Section 1
The Authority Of The Bible
II Timothy 3:16 - 17; II Peter 1:19 - 21
We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are a complete and final revelation from God, without error in the original autographs, and sufficient in themselves as our only rule of faith and practice.
The Triunity Of God
Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14
We believe that God manifests Himself in three distinct and separate Persons, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), each of Whom is God and to be honored and worshipped as God.
The Person And Work Of Jesus Christ
Matthew 1:23; John 1:1, 14, 29; John 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3, 4, 12 - 19; Hebrews 4:15; I John 2:1 - 2; Acts 1:9 - 11
We believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, crucified for our sins, resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and coming back again to establish His Kingdom on earth.
The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit
John 3:5; John 14:16 - 17; John 16:7 - 13; Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 6:11, 19; I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 5:16 - 17; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18 - 21
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, convicting the world, causing spiritual birth, baptizing all believers into one body in Christ, indwelling, sealing, sanctifying, guiding, and teaching every believer, as well as filling and controlling those who walk in obedience to God and His Word.
The Creation And Fall Of Man
Genesis 1:26 - 28; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:1 - 24; Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3
We believe that man was created by God in His own image, and not the product of evolution or animal ancestry; that man fell into sin by personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, and that all men and women are sinful in nature and practice, and unable to save themselves.
The Salvation Of Man
John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:24; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9 - 10; Ephesians 2:8 - 10; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:18 - 19, 22 - 25; I John 5:11 - 13
We believe that salvation from sin, death, and hell is the free gift of God's grace to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that every believer has eternal life and complete security in the finished work of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for our sins, and arose from the dead, thus guaranteeing our own resurrection and eternal life.
The Eternal Consequences Of The Gospel
Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; John 5:24; John 10:28 - 29; Romans 9:22 - 24; Jude 23 - 24; II Corinthians 5:8; I Thessalonians 1:9 - 10; I Thessalonians 4:13 - 18; II Thessalonians 1:7 - 10; Revelations 20:11 - 15
We believe in the eternal life of all believers in a new heaven and a new earth, and that upon physical death, they go immediately to be with Christ in heaven awaiting their future bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ. We believe in the resurrection of all unbelievers to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God from which they will be cast into eternal fire and everlasting punishment.
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19 - 20; John 13:1 - 17; Acts 2:41 - 47; I Corinthians 11:17 - 34; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22 - 23; Colossians 1:18
We believe that all believers, from the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 until the return of Jesus Christ, are members of the Church, the body of Christ; and that the visible manifestation on earth is local churches where believers assemble for teaching, fellowship, prayer, and observance of Christ's commands regarding baptism and communion. We believe in water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and in remembering the night our Lord was with His disciples in the Upper Room by observing the bread and the cup.
The Great Commission
Matthew 9:36 - 38; Matthew 28:19 - 20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47 - 48; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:1, 4; Romans 10:13 - 15; I Corinthians 9:13 - 14
We believe that our Lord commanded us to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations, and that every believer is to be a witness for Jesus Christ, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit; and that we are responsible to pray for, support, and send missionaries into all the world.
Section 2
Statement of Biblical Positions
The Existence of Angels
Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:13-17; Matthew 12:24-26; John 8:44; 12:31- 32; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; 6:12-18; Revelation 12:9-10; 20:10
We believe that all angels, including Satan, were created by God, and that Satan, through pride and sinful ambition, rebelled against God, becoming the great adversary of God and His people. These spirit beings possess supernatural powers, but are limited by the permissive will of God. Satan, as leader of evil angels (demons) was defeated and judged at the cross of Jesus Christ, and his final destiny is everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (hell).
Marriage
Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:6-9, Ephesians 5:31-33
Marriage has been ordained by God. River Oak Grace Community Church defines "marriage" as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government's sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of "marriage" found in these Articles.
Human Sexuality
Hebrews 13:4, I Thessalonians 4:3-8, I Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:24-28, Ephesians 5:3-5, I Peter 4:3,4, Colossians 3:5
Legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities outside of marriage (referred to in the New Testament as "porneia") including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia, are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, are incompatible with the biblical witness.
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of River Oak Grace Community Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Elders in concert with our Senior Pastor is River Oak Grace Community Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application