Grace Haven Church
What We Believe
As a church we understand that there are issues and matters on which Christians (even born again Protestant Christians) hold divergent views based on their understanding of the Bible. We are not dogmatic, however we strongly believe in the core of orthodox Christian faith that was passed on through generations. Creeds and confessions alone may not tell a lot about us, but they do communicate our core convictions and beliefs. As a church we believe the following statements are the foundations of our faith.
1. We believe the Bible (66 books of the Old and New Testament) is the inspired, infallible and authoritative word of God. As the revelation of God to all men it is the supreme source of truth and the final authority for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:14-16)
2. We believe there is only one living and true God who eternally existed in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the creator, preserver and ruler of all things. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:3; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ who is the son of God. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men. We believe in his death on the cross, bodily resurrection and his personal return in power and glory. (Matt 1: 22, 23; Heb 4:15, Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
4. We believe in the Holy Spirit (the third person of the trinity), whose present ministry is to draw people to Christ and to indwell every person who has received Christ. He enables them to understand spiritual truth, provides guidance and empowers Christians to live a godly life. (John 16:7-13; Acts1:8; Rom 8:5-17; Eph 1:13-14)
5. We believe that man was originally created in God’s image and is the supreme object of God’s creation. However, man willfully sinned and fell short of God’s glory, as a result is lost and without hope apart from receiving the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:27, 3: 1-13; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Acts 4:12)
6. We believe that salvation (forgiveness of sins) is available only by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Since all human beings are born with the nature of sin, it is impossible to earn our salvation through good works; Salvation is a gift of God and can only be received by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to receive the free gift of salvation. (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:8-9; Rom 6:23; John 3:16)
7. We believe that all those who receive Christ are called to live a life set apart unto God. Every Christian should ‘grow in grace’ and be constantly transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Each believer is gifted uniquely by the Holy Spirit and we are called to serve God at different capacities both to strengthen the church and to fulfill the great commission. (John 17:17; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18, I Cor 12:4-11, Eph 4:11, Matt 28:18,19)
8. We believe that the Church is founded by God and composes of all true disciples and followers of Christ. The Lord Jesus is the head of the church and all those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit are spiritually united together in the body of Christ. (Matt 16:13-18, Eph 4:11-13; I Cor 12:13)
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved after death; since man was created in God’s own image to exist forever, both the just and the unjust will be raised and eternally exist either in heaven or in hell. (John 3:16, Eccl 3:11; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:11-15; Matt 25:31-46)
10. We believe in the blessed hope of the second coming of Jesus Christ when God’s purposes of grace toward mankind will find their consummation. (Acts 17:31, I Thes 4:13-18, Phil 3:20,21, Tit 2:11-14)
1. We believe the Bible (66 books of the Old and New Testament) is the inspired, infallible and authoritative word of God. As the revelation of God to all men it is the supreme source of truth and the final authority for all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:14-16)
2. We believe there is only one living and true God who eternally existed in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the creator, preserver and ruler of all things. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:3; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ who is the son of God. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men. We believe in his death on the cross, bodily resurrection and his personal return in power and glory. (Matt 1: 22, 23; Heb 4:15, Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
4. We believe in the Holy Spirit (the third person of the trinity), whose present ministry is to draw people to Christ and to indwell every person who has received Christ. He enables them to understand spiritual truth, provides guidance and empowers Christians to live a godly life. (John 16:7-13; Acts1:8; Rom 8:5-17; Eph 1:13-14)
5. We believe that man was originally created in God’s image and is the supreme object of God’s creation. However, man willfully sinned and fell short of God’s glory, as a result is lost and without hope apart from receiving the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:27, 3: 1-13; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Acts 4:12)
6. We believe that salvation (forgiveness of sins) is available only by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Since all human beings are born with the nature of sin, it is impossible to earn our salvation through good works; Salvation is a gift of God and can only be received by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to receive the free gift of salvation. (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:8-9; Rom 6:23; John 3:16)
7. We believe that all those who receive Christ are called to live a life set apart unto God. Every Christian should ‘grow in grace’ and be constantly transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Each believer is gifted uniquely by the Holy Spirit and we are called to serve God at different capacities both to strengthen the church and to fulfill the great commission. (John 17:17; Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18, I Cor 12:4-11, Eph 4:11, Matt 28:18,19)
8. We believe that the Church is founded by God and composes of all true disciples and followers of Christ. The Lord Jesus is the head of the church and all those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit are spiritually united together in the body of Christ. (Matt 16:13-18, Eph 4:11-13; I Cor 12:13)
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved after death; since man was created in God’s own image to exist forever, both the just and the unjust will be raised and eternally exist either in heaven or in hell. (John 3:16, Eccl 3:11; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:11-15; Matt 25:31-46)
10. We believe in the blessed hope of the second coming of Jesus Christ when God’s purposes of grace toward mankind will find their consummation. (Acts 17:31, I Thes 4:13-18, Phil 3:20,21, Tit 2:11-14)
