What we believe

We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. There is one God, eternally existing in three co-equal persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of humanity to the glory of his name.

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Jesus, God reconciles humanity and the whole world to himself. Jesus is fully God and fully human. He truly lived, suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to serve as a sacrifice for the sin of all people. We believe Christ truly rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and remains there until he returns to judge all people on the final day.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who comes from the Father and the Son, shares the same substance, majesty, and glory with them, and is fully eternal God. He convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He comforts, sustains, and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth. The Holy Spirit equips and gifts believers for personal growth and service in the Church and in the world.

We believe the Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth and the sole basis of our beliefs. It is the authoritative rule and guide for our lives. It teaches everything essential for salvation.

We believe humans are both sacred and sinful. The Bible teaches we were created in the image of God. This means we are spiritual, moral, and relational beings. We are created by God to be in relationship with God and continue his work on earth for the well-being of the world, but we are marred by our disobedience toward God. The Bible calls this disobedience "sin." Sin separates humans from the relationship with God we were intended to enjoy. Because of sin, humans are naturally, persistently, and continuously inclined towards evil. The state of humanity is such that we cannot, by our own natural abilities or actions, turn towards faith or call upon God.

We believe the only way to restore our relationship with God is through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are considered righteous, or "justified," before God only because of the merit of Christ, through faith, and not because of our own works or worthiness. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross provides the complete redemption, atonement, and satisfaction necessary for all the sins of the entire world. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross to take our punishment. He rose from the dead and will return to earth to rule forever. The sacrifice of Christ—not our own human effort—offers us the experience of new life in Christ now and the assurance of a Christ-filled eternity.

We believe that part of our reconciliation to God is a renewed ability to participate in his active care for the well-being of all humanity and creation. These good works, which are the result of faith and come through the Holy Spirit at work within us, cannot remove our sins. We are not saved by our works. However, they are still pleasing and acceptable to God through Christ, because they come from a true and living faith. Through them, a living faith can be as clearly recognized as a tree is known by its fruit.

We believe the universal Church is a community of believers under the Lordship of Christ that serves as the body of Christ in the world. It is the people of God living out their created purpose on earth. The Church's role is to bring people into a growing relationship with Jesus and serve the needs of a hurting world under the Holy Spirit's leadership and power. The Church exists to maintain worship, equip believers, and serve the world.

We believe in two sacraments: Baptism and Communion. We believe the Sacraments are symbols of a Christian's faith and are signs of God's grace and goodwill toward us. Through them, God works invisibly within us, not only bringing life but also strengthening and confirming our faith.

Baptism is a sign of spiritual rebirth, entrance into the family of faith, repentance and inner cleansing from sin, new life in Christ, and a mark of Christian discipleship. We believe the grace of God is available to all people, and we practice both infant and believer's baptism.

Communion is a representation of the sacrifice of Jesus as he gave his life for us on the cross, a sign of our redemption in and through him, and a means of love and unity that Christians have with Christ and with one another. We believe that the communion table is an open table, and therefore all are invited to receive the grace of God regardless of their spiritual condition.

We believe sanctification is the process through which we are continually becoming more like Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through God's grace, our sinful nature is renewed by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. This enables us, through God's grace, to love him with all our hearts, to live blamelessly according to his holy commandments, and to become who we were created by God to be.

We believe God's grace and love are available to all people, period. Because we believe the Church is open to all people, we commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all people. We welcome all people, regardless of any human category that might separate people, to attend worship services, participate in programs, be baptized, receive Communion, and, upon taking vows promising to follow Jesus Christ as Lord, become active members in the church.

The Village Church stands in the historic Christian faith that has been confessed by believers

throughout the centuries.

We gladly affirm the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, recognizing them as faithful summaries of the essential beliefs shared by Christians around the world and throughout history.