Essentials of faith
VitalChurch is a Christ-centered ministry in the biblical orthodox tradition. We believe the following to be essentials of the Christian faith.
The Bible
The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, coming through the agency of humankind, thus preserving both its divine and human origins. It is God’s revelation of himself and his plans. It is fully reliable and trustworthy, and without error in the original manuscripts. In the Old and New Testaments, the Bible records the story of how God takes the initiative to restore and renew all creation through the person and work of Jesus Christ. This story is known as the gospel and the ultimate Author of this story is God. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21)
God
There is one God who eternally dwells in a community of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This community is equal in divine nature. The three Persons of this one God are devoted to one another, defer to each other, and delight in each other. This one God wants to be known and is knowable. He does what he does for his glory. Each member of this community has a distinct role and function in their relationship with one another. The Bible tells us God’s story, which points ultimately to Jesus. (Eph 3:14-15; John 8:58; Acts 5:4; John 17; Isa 43:6-7)
Jesus
Jesus is God revealed to us in human flesh. This revelation is called the Incarnation. He was born of a virgin, lived, died, rose bodily, and ascended to heaven. He promises to come again to right all wrongs and to make all things right. Jesus lived the kind of life we should live, but don’t. And Jesus died the very death we should have died. By his sacrificial life and death, he demonstrates how we should live and saves us from how we have lived. It is by grace through faith alone, in his righteous work on our behalf, that we are changed and freed to become the people that we were created to be. (John 1:18; Phil 2:5-8; Acts 1:8-10; Rev 19:11-21; Eph 2:8-9)
People
All people are created in the image of God (Gen 1:28). And all people rebel against God (Rom 3:23). That rebellion, described in the Bible in a variety of ways, is known as sin and puts us at odds with God, with ourselves, with each other, and with creation itself. God is infinitely loving and infinitely just. Therefore, God will justly hold humankind responsible for their rebellion. The consequences of this rebellion are death, judgment, and hell (Rom 6:23; Rev 20:11-15). That is why we need Jesus! And yet God does not leave us hopeless. We have the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).
The Gospel
The gospel changes everything (Rom 1:16-17; Col 1:6; 2 Pet 1:5-9). And the gospel changes us. In fact, the gospel changes every part of us—mind, will, and emotions! The gospel changes us spiritually, socially, and relationally. The gospel is seen in the biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and the restoration of all things. The gospel is the story of God’s grace as seen in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, through the truths of the gospel, shapes us and molds us into the kind of people we were created to be (Gal 3:1-6; 5:22-24; 2 Thes 2:13). When we recognize our sin and put our faith in Christ alone, we are declared righteous by God and become part of a group of people known as the Church (Rom 4:3f).
The Church
Between Jesus first coming to save us, and his second coming to restore all things, those who have come to genuine faith in Jesus Christ alone are called the Church (Acts 2:42-47). It is in, and often through, this very real, but very broken group of people that we become the people we were created to be (See the entire book of Ephesians, cf. 1 Pet 4:10-11). And it is in, and through, this community known as the Church that we invite others to enter into the new life that is found in Jesus Christ by sharing and living out the good news of the gospel (Matt 16:18; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
Resources
The following books offer further insight into what we believe as an organization:
Basic Christianity by John Stott
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Making Sense of God by Tim Keller
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
Simply Christian by N.T. Wright
Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem
The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses by Chris Bruno
Is Vitalchurch right for you?
We believe it is essential to thoughtfully go through a comprehensive process to determine if VitalChurch ministry is the right fit for you at this moment in your church journey. Click the link below to learn more about the partnership possibilities available and how we can effectively support your church in meaningful ways.
