What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of VGMC based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible.   All of our beliefs are founded first in the Holy Scriptures, and under its authority, we implore the use of Christian tradition, experience, and reason to interpret it and apply it to our lives.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  He is the almighty creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is, therefore, worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, sovereignty, and grace. Because of His character, He has set forth a plan of redemption for the world through himself as the Son, who is Jesus Christ.

God has revealed himself to us primarily through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God. Now through the Holy Spirit and the inspired Scriptures, God has revealed himself in personal relationship to believers, creation, and the life within it.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory.  The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as cultivators for God's creation.  Every human also bears the image of God, and is, therefore, created with immense value in His eyes for the intended purpose of glorifying Him.

The Bible tells us that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, upon which sin entered the world . This action caused them to fall out of perfect relationship with God and brought death into all of creation. Because of this, every person is, therefore, born into sin and in desperate need of reconciliation to God.

Because of God's character, he created a way of reconciliation through sacrifice. The perfect sacrifice came through the Son Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to be the sacrifice that paid for our transgressions.  After three days, he rose from the dead, defeated sin and death, and now, by grace, offers the gift of eternal life to all who  follow Jesus by faith as their Lord and Savior.  Salvation is not earned by works, but by faith in Christ alone.

The Church is not a building, but all people who have received the grace of God. We are meant to be the visible body of Christ and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our local church is simply a gathering of believers organized with the purpose of building one another up and  working together to live out that mission within our community.

After Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave, he ascended into heaven and is still living for all eternity.  One day, he will return to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.