IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS.
Our story begins with the legacy of Jesus Christ who was born to save the world from sin.
After Jesus died on the cross, resurrected from the grave, and ascended into heaven, His followers told others of salvation found only in Jesus Christ. The story of Jesus continued to be shared over the centuries and it eventually reached Virginia.
Legacy Church is bigger than a name, bigger than a pastor or a denomination, bigger than a logo or a building. It is a movement of God at the base of our mountains for the glory of God and the good of our community.
In essential beliefs, we have unity.
“There is one Body and one Spirit…there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all…”
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator, Ruler, and Redeemer of the universe. He is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, love, justice, goodness and truth, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. These three are co-equal and are one God. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent, and all creation brings Him glory according to His design and purpose. To God we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:1-3)
ABOUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
God the Father is co-equal with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Father created the heavens and the earth. He spoke the universe into existence, thereby creating the world and all things out of nothing. He is often referred to as Yahweh in the Old Testament and the Father in the New Testament. He is the supreme authority, and all things are under His control. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He has the absolute right to accomplish all things according to His own good pleasure. He keeps His covenant promises, and He works all things for good for those who love Him. He is all powerful, all knowing, all wise, all just, and all loving. In his incomprehensible grace and absolute righteousness, the Father authored eternal salvation by giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as atonement for our sin in order that the world He loved might be saved. The Father is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth. All creation should live to exalt His glory. (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16, Exodus 34:6, Luke 15, Deuteronomy 7:9, Romans 8:28, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Romans 11:33, John 3:16,17, 1 John 4:7-10, Ephesians 1:12)
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2)
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
ABOUT ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15)
In non-essential beliefs, we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls… So then each of us will give an account of himself to God… So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.”
In all our beliefs, we show charity.
“…If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains — but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.”
