If someone had saved your life, would you keep quiet about it? Usually Not! Because God keeps such a joy in your heart that when you receive good news, you share it. Our vision is clear and same to share the good news to Indian community and others around tri-valley. In fact, we believe there’s no greater joy than the lost being found.
OUR VISION
FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE
SAVED PEOPLE SERVE PEOPLE
We as local church committed to the timeless truths of the Word of God and working towards discipleship to help the saved people grow much more in the Lord.
OUR BELIEFS
What we believe serves as the
foundation of our faith.
The core biblical doctrine that forms the foundation of what we, as leadership at Heavenly Grace, stand, practice and teach is:
There is one God, who exists eternally in a fellowship of three distinct and equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who are unchangeable in their holiness, justice, wisdom, and love. Each member of the trinity is God. Together, they created, sustain, and judge all things according to their will and for their mutual glory | 1 Jn 5:7; Jn 15:26 |
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin, and is both fully God and fully human | Jn1:1, 14 |. He is the perfect and only mediator between the Father and the human race | 1 Tim 2:5 |.
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and living a sinless life in obedience to the Father | Matt 1:18 |. On the cross he died for our sins, bearing for us the wrath and punishment we deserve from God and thus redeeming us by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father and mediates God’s grace for the sanctification of our humanity and the future renewal of the universe | Phil 2:6-11 |.
The Bible is the only essential, revealed, and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired by God. He has given this testimony to the human race through the Holy Spirit. It is inspired by God in its entirety, without error, and is the final authority in all things. The Bible is authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine | 2 Tim 3:16 |. Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God within the Holy Scripture | Rev 22:18, 19 |.
God made all men and women in his own image, as the crown of creation, so that man might have fellowship with him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. As a result of the rebellion of the first humans – Adam and Eve – against God, every aspect of our human nature has been corrupted and therefore all men and women are spiritually dead: guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be reconciled to God and born again into the family of God so as to know and please him | Rom 3:23, 24 |.
Salvation is deliverance from sin and its consequences, that is brought about by faith in Christ | Jn 3:17 |. It is a work of God’s grace and cannot be earned or deserved | Eph 2:8 |. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection and is offered to all mankind. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls, granting them repentance, deliverance, and faith. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, adopted into the family of God – the new family – and will receive eternal life in the New Creation.
The Church universal is the body of which Christ is the head and to which sinful men are called out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ’s Body | Col 1:18 |. The Church is not a religious institution or denomination. Rather, the Church universal is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally embraced the gospel. This body is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of this new family, the family of God | Eph 2:19 |. These people are given by God to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, prayer, the administering of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, pastoral care and discipline, and evangelism and the recovery of true community.
These have been given to the church by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. A believer’s baptism is a powerful public confirmation and seal of our union with Christ as he commanded. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit | Matt 28:19 |.
As with water baptism, the communion is a commemoration of the cross of Christ and an experience of our ongoing participation in and dependence on Christ as our unifying head. Whilst Christ is powerfully present ministering to believers in this sacrament, it involves no change in the bread and wine | 1 Cor 11:23-26 |.
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory and he will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. In the Consummation, Satan with his hosts and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with him forever. Amen. | 1 Cor 15:51-56 |.
LEADERSHIP
NURTURING SOULS, EMBRACING COMMUNITY
Vijay Sanagasetti
Vijay Sanagasetti is the Elder-Pastor-Teacher of Heavenly Grace Church in Dublin, California.
Growing up in a devout Hindu family, Pastor Vijay Sanagasetti experienced the rich qualities of Indian culture and tradition. However, he always felt a longing for something deeper, something that would fill the void within his heart. It was during his college years that he had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ that would forever change the course of his life. Through the guidance of a faithful friend and the power of prayer, Pastor Vijay Sanagasetti found his way to the foot of the cross, where he surrendered his life to the love and mercy of our Lord.
Since that life-transforming moment, Pastor has dedicated himself to the ministry of spreading the Gospel. His journey, his unique background, and experiences have enabled him to connect with people from diverse walks of life, bridging cultural gaps and fostering understanding among communities. The emphasis of his preaching/teaching ministry is the careful study and verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible.
Vijay and his wife, Shobha, live in Pleasanton, California, and have two children: Princy and Noel.
In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. | 2 Timothy 4:8 |