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Statement of Faith

THE BIBLE 

We believe the Scriptures – the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments – to be the inspired Word of  God, written by men under the direction of the Holy Spirit, inerrant and infallible in the original  manuscripts and the final authority in faith and life. We accept the grammatical-historical system of  interpretation of the Scriptures, and accept the historical record of the Bible as wholly true. (2 Timothy  3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) The Bible is our definitive source for knowing God, the person and work of  Jesus Christ, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the condition of man, the explanation of and means  of salvation. The Bible is our final authority on the security, assurance, responsibility, and sanctification  of the believer. The Bible is our final authority on the responsibility, mission, vision, function, and  leadership of the Church. The Bible is our final authority concerning the eternal state for all of creation. 

GOD 

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - who  are identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possess precisely the same attributes and perfection. Deuteronomy 6:4;Matthew 28:19; 2Corinthians 13:14 

THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God;  that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary  sacrifice on the cross thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against the sin of the elect. He gave  proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then  ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people. Matthew 1:21;  John 1:1-2, 14, 18; 10:15; Luke 1:34; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; I Peter 2:2-4 

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin; that He alone  brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He places all believers into the one true Church,  which is the body of Christ, that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption,  and bestows spiritual gifts upon them. John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23 

THE CONDITION OF MAN 

We believe that all human life is sacred and in God's original design human life was created by God in His image in innocence and without sin. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. Psalms 139

We believe that In Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited the guilt of his sin, a sinful nature, thus becoming spiritually dead and alienated from God so that man is a sinner both by nature and choice. Man, of himself, is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition. Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19

MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Additionally, we believe the rejection of one’s biological sex suggests that God makes mistakes, which He definitely does not (Psalm 139:13-16).

 We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a biological man and a biological woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of the marriage union between one biological man and one biological woman.  Furthermore, we believe that any form of sexual immorality (including fornication, adultery, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

 We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of West Valley Bible Church as the local body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the wvBc members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by West Valley Bible Church in any capacity, serves as a lay leader, serves as a volunteer, or desire to become members of West Valley Bible Church agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22).

 We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

SALVATION 

We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace given to all whom God has called to salvation. It  includes all that God does in saving His people from the penalty, power, and presence of sin (heaven)  in restoring them to a right relationship with Himself. As such, it is solely the work of God from  initiation to completion. The irresistible call (regenerating work) of the Holy Spirit is the cause not the  result of the believer's saving faith. It cannot be gained by good works, but is a free gift for all who put  their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. All who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are forgiven and saved from their sins, declared righteous before God and are born into the  family of God. God's purpose for saving His people is so that they bring glory to Him by their lives.  Matthew 1:21; John 1:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; Philippians 1:6; Titus 2:11-14;  3:5; I Peter 1:1-3; Romans 8:28-30 

SECURITY, ASSURANCE, AND RESPONSIBILITY 

We believe that all the saved - those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace  - are kept by His power and thus, are secure in Christ forever. This assurance is based solely on God’s mercy and the promises of His Word. However, this assurance is not a license to sin, for God in holiness cannot tolerate an unrepentant, persistent lifestyle of sin in His children without  consequences. In His infinite love He will correct or discipline those who are truly His. True faith in  Christ will be expressed, in the power of the Holy Spirit, by a fruitful, God-pleasing life that endures  until death. Matthew 7:20; John 10:27-29; Romans 6:1-2; 8:29-39; Galatians 6:7; Hebrews 7:25; 12:6- 10; James 2:20; I John 5:13 

SANCTIFICATION 

We believe that God, in the Scriptures, has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness.  This includes salvation from the penalty of sin (Romans 5) as well as from the power of sin  (Romans 6). Sanctification from sin affects both the positional and practical aspects. Positional  sanctification as a work of the Holy Spirit is complete and absolute at the moment of salvation;  however, practical sanctification is a result of the continuing work of the Spirit using the Word of  God to provide nourishment for growth into maturity in Christ. While the process of practical  sanctification is assured and accomplished by the Word and the Spirit, it is yet imperfect in this  life. There is some element of corruption in every aspect of creation, which is the source for the  war between the flesh and the Spirit. Spiritual growth occurs as believers feed on the Word and  are in fellowship with other believers for encouragement and service. John 17:17; Romans 5:1;  6:19,22: 8:18-22; I Corinthians 1:2,30; 6:11; Colossians 2:6-7; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 2:2;  2 Peter 1:3 

 THE CHURCH 

We believe the true Church, called in Scripture the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism. Every  person who has trusted Jesus Christ for salvation is a part of the church. The local church, as  established in Scripture, is made up of redeemed individuals who have joined together for worship,  instruction, fellowship and service. We believe the 'Church' was and is the primary means by which  God is reaching the world with the hope of the gospel of Jesus. John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2:42; 13:1-2; 1  Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22 

We believe that “we” (His church) are commissioned by Jesus to unconditionally reach out to   everyone with the gospel of salvation in Christ without prejudice or bias of any kind. We believe we are to love and pursue all peoples regardless of race, creed, gender, social/economic status, or sexual orientation with the hope of Jesus. We believe we must reach out to everyone with an attitude of utmost humility remembering/knowing we were all once spiritually blind, naked, lost, lifeless, His enemies and yet He still pursued us. We are called to be ‘friends of sinners’ with the intent and hope of introducing people to the only hope of humanity, Jesus (Matt. 9:11- 13; Luke 5:29-32; Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 6:11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines and values of West Valley Bible Church. Matt. 22:34-40; Luke 6:31

 ORDINANCES 

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers as  a matter of obedience, not as a condition for salvation - water baptism subsequent to the  believer's profession of faith, and the Lord's Supper. Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 11:23-26 

THE ETERNAL STATE 

We believe that at death the souls of those who have trusted Christ for salvation pass immediately into  His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at Christ's coming  for the Church, when soul and body will be reunited. We then shall be with Him forever in glory. We  also believe that at death the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery until the final judgment  when the soul and body will be reunited and cast into the lake of fire - not to be annihilated, but to be separated from God forever in conscious punishment. Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians  1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15 

LEADERSHIP 

The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that each local body of believers is  shepherded by a plurality of qualified (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), male pastors/elders  (synonymous terms in New Testament). Simply stated, this is the only pattern for church leadership  given in the New Testament . (see Leadership and Structure)

Pastors/elders are called to number of specific duties, including: prayer, Scripture study, caring for the  people in the church, equipping the church to do ministry, giving an account to God for the church,  living exemplary lives, preaching and teaching, praying for the sick, teaching sound doctrine and  refuting error. This necessarily means we are not a congregationally led church with members voting.  However, as elders/pastors we strive to focus on shepherding the flock with the primary decision making responsibility regarding our mission, vision, values, and doctrine. 

FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT 

The West Valley Bible Church statement of faith (What We Believe) does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of West Valley Bible Church's faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Board is West Valley Bible Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.