Our faith

Core beliefs

NT

  • We believe the Bible is God’s infallible, completely trustworthy Word. It tells the story of God and mankind (2 Tim. 3:16).
  • The universe was created by God directly, by His own power. 
  • God made human beings to enjoy serving Him as His friends, but we fell from that original purity by rejecting God’s authority and refusing to believe His claims (Gen. 1 & 3).
  • Now each of us is born in rebellion against God and we express that willfulness by choosing our own way over His. The Bible calls this sin.
  • By nature and by choice, every person offends the holiness of God, earns His wrath and is condemned to suffer that wrath forever (Rom. 5:12, 6:23, 2 Thess.1:9).
  • But because of God’s great love and mercy, God the Son became man as Jesus Christ. Born without sin, Jesus lived a perfectly holy life, then voluntarily gave His life to satisfy the holy wrath of God. Now, all who recognize their sinfulness, and turn to Christ, trusting Him alone for salvation, God declares permanently and completely “not guilty.” They have eternal life (Rom.5:8, John 5:24).
  • After dying on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead, proving He has the power of eternal life. Before He ascended to heaven, He instructed His followers to tell this story to the world, forming churches of those who believe (Acts 1:8-11).
  • When the time is right, Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power and glory to reign forever. Then all will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Rev.19:11).

What is “the gospel”?

During His time on earth, Jesus told people to “repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). What did He mean?

The true gospel is a set of ideas taught in the Bible (1 Cor. 15:1-4).   

  • We’re all sinners, wrong-doers who deserve God’s judgment—quite simply, eternal Hell (John 3:18, Rom. 5:12).
  • Jesus died to be our substitute, to provide release from the penalty (judgment) of sin (1 Tim. 1:15,  2 Cor. 5:21).
  • He gives new life (eternal life) to all who believe  (1 John 5:11-12, John 1:12).
  • Jesus rose again as Lord and Master. We should worship and obey Him as long as we live (Rom. 10:9, 2 Cor. 5:15).

When you believe the gospel, you also reject ideas that do not agree with it. You don’t believe that there are many ways to heaven or many ways to be forgiven. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).  

So what did Jesus mean when He said “repent”? Repenting is rejecting your life of self-rule (and self-effort to win God’s approval). It is trusting completely in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It’s a decision you make and express in prayer (Rom. 10:9-10).

Have you repented and believed the gospel? Jesus invites you do that.

If you would like help, contact us at Grace Baptist Church. We’d be happy to answer your questions!