The Advancement of Grace

(1) The Gospel of Salvation
We believe that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Being short of God’s glory, the only hope for our redemption is found in God giving of Himself on our behalf. For this reason, the Lord God came to earth in the person of Jesus, He was born of a virgin (Luke 2:4-11), and He was crucified for the sins of the world (Luke 23:33-46; Isaiah 53:5; I Corinthians 15:3-4). After being buried, He rose again on the third day being witnessed by many (Acts 1:3; I Corinthians 15:3-7). Through His blood, we are redeemed and forgiven (Ephesians 1:7). By simply trusting that He gave of Himself on our behalf and that there is nothing we can do to earn our own salvation, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as an eternal promise of our future inheritance in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3,13-14).

(2) The Apostle Paul and the Dispensation of God’s Grace
We believe that God revealed a unique message to the Apostle Paul as testified by himself (Ephesians 3:1-3). Prior to Paul, the gospel and all it entailed was segregated to the Nation of Israel and those who were under the Law of Moses. In Christ and through the revelation given to Paul (Galatians 1:11-12), the Lord God created “one new man” (Ephesians 2:14-16) from what was once Jew and Gentile respectively. Unlike in ages past, the Gentiles have now been welcomed into the eternal inheritance (Ephesians 3:6) prepared beforehand in Christ Jesus. All men, both Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave or free, are given the free gift of salvation by the gracious mercy of God. This distinct message was not and cannot be found in other areas of Scripture outside of Paul’s epistles.

(3) Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
We believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17). However, with 66 books of the Bible covering several thousand years, this “profitable doctrine” must be carefully attained. This requires the practice of rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). All Scripture is useful, but not all Scripture is applicable (as there are many things that have little or nothing to do with the Body of Christ… whom we are). Having said that, we do not disregard, belittle, or deny the inspiration, godliness, and righteousness of ALL Scripture whether applicable or not. It is simply of the utmost importance when handling the Word of God, that sound doctrine for today be found in Scripture that applies to the Body of Christ, rather than doctrines that are to be applied to Biblical Israel.

(4) The Body of Christ
We believe that the church today is more specifically referred to in Scripture as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:27). Both “church” and “body of Christ” are interchangeable terms that apply to the same group of believers in Christ. Sadly, the use of “church” has become more akin to buildings, programs, and services when it is more appropriately the word used in Scripture to describe the mere gathering of believers under any circumstance.

(5) The Process of Knowledge
We believe in the desire of God our Savior (Jesus Christ) to see all men saved and to COME toward the knowledge of truth (I Timothy 2:3-4). Both salvation and this knowledge of truth are very different facets of our journey in Christ. Salvation alone is that which a child can attain with limited understanding and great faith. The knowledge of truth is that which a studied, faithful, and responsible steward of God’s Word can and will achieve by the grace of God who opens eyes to the fullness of Himself. Any truth gained along the way is a step in the process of knowledge, for it is neither immediate, nor is it quick. Each of us must continue to strive TOWARD such knowledge, but must remain in the humility of wisdom which allows us to admit openly that we will always be in the “process” of understanding until we are removed from this flesh. He who testifies of his superior knowledge is a fool who knows nothing as he ought (I Corinthians 8:2).

(6) Progressive Understanding
We believe that all understanding belongs to the glory of God and that it is within His right as God to make such knowledge mysterious to the beneficial maturity of those who study (Proverbs 25:2). Though we seek to find all knowledge and all wisdom and all understanding, there is no possible way for our fallible and imperfect flesh to attain that which is perfect in mindful comprehension. This progressive understanding requires that we acknowledge our own imperfections and capacities for incorrect conclusions. In as much as we may want to fight for what we believe we know, ours is always an incomplete perspective that demands humility (Ecclesiastes 8:17).

(7) Challenges of Fellowship in this Age of Grace
In this current “age of grace,” it has become a common trend among grace-believing fellowships to forsake one another upon a disagreement or a difference of understanding. While it breaks the heart of he who has compiled this Advancement doctrine, we have not lost hope in the character of shared fellowship. With all the breaks, all the splits, and all the hate that currently exists between brethren in different assemblies, it is the goal of this Advancement that we will not allow ourselves to stray from productive dialogue regarding the things that differ in the Word, in our understanding, and in our human nature. Nearing the end of his life, Paul looked to his left and to his right and saw very few standing next to him (II Timothy 1:15; 4:10,16). We will do all we can to give you continued support in The Advancement of Grace.