THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE

The PCEA is an evangelical church, believing the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant word of God. Furthermore we hold to the doctrines of grace, believing that God is sovereign in the election and preservation of his chosen ones- also called Reformed doctrine. We believe that God is truly sovereign and personally reigns over his creation, ordering and governing all things, so that his perfect will is done (Daniel 4:35; Acts 15:18; 17:25-28; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:11).

What holds true of God's rule over creation, applies equally in the particular matter of redemption. God must be sovereign in the salvation of people whom the Bible describes as ‘dead in trespasses and sin’ (Ephesians 2:1). If such are to be saved, God must take the initiative and secure what we cannot secure for ourselves. In other words, we believe salvation is altogether of grace (Ephesians 2:4-10). We reject the idea that people have anything to contribute to their salvation, or that it might be earned or merited by us in part or whole (John 1: 12,13; Romans 3:19,20,23; Galatians 2:16).

When we come to ask how sinners might be made right with God, the Reformed faith answers from the Bible: ‘Salvation belongs to the Lord’ (Psalm 3:8). God has taken the initiative in every stage of redemption and it is solely his accomplishment (Romans 8:28-30). Is it not clear that all people ought to repent and believe on Christ? Yet man, left to himself, will not come to God. Therefore, the Lord chose, freely and unconditionally, a people for himself, even before the foundation of the world (Acts 13:48; Ephesians 1:3-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14).