Romans 5:20 …But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
Value of Life
The Bible says that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-18), that man is body and soul, therefore every baby in the womb is an eternal soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and will live forever. The Bible says that God makes every person in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) therefore is beyond measurable value in this world, and that no man has the right to take a life (Exodus 20:13, Matthew 5:21) whether in the womb or out of the womb, and there are no circumstances that justify taking the life of the baby (Deuteronomy 24:16). Having an abortion is not the unpardonable sin (Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 12:31-32) and God will forgive those who have an abortion if they seek God and ask for forgiveness and repent of their sin and ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13). Every child that dies in the womb enters into eternity because they were not of an age of accountability for sin (2 Samuel 12:22-23). It is the responsibility of the church to stand beside every woman in her pregnancy and provide love and support (Matthew 22:37-39).
Church
We believe that the church is not a place but is God’s people who have been set apart for His glory and praise. Those who have accepted His salvation by grace through faith are called children of God and a part of His body. The Bible says the Church is the Body of Christ, the universal body of all born again believers of which Jesus Christ is the head. We believe gathering together is a critical part of our lives as followers of Christ because He calls His people to encourage one another to live godly lives, seek His face, and worship Him together. As the body of Christ, the church should be a place for all to come and experience the lifechanging truth of God’s Word and the depths of His great love. We believe God is the head of the church and that the Word of God and the Spirit must be the ultimate authority for all that the church does. The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the Lord’s Supper and water baptism. Communion is a memorial celebration open to all believers in Jesus Christ in order to remember the shed blood and broken body of Jesus Christ and the deep love that led Him to save us. Baptism is conducted by full immersion in water as an act of obedience and declaration that one has been made new by Christ’s redeeming blood.
I Corinthians 11:1-12; I Timothy 2:1-15; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16; Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26
Core Beliefs
These beliefs are foundational to what God is doing at Abounding Grace. We believe they are firmly rooted in the Word of God and as such all that we do flows out of that. This statement of faith is not an exhaustive list of every belief that we hold, but it is the foundation upon which we have asked God to build this church.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is wholly inspired by God, inerrant without error from beginning to end, and that in it we find the basis of all our faith and practices. We believe it is authoritative and as such believe it gives the foundation for living both individually and within the church. It has stood the test of time both in history, prophetic fulfillments, manuscripts, and more which further emphasizes the hand of God in every word in the Old and New Testaments. Because of all this, we believe the Word of God should be the center of everything that we do in our homes, the church, and our community and it supersedes man-made laws and beliefs that are in opposition to His commands in Scripture.
Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:3-4, 21
God
Our God is One, manifested in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Philippians :6; Matthew 3:16-17).
God the Father is greater than all; the Source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14).
Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14; John 10:30).
The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus from the Father and is eternal (John 15:26).
Salvation
While mankind was in desperate need of salvation from their sin, God was never without a way. He made a way through Jesus coming to earth as a baby, living a perfect life, suffering and dying the death man deserved on the cross, defeating of death in His resurrection, and preparing a place for man in Heaven with His ascension. God allowed the Son’s blood to be shed in order to pay the price that was necessary for man’s redemption. It is God’s grace through faith that saves. Salvation comes when one turns from their sin, believes in God’s saving power through the blood of Jesus, and confesses Him as Lord.
Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; I John 2:2; Revelation 22:17
Man, his fall and Redemption