VRM Statement of Faith

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by divinely inspired men with God as the author.  The infallible Word of God, we believe, is all truth and requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life.  The Bible is a unified account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks and the supreme standard on which we should live.  In believing this, we affirm the following additional statements of faith:
(Hebrews 11:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

-There is one and only one living, true God, an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being, the creator, preserver and ruler of the universe infinite in Holiness and all other perfection, to which we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.  He is revealed to us as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, John 1:14-18, Galatians 4:4-6)

-Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth.  He who is true God became true man united in one person forever.  He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the scriptures.  On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Mediator.
(Matthew 1:21-25, Romans 1:1-6, Ephesians 1:7-14, Ephesians 1:20-23)

-The Holy Spirit is sent to dwell in our hearts to glorify Christ and to sanctify us to a moral and spiritual perfection.  The Spirit convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling in our hearts.  He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service.  He instructs and guides us into truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
(John 17:15-17, Romans 8:26-28, Galatians 5:16-26, Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 4:30)

-The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel.  It is the duty of all to accept them by obedient faith.  Our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God's free grace.  God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight.  Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Teacher, Savior, and Lord.
(Mark 16:16, John 3:14-18, Ephesians 2:1-10)

-The true church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together as the body of Christ.  The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregation where the Word of God is preached in it's purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained.  For her perfecting, she awaits the return of the Lord.
(Acts 2:41-47, Acts 14:21-24, Romans 12:5)

-Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily-to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.  The time of His coming is not revealed.  It is the duty of all believers to live in readiness for His coming and by diligence in good works to be made manifest to all men the reality and power of their hope in Christ.
(Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 14:26-27)