The doctrinal position of VACU is historically that of conservative reformed theology, evangelical Christianity, and The Westminster Confession. Virginia Christian University rests firmly upon the integrity and inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and, therefore, wholeheartedly accepts the great Doctrines of the historic Protestant Christian faith.
Traditionally, VACU rests firmly stand for these great truths, and it is the desire of VACU to continue to provide personnel for service in these ranks. VACU will maintain its theological position. To guarantee that VACU will maintain its theological position, each member of Board of Trustee, Faculty, and Teaching Staff is required initially and annually to engage in and subscribe to the following Statement of Belief and Covenant. Also the Doctrinal Statement, which every board, administration, staff and faculty member must sign, is the following Statement of Belief and Covenant. The Board, Administration, and Faculty, Student of VACU believe:
Section 1. The Holy Scriptures
(1) We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in every matter in the original writing, infallible and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture inerrancy means that the original documents were without error. To describe inspiration as verbal and plenary is to explain not how Scripture was inspired by God the Holy Spirit but what resulted from that activity of God the Holy Spirit.
(2) We believe in all the words of Scripture and all portions of it, as originally written, were God-breathed. It came from God the Holy Spirit, to be sure, but He employed finite humans to write down His message and to recognize it as God’s Word. The human writers God selected to pen His Word were not sinless humans, either (2 Peter 1:21).
Section 2. The Triune God
(1) We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.
(2) We believe in the Triune God revealed as eternally existing in three equal persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory (Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14). “In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, the Holy Spirit eternally proceeding from the Father and Son.”(Westminster Confession II-3).
(3) The Bible presents a consistent picture of three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all of whom are assigned status as deity, who relate to each other on a coordinate level, who share in works of creation, redemption, and sanctification, and who in every way are related to by New Testament believers, each in turn and all in unison, as God, yet they are consistently presented not as three gods but as united.
Section 3: The Person and Work of God the Father
(1) We believe that the Father is, the First Person of the blessed Triune God, a self-existent spirit, unseen by men, who shares one essence with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and possesses the same attributes of omniscience, omnipotence, love, truth, holiness, righteousness, and goodness (1 Corinthians 8:6. John 5:46, 6:26, 7:28, 14:9-10, 15:9, 17:11, 17:25, Matthew 6:8, 6:32, Ephesians 3:20, James 1:17). He receives worship and is the One to whom human beings relate through Christ, having sent Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to the earth (John 4:23, 8:42, 14:6, 14:26).
(2) We believe God the Father resurrects the dead, and that heaven belongs to Him (John 5:21, 14:2, Romans 6:4). He controls the timeline for eschatological events (Acts 1:67). He draws the elect to Christ, having chosen them before the foundation of the world (John 6:44, Ephesians 1:3). He predestines believers to adoption as sons and preserves them in their relationship to God (John 17:11, Ephesians 1:5).
(3) We believe God the Father is to be the focal point for believers in their Christian lives and in their fellowship (Romans 6:11, 1 John 1:3). He cares for them, comforts them, hears and answers their prayers, honors believers that serve Jesus Christ, leads them, and gives them gifts (John 12:26, 15:1, 16:23, Romans 6:11, 2 Corinthians 1:34, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, James 1:17, 1 John 1:3).
Section 4: The Person and Work of Christ as God the Son
(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the blessed Triune God, eternally God, self-existent God the Son, became man (incarnation), without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Luke 1:35, John 1:1-2, 1:14).
(2) We believe in the full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Preexistence and Eternity: God the Son is eternally begotten of God the Father. He existed as Only Son of God the Father before he was born of Mary. God the Son always existed (omnipresence), being as eternal as God himself. The truth is, God the Son is both, He is the God-man. Both Christ’s perfect humanity and his undiminished(full) deity are absolutely essential to the Scriptural portrait of Him.
(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:35, 2:24).
(4) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 9:24, 1John 2:12).
Section 5: The Person and Work of God the Holy Spirit
(1) We believe that God the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the blessed Triune God, is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; revealing Christ to men and enabling them to believe; and, that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Ephesians 1:13-14).
(2) We believe that He guides believers into all truth, anoints and teaches them, and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with God the Holy Spirit (John 16:13, Ephesians 5:18, 1 John 2:20, 2:27).
(3) We believe in God the Holy Spirit as a divine person, a personality distinct from God the Father and God the Son. By the deity of God, the Holy Spirit is meant that He is One with God, and One in the God-head, co-equal, co-eternal, and con-substantial with God the Father and God the Son. His works are assigned to the Spirit which only God can perform, thus arguing for his full deity. God the Holy Spirit was involved in the work of creation (Genesis1:2). Both the revelation and inspiration of Scripture were the result of the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Samuel 23:2).
Section 6: The Creation and Man
(1) We believe that the book of Genesis presents a historically accurate account of the origin of man, the fall of Adam and Eve, and consequently the entire human race, the worldwide flood, the call of Abraham, and the origin of God’s chosen people, Israel. Included in this is our belief that special creation of the existing universe, consisting of time, space, and matter, was accomplished in six literals, twenty-four-hour days, as detailed in Genesis chapter one.
(2) We believe that God created an innumerable host of angels, some of whom followed the lead of Lucifer, now called Satan, in rebelling against God, thereby bringing sin into the universe. We believe in Satan’s complete defeat by the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3) We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that when man sinned the human race fell and became alienated from God. Man, thus, is totally depraved and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27, 5:2, Psalm 51:1-8, Romans 3:22-23, 5:12, Ephesians 2:13, 2:12). We believe in man’s need of repentance, redemption and justification through faith alone in Christ crucified and risen from the dead.
Section 7: Salvation of Men
(1) We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal and purposeful faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 15:15, Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-19).
(2) We believe that men are justified by grace through faith, on the ground of the shed blood of Christ, and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are born again (regeneration) of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God the Father (John 1:12-13).
(3) We believe that while the death and resurrection of Christ is sufficient provision for the salvation of all men, only those who exercise saving faith will have forgiveness of sin and receive eternal life. Those who so exercise faith is then regenerated, baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ, and granted every spiritual blessing in Christ (Romans 6:34, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:34, 2:8-9, Philippians 2:13, Titus 3:5, 1 John 2:2).
Section 8: The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
(1) We believe that all the justified, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30, Romans 8:1,38, 1 Corinthians 1:48, 1 Peter 1:5).
(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14, Galatians 5:13, Titus 2:11-15, 1 John 5:10-13).
(3) We believe in the perseverance of the saints. Saints who have accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Holy Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved (Phil.1:6, John 10:28-29).
Section 9: The Two Natures of the Believer and Sanctification
(1) We believe that the regenerated person retains his corrupt, sinful, depraved nature, but at the moment of salvation also becomes a partaker of the divine nature, capable of pleasing God through the ministries of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 6:13, 8:12-13, Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:9-10, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 3:59).
(2) We believe that sanctification, which is a setting-apart unto God, is threefold: It is already complete for every saved person because his position toward God is the same as Jesus Christ’s position. Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set apart unto God(John.17:17. 2 Cor.3:18).
(3) We believe, however, that he retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in his life. Therefore, while the standing of the Christian in Christ is perfect, his presence state is no more perfect than his experience in daily life. There is, therefore, a progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to “grow in grace,” and to “be changed” by the unhindered power of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:24. 5:25-27).
(4) We believe also, that the child of God the Father will is yet be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Lord Christ and shall be “like Him”( I Thess.5:23. Heb.10:10-14. 12:10).
Section 10: Separation, Holy Life of the Believer
(1) We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God (Romans 12:12, 14:13, 2 Timothy 3:15, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 9:11).
(2) We believe that it is the duty of each believer to live a holy life unto God, keeping himself unspotted from the world, and that it is God’s intention that this shall be accomplished in the believer’s life by his constant dependence on the divine ennoblement of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We believe in the illuminating, indwelling and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit enabling the Christian to witness effectively to the gospel and to serve responsibly in the world (I Cor.11:1, Eph. 4:1-3, 5:1-3, John 14:16-17, 14:26).
Section 11: Missions and the Believer
(1) We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Matthew 28:1920, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
(2) We believe in the responsibility of the church in transforming people and culture in the contemporary context, in obedience to God according to the Scriptures all, to the realization of the kingdom of God (Rom 12:1-2).
Section 12: The Church of the Lord
(1) We believe that the church of The Lord Jesus Christ is composed solely of believers: it is the Body and Bride of our Lord and is the one body into which all believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit. Christ is head of the church (Acts 2:1-47, Ephesians 1:22).
(2) We believe in the autonomy of the local church (Acts 13:14, 20:28, Romans 16:1, 1 Corinthians 3:9-16, 1 Peter 5:14).
(3) We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as scriptural ordinances. They are a means of Christian testimony for the church today (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-42, 18:8, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Section 13: Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
(1) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts; that the gifts of evangelist and pastor- teacher are given to the church for the equipping of the saints today; that each believer has a spiritual gift for the purpose of ministry to others, such as the gifts of ministry, helping, leadership, administration, exhortation, giving, mercy, and teaching, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the working of miracles are given by the Holy Spirit for expansion of the Kingdom of God and evangelism(Romans 12:68, 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:7-12, 1 Peter 4:10).
(2) We believe that the gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the working of miracles have ceased as special revelation since the record of Scripture, found in Old and New Testaments were completed and their authority became established (2 Tim.3:15-17).
(3) We believe that God hears and answers the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7, James 5:14-15, 1 John 5:14-15).
Section 14: The Personality of Angel and Satan
(1) We believe that angels are created beings, not the Creator(Ps.148:5) Angels are personal beings; that is, they possess intelligence (1 Pet 1:12), feelings (Lk 2:13) and will (Jude 6). They are spirit beings (Heb.1:14), though unlike God. They are limited in power, knowledge, and activity (1 Pet.1:11-12).
(2) We believe that the fall of the angels was done from a privileged position. He was not a deprived creature who had not drunk deeply of the blessings of God before he sinned (Ezekiel 28:11–15). Evil angels as Satan delight in opposing God and antagonizing His work(Mat.4:1-4.Luk.4:2).
(3) We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Job 1:67, Isaiah 14:12-17, Matthew 4:2-11, Revelation 20:11).
Section 15: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
(1) We believe in the personal, bodily and victorious second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God the Son will then set up His kingdom upon the earth, after which He will deliver the Kingdom to God the Father that the Godhead may be all in all. The certainty of Christ’s return, of the future resurrection and judgment, ought to have its effect upon our lives. Believers do have hope that is based on divine certainty. Death does not end it all. A day of reckoning and accounting will come. There is no second chance after death (Matthew 24:29-37, Act. 1:11, Revelation 22:20).
(2) We believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as a single event; not two comings, but one stage in the one coming (Matt. 24:22, Luke 21:36, John 5:29, 2 Thess.2:3). The exact time of the second coming of the Lord is unknown (Matt. 24:36).
(3) We believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will be a personal coming (Acts 1:11), a physical coming (Heb. 9:28. Rev.1:7), a visible coming (Matt. 24:30, 26:64, Luke 21:27), a sudden coming (Matt 24:37, Mark 13:33-37), a glorious and triumphant coming. God the Son will not return in the body of His humiliation, but in a glorified body and royal apparel (Heb. 9:28. Matt. 24:30).
(4) We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ will return at the end of the world for the purpose of introducing the future age, the eternal state of things, and He will do this by inaugurating and completing two mighty events, namely, the resurrection of the dead and final judgment (Matt. 13:49-50, 25:14-46, Luke 9:26, John 5:25-29, Rom 2:3-16, Rev.20:11-15).
Section 16: The Resurrection of the Dead, the Eternal State
(1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46, John 5:28-29, 11:25-26, Revelation 20:56, 22:12).
(2) We believe that the souls of the justified are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the resurrection, when soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, 3:32, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 20:46). “At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.” (the Westminster Confession. Ch. 32-2).
(3) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until their resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Judgment of Jesus Christ, and shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:19-26, 2 Thessalonians 1:79, Jude 6-7, Revelation 20:11-15).
(4) We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost (John 5:24-29). “The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of just, by his Spirit (God the Holy Spirit), unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.” (the Westminster Confession. Ch. 32-3).
How should we then live in the view of the biblical message about the future?
We should live according to the Scripture, live as though we would appear before Our Lord God in a matter of minutes or hours. As we so live in such way, we should view every opportunity as though it might be the last one we will ever have. The Bible does not teach God’s people to fold their hands and wait idly for the Christ’s return. Rather, it emphasizes the need to be actively serving God and the others while we wait for God’s Son from heaven.