What We Believe

At RVCC we are real people who know and worship a real Jesus, Who helps us overcome real problems so we can become real testimonies of His love and faithfulness! We believe that God is bigger and better and closer than we can imagine, and that He loves us and wants us to experience Him. The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living. Nothing in creation, “just happened.” God made it all. God can bring good even out of evil events and God promised victory over evil to those who choose Him. The church is to serve people like Jesus served people.

The following are the core beliefs of RVCC Lake Elmo 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.

There is only one God. He is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; I Kings 8:60; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal and one with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and was crucified on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of all that would believe on His name. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22, 23; John 10:15-16; John 14: 7-11; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3,4; I Corinthians 15:3,4; I Timothy 6:14,15; Hebrews 4: 14,15

The Holy Spirit is co-equal and one with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He transforms and lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right and being a witness for Jesus. He gives every believer spiritual gifts which are to be used in ministry as He wills. There is a “baptism” of the Holy Spirit that takes place after salvation. As Christians we seek to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit and to live under His control daily in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
John 14:16,17; John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; Acts 19:1-7; I Corinthians 2:12; I Corinthians 3:16; II Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13

The Bible is God’s word to us. It is 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.
Psalm 12:6; Psalm 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21

JesuPeople are made in the spiritual image of God. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, He is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin eternally separates people from God and can be overcome only by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1,2; Romans 3:10-18,23

Salvation is God’s free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ and must be received by faith. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Jesus Christ lived, died, rose again and ascended into Heaven in order to secure salvation. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty of eternity in Hell. This trust is realized by confessing with the mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, believing with the heart that God raised Him from the dead, and putting one’s life under the Lordship of Christ.
John 1:12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:1; Romans 10:9,10; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5

People were created to exist forever. After death, one will either exist united with God in Heaven or exist eternally separated from God in Hell. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. The gift of eternal life with God in Heaven is offered to every individual who places faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Matthew 18:8; Matthew 25:44,46; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15