What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Bridge of the Valley Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe that the one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed "GREAT I AM", the creator and preserver of all things, and has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 28:19, Mark 12:29); the Triune God governs all.

We believe that the bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (1 Timothy 3:15-16, 1 Peter 2:2)

We believe that man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." But man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31, Romans 5:12-21).

We believe that the grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit and being justified by hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, Romans 10:13-15, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7)

We believe that baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in Scripture by all who have repented and have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  In so doing, the believer's body is immersed in pure water as an outward symbol of cleaning, their heart has already been sprinkled with the blood of Christ as an inner cleansing.  Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19, Acts 10:47, Acts 20:21, Romans 6:4, Hebrews 10:22).
Baptism is not a "sacrament" that imparts saving grace, but it is an ORDINANCE.  We are not saved by baptism, but by our faith in Jesus Christ and His blood (1 John 1:7)

We believe that the Lord's Supper, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffer and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers until Jesus returns.

We believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).  Sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be pursued by walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Her great commission.  Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the church of the first-born, which is written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22, Hebrews 12: 23)

We believe that a divinely-called and Scripturally-ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: the evangelism of the world and the edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20, Ephesians 4:11-13).

We believe that in the end times, the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on earth are Scriptural promises and the world's hope (Romans 11:26-27, 2 Thessalonians 1:17, Revelations 19:11-14, 20:1-7).  The devil and his fallen angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelations 19:20, 20:10-15).  We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13, Revelations 21, 22).