What We Believe
Grace Church exists to connect people to God’s grace. Our desire for those that attend Grace is that they will grow in their relationship with God, connect with other believers, and serve people for God’s kingdom. To help with that, there are four essential truths that we stand on in our beliefs at Grace.
FOUR ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. The Bible is the Word of God.
We believe the Bible is God’s word and is the only completely reliable and truthful authority for life on earth. We accept the Bible as our manual for living and as the basis for all we believe.
- “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
- “We also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but actually as it is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13
2. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
We believe Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sins by dying on the cross as our substitute. By doing this, He provided salvation for all who receive grace by trusting in Him alone. He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us. He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit and will return to earth to fulfil God’s word.
- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
- “For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.” – Acts 4:11-12 (NLT)
3. You must be Born Again.
We believe God created humans to have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God’s saving grace to end our alienation from Him. Salvation comes only through God’s grace – not human effort – and must be received personally by repentance and faith. At the end, everyone will stand before God and experience judgment as written in His word, but only believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
- “When anyone becomes a Christian he becomes a new person inside. The old passes away, a new life has begun.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB)
- “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.” – Matthew 16:25 (NLT)
4. Believers can be Spirit-Filled and Spirit-Led.
We believe the only way to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. Every believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit simply by asking. We strive to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. We also believe that Jesus has given the church instructions of water baptism to be administered in His name and the Lord’s Supper (communion) for the believers’ identification with His life, death and resurrection (Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
- “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” – Acts 1:8
- “…be filled with the Holy Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18
- “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:13