Core Principles

Worship Service 10:30am
Fundamentals of the Faith 9:15-10:15am (2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays)
Communion Sunday & Potluck Lunch every 1st Sunday of the month

A certain set of core convictions drive all that we do as a local church. The purpose of our existence as a body of believers is:

Exalt the Savior, Edify the Saints, and Evangelize the Lost.

Our fervent desire and steadfast commitment is to be a church who exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the primary means of doing so is to preach the gospel of His grace and to live lives of glad obedience in response. Therefore, we are devoted to accurately preaching and teaching the Word of Christ, by rightly handling the Scriptures.

We believe without reservation that God has spoken in the Bible. The Bible is the word of God. And as such, it is inerrant (without error), infallible (incapable of leading astray), and sufficient (all that is needed) for everything that we are called to do as individuals and as a body. The Bible speaks with the authority of God, and therefore we must submit to that authority.

We believe salvation comes from God alone, according to His good will revealed to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is God incarnate, becoming a man to redeem sinners, by His death on the cross taking the judgment for their sins. We confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. And only by the grace of God can a sinner, who is naturally at enmity with Him, be born again and turn to Jesus in repentant faith, for the forgiveness of sin. This transformation results in new affections—love for God and hatred of sin. It also results in a new desire to be obedient to God and His Word. Because the Holy Spirit indwells genuine believers, we believe their lives will be marked by an increasing conformity to the image of Christ.

We believe that God has chosen to glorify himself in this time by building his church. And our mission as a church is best summarized in the Great Commission and the parallel passages of Scripture (Matt 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–16; Luke 24:45–48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). We are to make disciples of Jesus Christ, first by calling them to salvation through faith in Christ, and then by teaching them to live for him according to His Word. Christ is the Head of the church. Therefore, we must follow his lordship in all things, rather than fabricating our own ideas, following the methods of the world, or relinquishing His authority to men.

We believe that God’s glory must be displayed through the purity of the visible church. Therefore, we will follow our Lord’s instructions on dealing with sin in our midst, not fearing man but aiming to please Him. We will preach the word of God, evangelize the lost, baptize by immersion, teach the disciples, equip the saints, and partake of the Lord’s Supper just as our Lord directed us.

If you have questions about how you can become a Christian,
or want help in knowing how to live the Christian life, please e-mail us at jpeters@gracelifecomoxvalley.ca or study the material on our web site.