These beliefs are at the heart of all we say and do at Grace Chapel. We’ve included references from the Bible if you would like to study the Biblical basis for these beliefs.
We believe in the historic orthodox Christian faith, reflected in these statements:
About God
We believe that God is the loving Creator of all that exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternal and completely good, knowing all things, having all power and glory. God exists as the Trinity, in three persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is holy and majestic, the Lord of all, and yet He passionately desires relationship with us and towards this end continually invites us into a relationship of faith, friendship, learning, and service.
Genesis 1:1
Psalm 103:6-14
Isaiah 6:1-5
John 14:6-9, 15-17 and John 16: 7-15
Matthew 28:19 2
Corinthians 13:14 1
John 4:9-10
About Jesus Christ
We believe that God expressed himself in human form through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus was fully human and fully divine. His supreme teaching reveals God’s ways to us and his perfect life is a model for his followers. He was crucified for the sins of us all, was buried, rose again from the dead, and ascended to heaven. He will come again at the end of time to bring justice to all of humanity, joy to all those who believe.
Colossians 1:13-23 and Colossians 2:8-14
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Matthew 22:36-40
John 14:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3
Acts 10:42-43 1
Thessalonians 4:16-17
About the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, sent from God to live inside all who believe in Jesus Christ, teaches, comforts, and empowers us for mission. The Holy Spirit gives each follower of Jesus diverse gifts and fosters unity, interdependence, productivity, Christ-like character, and love among Christians.
Romans 8:1
Corinthians 12-14
Galatians 5:16-25
Ephesians 3:16; Ephesians 4:3-4 and Ephesians 5:18
John 14:26 and John 16:7-14
About the Bible
We believe that God speaks to us uniquely and powerfully in the Bible, and that is is our privilege and responsibility to seek to understand God’s message and apply it responsibly to our lives. The Bible is inspired by God and is our final authority in matters of belief and lifestyle, our standard in all we say and do.
Matthew 5:17-19 2
Timothy 2:15 and 1 Timothy 3:14-17
Hebrews 4:12 2
Peter 1:16-21 and 2 Peter 3:14-18
Psalm 19:7-11 and Psalm 119:9-16
Joshua 1:7-8
Acts 17:11
About Salvation
We believe that all people are created with dignity and value in the image of God, to live in a vital relationship with God. However, through our sin (failing to live by God’s moral standards), we break our intended relationship with God and we experience the destructive consequences of that broken relationship, spiritually and socially, in this life and beyond. However, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from those consequences and to restore our broken relationships with God and others, through Christ’s death on the cross, a perfect act of redemption for each of us. Salvation comes to people on the basis of God’s grace through their faith in Jesus alone. They receive the free gift of forgiveness and are spiritually reborn through repenting of their sin and believing in Jesus Christ. Good works and a holy life, although totally unable to save anyone, are the natural product of repentant, believing people. Followers of Jesus are called to a dynamic journey of faith and transformation as the Holy Spirit shapes them into the image of Jesus.
1 Peter 2:24-, 3:18
Romans 3:9-28, Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10
John 3:16
Ephesians 2:1-10
Titus 3:3-8
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
James 2:14-26
About the Church
We believe that the church is called to be the living presence of Jesus expressing and extending his mission to the world. The church is ultimately a community that includes all believers in all times and places. A church that is faithful to Jesus will worship God, call disciples to spiritual maturity, practice genuine community, share God’s good news in the world, and observe the ordinances of believer’s baptism and communion. We recognize diversity among Christians in nonessential areas. We do not press for uniformity in these areas, but rather encourage people to search the Scriptures, seeking balance, mutual understanding, humility and love. Additionally, we seek to respect one another’s differences without a quarrelsome, arrogant or divisive spirit, and to return continually to the great commandment, to love God and one another.
Matthew 22:34-40
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
Romans 14:1-13
James 3:13-17
Philippians 2:1-5
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Acts 2:42-47