What We Believe

Community of Grace Church 

1. The Bible is our sole source of authority. 

God communicated everything we need to answer all of life’s questions. The answers of life are contained in the 66 books/letters of the Old and New Testament and compiled in one book, the Holy Bible. We believe that the original autographs are inerrant and infallible (Jer 1:5; Gal 1:15-16) and that the English versions of the Bible are reliable transmissions of that original message. We use a variety of translations such as the ESV, KJV, NLT, CSB, NIV, NET and others. 

2. God is three persons but one God.

The Bible is distinctly and emphatically monotheistic. God, who is one in essence and nature, eternally exists as three separate persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

3. Jesus is our Savior and Lord. 

Jesus is both God and man who lived a perfect life on earth. His death was instigated by evil men and ordained by a good God. By virtue of his divinity and his perfection, he was able to secure salvation for the whole world, particularly to those who would accept Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus will one day return to fully establish his earthly kingdom. 

4. Man is sinful by nature. 

Adam voluntarily transgressed from the holy and happy state in which he was born and as a consequence all people are conceived in sin (Rom 5:12). This resulted in a nature that opposes God, inclined toward evil, and justly deserving of hell (Rom 3:10; Mark 10:18; Gen 8:21). 

5. Salvation is from Sin and Hell. 

The Bible tells us that all people have sinned and deserve hell (Rom 3:10-19; Rom 5:12; Mat 25:31-56; Rev 20:14, 21:8). God saved us from the penalties of sin and hell by sacrificing his own Son upon the cross to pay those penalties on our behalf (John 3:16, 36). Salvation is a free gift and is made effective by belief in the finished work of Jesus to forgive our sins (Eph 1:13; Phil 1:29; Rom 10:10-11). 

6. The local church is a gift of God. 

The church is the corporate identity for all who have placed their faith in Christ for salvation. This group of people is known throughout the New Testament as the “body” (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 1:20-23) and “bride” (Eph 5:22-33; 2 Cor 11:2; Rom 7:4) of Christ. We believe the local body exists for the edification of believers (Eph 4:11-16), the observance of baptism and the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11; Mat 28; Acts 2:42), and the proclamation and defense of truth (1 Tim 1:3, 18). 

7. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the responsibilities of the local church. 

Christian baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances maintained by the church to symbolize a memorial and fellowship with Christ (Rom 6:3, 4; 1 Cor 11:26). Christian baptism is a prerequisite for local church membership (Acts 2:41, 42). 

8. Believers are eternally secure. 

The scripture declares that all who are united in Christ will continually remain in a state of grace that will eventually lead to glorification (Rom 5:1-5). This is a voluntary act called perseverance and a work of the Spirit called sanctification (Rom 8:29; Jud 1:21, 24). 

9. Heaven 

We believe in one literal heaven where believers will enter into God’s rest and experience an everlasting state of ever-increasing bliss and happiness as God continually reveals to them his greatness and glory for the enjoyment of his people (Eph 2:6-7; Ps 16:11; 1 Cor 2:9). 

10. Hell 

We believe that the eternal state of the damned is a place of intense fiery torment and pain where everlasting conscious misery awaits (Dan 12:2; Matt 3:12; 2 Thes 1:9; Rev 14:11). It is reserved for the devil and his angels and all who are judged according to their works (Rev 20:11-14).