STATEMENT OF FAITH

We consider these biblical doctrines to be vital to our faith and integrity for the program and ministry. We affirm significant historic creeds of the church, such as the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.

 

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired word of God. The 66 books which constitute the Bible are entirely reliable and truthful, and the Bible stands as the central authority over our lives, our faith and the direction of Valleyview New Life Church and its’ outreach program, the “Let’s Go” LEC. (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18)

 

The Trinity

Three persons eternally share the Divine Nature. The Bible refers to these persons as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God as Three in One is self-existent, personal and knowable. (John 14:10, 26; 15:26)

 

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life, died for the sins of humankind, was resurrected bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven and is coming again as King and Judge. Jesus Christ is the only provision that God has given for people to be reconciled to Him. Jesus’ life on earth also serves as the model for the Christian life. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

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Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God. He indwells every person who places their faith in Christ. He empowers each of us to live an effective Christian life by affirming salvation, encouraging us and giving us the strength to live a life that is pleasing to God and personally fulfilling. The Holy Spirit also endows each believer with a unique, spiritual ability to serve the church and the world. (John 14:16; Ephesians 1: 1 9-20; 1 Corinthians 12)

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Salvation

Salvation is reconciliation with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. God offers us salvation by His grace alone and we receive it as a gift through personal faith in the finished Work of Jesus Christ. This right standing before God must be received and cannot be earned. God freely offers salvation to all people, and our salvation is secure. Those who have never received Christ will live eternally separated from God. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 8:38,39; Ephesians 1: 1 3; 2:4; Matt. 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 16:22-23)

 

Humanity

Human beings are created in the image of God. As such, we are unique among all of God’s creation. Through the abuse of our God-given free will, we have turned against God and this has resulted in spiritual death for all humankind. Humanity lives in a state of alienation and profound need which can only be satisfied by reconciliation with God through Christ. Without this reconciliation, all people stand under God’s righteous judgment. (Gen. 1:26, 28, 31; Genesis 2:7; Eph. 4:18; Rom. 5:12)

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Image of God

We believe God immutably creates a person as male or female, and together, these reflect the image and nature of God. Likewise, though fallen, all humans maintain the image of God and possess dignity and uniqueness above all His creation. God continues to love and reach out to people even when they are hostile to Him. On deciding to follow Jesus Christ, a believer receives a new nature that starts his or her transformation, aligning life with God’s design according to His Word across racial, gender and socio-economic categories to become who God designed that person to be. (Gen. 1:27-28; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

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Marriage

God designed marriage as a unique co-joining relationship of one man and one woman in an exclusive, life-long union. God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman joined in marriage, and that this union becomes the loving, God-centered context for children to be born and grow into maturity, knowing His care and nurture through learning to follow Him. (Gen. 2:18, 24; Song of Solomon 8:6-7; Matt. 19:6.)

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The Church

The church is composed of all those throughout history who place saving faith in Jesus Christ. The church is not an institution, but a people. God wants all Christians to live out their spiritual lives in a corporate context. This context of Christian love relationships is a crucial feature of our witness for Christ as it reflects God’s character to the world. The church is God’s chosen instrument through which the message of salvation is spread to all people. This mission is the central purpose for the church. We are to carry the good news locally and worldwide and demonstrate the gospel by relevant social action. (John 13:34, 35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Matthew 28:19)

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Satan

Satan is the personal, spiritual adversary of God and God’s followers. Satan actively opposes the work of the church and the spiritual vitality of Christians. We therefore take seriously, but in a balanced way, the reality of personal, spiritual opposition. Satan is doomed to final defeat and judgment when Christ returns. (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 20)

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Second Coming

This age will conclude with the personal, bodily return of Christ. At that time, He will complete God’s plan to re-establish His just and righteous rule over all humanity. (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 20)

Importance of the Gospel

Because eternal outcomes are at stake, it is important to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)

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• We believe God immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God, and rejecting one’s biological sex rejects the created image of God;

• We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union. God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman joined in marriage; 

• We believe all forms of sexual immorality are sinful and offensive to God; 

• We believe God endows all human life with inherent dignity at every stage of development and it must be respected and protected from conception to natural death. Thus, the unjustified, intentional taking of human life before or after birth is sinful and offensive to God; 

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This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of VNLC’s scriptural and doctrinal beliefs, nor their application to matters of conduct and policy.