Victory Church: What We Believe

I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and the revealed will of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. It was written by men, inspired by the Holy Spirit, over the course of hundreds of years, from various occupations ranging from kings to peasants.  All its pages are divinely inspired and harmonious.  The scriptures contain God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction, correction and reproof.  We believe it to be the Truth, the Life and the Way. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12; Rom. 16:25-26;)

II. God

There is one true and living God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, and Ruler of the universe. He is the Most High God, intelligent, spiritual, and a personal Being. God is holy and perfect. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Gen. 1:26: Ex. 3:14: Ps. 19: 1-3; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1Jn. 5:7;)

A. God the Father

God as Father is all powerful, all loving, all wise and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures.  He reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. (John 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8: Acts 1:7; 1Cor. 8:6: Gal. 4:6)

B. God the Son

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.  He was God manifest in the flesh.  He fulfilled prophesies that foretold his coming, his life, his death and resurrection.  Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and identifying Himself completely with mankind, yet without sin. He was obedient unto death on the cross, where He chose to be our substitute and make provision to redeem men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. (Psalms 2:7; 110:1; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 11:27; 17:5;  Mark 1:1: 9:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 17:1-5, Acts 2:22-24;  Romans 1:3-4;        1 Corinthians 1:30; 8:6;  2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9;  1 Timothy 2:5-6;  Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15;  9:12-15, 24-28;  2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.)

C. God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is the Comfort and Counselor. He inspired men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth and cultivates Christian character. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. (Is. 61:1-3; Matt. 1:18; 28:19; Mark 1:9-10; Luke4:1, 18-19; 11:13, 12:12; John 4:24; 15:26; 16:7-14; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16; 1Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2Tim. 1:14;)

a.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  All believers are entitled to, should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of Jesus Christ. With this comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowing of gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service.  (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 26; Acts 1:4-8, 2:4, 38-39, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9; 19:2-6; Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 5:18-20)

b. Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the Gospel.  All believers are commanded to earnestly desire spiritual gifts by which they serve God.  These gifts operate in harmony with the scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameter.  Gifts empower the believer and the church in worship, evangelism and service. (Rom. 12:6; 1Cor. 12:1-31; 1 Pet. 4:10)

III. Man

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. Every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7,18-22; 3:1-7; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:23; 5:6,12,19-21; 6:6; Colossians 1:21-22;)

IV. Salvation

We are saved by Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer.  Salvation comes by believing in your heart that God raised Jesus form the dead and confessing with your mouth Jesus as Lord.  It is predestined only in the sense that God, through His omniscience, foreknew those who would choose him.  It is secure in the eternal love of God from which we cannot be separated.  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption.  (1Cor. 1:18; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; 1Pet. 1:23)

In its broadest sense salvation includes repentance, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Repentance is a genuine turning away from sin toward God. Through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.  Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. (Luke 5;32; Acts 3:19; 17:30;      1 Cor. 7:10)

B. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. (John  3:3-21; 1Cor. 1:30; 2Cor. 5:17)

C. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. (Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10)

D. Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.  It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (Col. 1:9-22; 1Thes. 5:23-24; Titus 2:11)

F. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. (Rom. 8:18-19; 1Cor. 15: 42-44; Phil. 3:20)

V. Total Provision has been made for man.

A. Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Rom 10:9-10; Eph. 1:7-9)

B. Mental (2Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4: 7-8)

C. Physical (Ps. 103:2-3; Isa. 53:4-5, Matt. 8:17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Cor. 12:9, 28; Rom. 11:29; 1 Pet. 2:24)

Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples.  It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit.

D. Financial (Joshua 1:8; Ps. 84:11; Phil. 4:19; 3 John 1:2; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Deut. 28:1-14)

VI. God's Purpose of Grace

Salvation is by grace through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.  We can not earn, merit, get credit for or be good enough to earn the gift of Grace. “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.” (Eph.2:8)  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)  Upon repentance of our sin and confession of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are sealed, marked, branded as God’s own, secured for the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”(John 1:12-14, 17; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; Acts 20:32; Romans 3:24; 5:9-10, 15-20; 6:14; 10:12-15; 11:5-7;  Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2Thes.2:16; Titus 3:7; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2).

 VII. The Church

The church is to represent the Body of Christ and each member is an integral part.  A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local congregation of believers.  In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord.  There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The scriptures read to not forsake the assembly of ourselves together.  The goal of the church is to make disciples and to present the saints complete in Christ.  (1Cor. 14:4, 12:26; Eph. 1:22, 2:19-22, 5:23; Col. 1:24; Heb. 12:23)

VIII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

A.  Baptism in water is a declaration to the world that a believer has died with Christ and has been raised with him to walk in newness of life.  Baptism will not save you.  It is an outward sign of an inward work.  We baptize by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (Matt. 28:19-20; Rom 6:3-6)

B.  The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby all believers are welcome to partake of the bread (representing His body that was broken for us) and the fruit of the vine (representing His blood that was shed).  We do this in remembrance of Him. (Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1Cor. 11:23-26)

IX. The Tithe & Offering

The first portion of income, 10% should be given unto the Lord in the church where you worship.  Offerings above the 10% should be given as one’s heart is led to give.  By trusting the Lord with the first portion of income, which represents your life, scripture promises that he will add His blessings and provision. (Gen. 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:6-12; Luke 6:38)

X. The Lord's Day

We recognize that in every week, one day should be considered holy unto the Lord.  Just as we give the Lord the first portion of our income, we offer to Him the first portion of our week, a day that is set apart. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. (Exodus 20:8-11)

XI. Marriage and the Family

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Joshua 24:15;  Ecclesiastes  9:9;  Mark 10:6-12;  1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.)

XII. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missions and evangelism are commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle. (Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 24:46-53; John 17:15-19; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 10:42-43; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Timothy 4:5; Revelation 22:17.)

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we are and have we owe to Him. Christians have a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth. (Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47;).

XIV. End Times

We have a blessed hope that Jesus is coming to gather his saints.  According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.  The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.  (Matthew 16:27;  24:27,30-44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38;  Luke 12:40; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 19:20; 20:10-15.)

A.      Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 5:3, 6:20, John 17:24; 2Cor. 5:1; Phil 3:20; Hebrews 11:16; 1Pet. 1:4; Rev.21:1)

B.       Hell. The unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the fallen angels (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrew 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8)