Doctrinal Statement | Valley Community Church

VCC DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the holy Bible is verbally inspired in every word (2 Tim 3:16),

absolutely inerrant in the original documents (Mt 5:18; 2 Ti 3:16), infallible,

God-breathed and it constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (1

Jn 10:35; 17:17; 2 Pe 1:20, 21). We believe that the Bible consists of 39 books in the

Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament that provide God’s authoritative

written revelation to mankind (2 Ti 3:16–17; 1 Th 2:13). Scripture is the supreme and

final authority (Ps 19:7–11; Ps 119; Rom 10:17; Heb 4:12).

God

We believe that there is only one living and true God (Dt 6:4; Is 45:5–7; 1 Co

8:4), who is an infinite, all knowing Spirit (Jn 4:24), perfect in all His attributes,

one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son & Holy Spirit

(Mt 28:19; 2 Co 13:14).

God the Father

We believe that God the Father orders and disposes all things according to His

own purpose and grace (Ps 145:8–9; 1 Co 8:6), and that He is the creator of all

things (Ge 1:1–31; Eph 3:9) and the sustainer of all things (Ps 104). God is

sovereign in creation, providence and redemption (Ps 103:19; Ro 11:36), and He

has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Eph 1:11). As Creator,

He is Father to all men (Eph 4:6) but He is the spiritual Father only to believers

(Ro 8:14; 2 Co 6:18). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He

would have as His own (Eph 1:4–6); He saves from sin all those who come to Him

through Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own all those who come to Him; and He

becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own (Jn 1:12; Ro 8:15; Gal 4:5; Heb

12:5–9)

God the Son

We believe that God the Son (Jesus Christ) possesses all the divine excellencies, and

in these He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with God the Father (Jn 10:30;

14:9, Col 2:9). We believe that God the Father created “the heavens and the earth and

all that is in them” according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ , by whom all

things continue in existence and in operations (Jn 1:3; Col 1:15–17; Heb 1:2). He is fully

God (Jn 1:1–2; 14; 17:1–5) and fully man (Php 2:5–8). In His incarnation (God

becoming man) Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the

divine essence, either in degree or kind. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born

of a virgin (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23, 25; Lk 1:26–35). He lived a sinless life (2 Co 5:21; Heb

4:15), performed miracles (Mt 11:4–5; Jn 2:11) and He accomplished our

redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross, which

was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory and redemptive (Jn 10:15; Ro

3:24–25; 5:8; 1 Pe 2:24). We believe that our justification is made sure by the literal,

physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and that He is now ascended to the

right hand of God, where He mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Mt 28:6; Ac

2:30–31; Ro 4:25; 8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:25; 1 Jn 2:1). At Christ’s resurrection, God

confirmed the deity of His Son Jesus and gave proof that He had accepted the atoning

work of Christ on the cross.

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, eternal, underived, and in all of the

divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son (Mt

28:19; Ac 5:3–4; 1 Co 12:4–6; 2 Co 13:14). We recognize His sovereign activity in

creation (Ge 1:2), in the incarnation (Mt 1:18), in the written revelation of Scripture (2

Pe 1:20–21), and in the work of salvation (Jn 3:5–7). His ministry is to glorify Jesus

Christ and to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and to transform

believers into the image of Christ (Jn 16:7–9; Ac 1:5; 2:4, Ro 8:29; 2 Co 3:18; Eph

2:22). He is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all

believers into the body of Christ (1 Co 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies,

instructs, empowers believers for service, and seals all believers unto the day of

redemption (Ro 8:9–11; 2 Co 3:6; Eph 1:13).

Man

We believe that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and

likeness (Gen 1:27; 2:7). We believe God’s intention in the creation of man was that

man should glorify God, enjoy fellowship with God, and live his life in the will of God in

order to accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world (Is 43:7; Ro 8:16–17; Ro 12:2;

Eph 1:11; Php 2:13; 1 Jn 1:3). When Adam sinned, man lost his innocence, thus

incurring the penalty of spiritual and physical death and man became subject to the

wrath of God. Man became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or

doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. Man’s salvation is

thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ

(Jn 3:36; Ro 3:23; 6:23; 1 Co 2:14; Eph 2:1–3; 8–9; 1 Pe 1:3–5).

Salvation

We believe that the only way to inherit the kingdom of God is through Jesus

Christ (Jn 3:18–19; 6:37–40, 44; 14:6; Ac 4:12; Ro 10:9; Gal 3:26). We believe that

salvation is a gift of God brought about completely by His grace and for His glory and

that God elects, calls, justifies, sanctifies and ultimately glorifies according to His

sovereign will. Salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of

Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood and not on the basis of human merit or works

(Eph 2:8–9; 2 Co 5:21; Col 1:13–14; 2:13–14; 1 Pe 1:3–5).

Regeneration

We believe that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the

divine nature and divine life are given (Jn 3:3–8; Tit 3:5). It is instantaneous and is

accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the

Word of God (Jn 5:24; 1 Pe 1:23), when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy

Spirit , responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation (2 Co 5:17; Galatians 3:26;

Eph 2:8–9; Jas 1:18; 2 Pe 1:3–4).

Justification

We believe that justification before God is an act of God (Ro 8:30, 33) by which He

declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Lk 13:3; Ac

2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Ro 2:4; 2 Co 7:10) and confess Him as sovereign Lord (Ro 10:9–10;

1 Co 12:3; 2 Co 4:5; Php 2:11). This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of

man (Ro 3:20; 4:6) and involves the placing of our sins on Christ (Col 2:14; 1 Pe 2:24)

and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us (1 Co 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Co 5:21).

Sanctification

We believe that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is

therefore declared to be holy and is therefore identified as a saint. This sanctification

is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive

sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present

walk or condition (Ac 20:32; 1 Co 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Th 2:13; Heb 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14;

13:12; 1 Pe 1:2). We also believe that there is a progressive sanctification that takes

place in a believer’s life through the work of the Holy Spirit by which the state of the

believer is brought closer to the likeness of Christ through obedience to the Word of

God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. The believer is able to live a life of

increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our

Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 17:17, 19; Ro 6:1–22; 2 Co 3:18; 1 Th 4:3–4; 5:23).

Eternal Security

We believe that all the redeemed once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus

secure in Christ forever (Jn 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Ro 5:9–10; 8:1, 31–39; 1 Co

1:4–9; Eph 4:30; Heb 7:25; 13:5; 1 Pe 1:4–5; Jude 24).

Separation

We believe separation from sin is clearly taught in the Old and New Testaments and

that the saved should live in such a manner as to not bring reproach upon their Savior

and Lord and that separation from religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures

and practices is commanded by God (Ro 12:1–2; 1 Co 5:9–13; 2 Co 6:14–7:1; 1 Jn

2:15–17; 2 Jn 2:9–11). The Christian life is a life that is to manifest a continual pursuit

of holiness (Ro 12:1–2; 2 Co 7:1; Heb 12:14; Tit 2:11–14; 1 Jn 3:1–10).

The Church

We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins are

immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, (1 Co

12:12–13), the bride of Christ (2 Co 11:2; Eph 5:23–32; Rev 19:7–8), of which Jesus

Christ is the head (Eph 1:22; 4:15; Col 1:18). Doctrinal unity, clearly and completely

based on Scripture, must be the foundation of all church life.

We believe that the establishment of the church, the body of Christ, began on the day

of Pentecost (Ac 2:1–21, 38–47), and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His

own at the rapture (1 Co 15:51–52; 1 Th 4:13–18) and that the New Testament

teaches that the members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate

themselves together in local assemblies (1 Co 11:18–20; Heb 10:25).

We believe in the vital importance of discipleship (Mt 28:19–20; 2 Ti 2:2), the mutual

accountability of all believers to each other (Mt 18:15–17), and the need for local

assemblies to discipline sinning members of their congregation in accord with the

standards of Scripture (Mt 18:15–22; Ac 5:1–11; 1 Co 5:1–13; 2 Th 3:6–15; 1 Ti 1:19–20;

Tit 1:10–16).

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority

or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference

of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Tit 1:5).

We believe that the biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over

the assembly are elders (males, who are also called bishops, pastors, and

pastor-teachers; Ac 20:28; Eph 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical

qualifications (1 Ti 3:1–13; Tit 1:5–9; 1 Pe 5:1–5).

We believe that there were two kinds of spiritual gifts given to the early church:

miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for

the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles’ message (Heb 2:3–4; 2 Co

12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the

New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the

authenticity of a man’s message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no

longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 Co 13:8–12). The only gifts in

operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (Ro 12:6–8).

We believe that no one possesses the gift of healing today but that God does hear and

answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the

sick, suffering, and afflicted (Lk 18:1–8; Jn 5:7–9; 2 Co 12:6–10; Jas 5:13–16; 1 Jn

5:14–15).

We also believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism

(Ac 2:38–42) and the Lord’s Supper (Mt 26:26–29; Mk 14:22–25; Lk 22:14–20; 1 Co

11:23–32). Christian baptism by immersion (Ac 8:36–39) is the solemn and beautiful

testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, and

his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to new life (Ro 6:1 –11). It is also a

sign of fellowship and identification with the visible body of Christ (Ac 2:41–42). The

Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and

should always be preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Co 11:23–32). The elements of

communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ (1 Co 10:16).

Holy Angels

We believe that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshipped, rather

they are created to serve God and worship Him (Lk 2:9–14; Heb 1:6–7, 14; 2:6–7; Rev

5:11–14).

Fallen Angels

We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment

of God by rebelling against his Creator (Is 14:12–17; Eze 28:11–19), by taking numerous

angels with him in his fall (Mt 25:41; Rev 12:1–14), and by introducing sin into the human

race by his temptation of Eve (Gen 3:1–15). Satan is the open and declared enemy of

God and man (Is 14:13–14; Mt 4:1–11; Rev 12:9–10), he has been defeated through the

death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ro 16:20), and he shall be eternally punished in

the lake of fire (Is 14:12–17; Eze 28:11–19; Mt 25:41; Rev 20:10).

Last Things

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (Jn 6:39; Ro

8:10–11, 19–23; 2 Co 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment

in hell (Da 12:2; Jn 5:29; Rev 20:13–15).

We believe that Scripture teaches the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ

to translate His church from the earth (Jn 14:1–3; 1 Co 15:51–53; 1 Th 4:15–5:11),

and between this event and His glorious return with His saints, Christ will reward

believers according to their works (1 Co 3:11; 2 Co 5:10).

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and

Savior go immediately into His presence at death and remain there in conscious bliss

until the resurrection of the body when the soul and the resurrected body are united to

be glorified forever with the Lord. Believers that are alive when Christ returns will be

given glorified bodies and be caught up together with those who have died in Christ to

meet the Lord in the air (1 Co 15:51–54; 2 Co 5:8; Php 1:23, 3:21; 1 Th 4:13–18; He

9:28).

We believe that following the removal of all believers from the earth, there will be a

time of great distress when the righteous judgment of God will be poured out upon an

unbelieving world (Jer 30:7; Dan 12:1; Matt 24:21; Rev 3:10; Rev 6–19).

We believe that after the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the

throne of David (Mt 25:31; Lk 1:31–32; Ac 1:10–11, 2:29–30) and establish His

messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth (Rev 20:1–7). During Christ’s

reign on earth, the Jews will be restored to their own land and the promises of God to

them will be fulfilled (Is 65:17–25; Eze 37:21–28; Zec 8:1–17).

We believe that at the end of Christ’s thousand year reign on earth Christ will cast

Satan and all fallen angels into the lake of fire and brimstone (Mt 25:41; Rev 20:10). At

this time all unbelievers will be judged by Christ at the Great White Throne judgment

and they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Mt

25:41; Rev 20:11–15).

We believe that after Christ’s thousand year reign on earth and after the punishment

of Satan, fallen angels and unbelievers that believers of all ages will enter the eternal

state of heaven to be forever with the Lord (Rev 20:1–6; Rev 20:11–15; Rev 21:1–4).