Him forever and will deliver all others to be separated from Him forever.
1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:11-15
We believe in the invisible church: that we are one with all God's people, everywhere, throughout history. We also believe in the visible church: where God's people in particular places and at particular times in history express their unity by visibly committing themselves to mutual encouragement and accountability. We believe these local churches are the ordinary means through which God spreads the Gospel and helps His people grow in love and faith. We believe the church uses the Bible, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper (visible signs of invisible grace), and prayer to accomplish this.
Officer Nominations
Grace Mills River, as a member of the Presbyterian Church in America, has a representative form of government.
Ruling elders are men who have oversight of the spiritual welfare of our body/congregation as a whole and individually. Deacons are particularly tasked with leading the congregation in ministries of mercy and generosity, both within our body and in the community. As a group, elders and deacons are sometimes referred to as servant-leaders and sometimes as officers.
Annually, members of Grace are asked whether there is someone who they think has the gifts and character for effective service as an elder or deacon. The Session (body of elders as a group) and pastors at Grace encourage members to pray and to carefully consider their choices before they make a nomination. Each nominee must meet the requirements for the office for which they are nominated. Please check out the documents linked below for more information about qualifications, job descriptions, and how to nominate someone.
To make a nomination:
After you have read the first three documents above and prayerfully considered them, if there is someone you’d like to nominate, please reach out to them and ask their permission. By nominating an individual, you are indicating that you have spoken with him/her and have their permission to be nominated. No one should be “blindly” nominated or caught by surprise. This person should understand what he/she is being nominated for and know what is required of a candidate for office before they will be presented to the body for a vote (as spelled out in the documents linked on this page). When they have agreed, complete and submit the Servant-Leader Nomination form linked above, or simply click here to access the form.
If someone wants to nominate you for an office:
Please read the first three documents listed above and prayerfully consider your leading to pursue nomination before you agree. See also the Leadership Training Schedule, 2025-26 for an idea of the process of preparation and training. Nomination does not obligate you to serve! The training period is a process to explore your calling to this ministry.
After you have given permission to be nominated and your nomination has been submitted by a fellow Grace member, you will be contacted by a current church leader with a link to the online application form, which includes questions about your faith and your involvement at Grace Mills River.
If you have questions not answered by the documents linked on this page, please contact the church office at info@gracemillsriver.org