We Believe
"Sanctify them in the truth.
We Believe
The Bible
"Sanctify them in the truth.
Your Word is truth."
John 17:17
Our Foundation:
The Word of God
At our core, we are a people formed and fueled by the Word of God. Our identity is rooted in the conviction that the Bible is not merely a guidebook, but the very words of God—the steady ground upon which we build our lives and our mission.
THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
We believe the Bible—comprising the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments—is the inspired, infallible, and sufficient Word of God. It is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We trust the Scriptures because they are the primary means by which God reveals His character, His promises, and His redemptive plan centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
We believe the Bible—comprising the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments—is the inspired, infallible, and sufficient Word of God. It is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We trust the Scriptures because they are the primary means by which God reveals His character, His promises, and His redemptive plan centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD
Because we believe the Bible is God’s voice, we place a high priority on expository preaching. This means the point of the biblical text becomes the point of the sermon. We seek to "unwrap" the Word, staying tethered to the original context while showing its urgent relevance for our lives today. We don’t gather to hear the opinions of people; we gather to hear the declaration of God.
Because we believe the Bible is God’s voice, we place a high priority on expository preaching. This means the point of the biblical text becomes the point of the sermon. We seek to "unwrap" the Word, staying tethered to the original context while showing its urgent relevance for our lives today. We don’t gather to hear the opinions of people; we gather to hear the declaration of God.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."
Isaiah 40:8
Vista is a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). This partnership stems from our understanding of the importance of the Gospel, how a church is to be governed, and our desire to partner with like-minded churches to fulfill the Great Commission.
Our identity is defined by these three pillars:
- Evangelical – The "evangel" (Gospel) is at the heart of our beliefs. We are committed to the authority of the Bible and the necessity of personal faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to be reconciled to God.
- Free – We are "free" from a central hierarchy. As an Elder-led congregational church, we are self-governing. We also value "freedom of conscience," allowing for liberty on secondary theological issues while remaining united in the essentials of the faith.
- Church – We are a local expression of the Body of Christ. We aren't a building or an event, but a community of believers called to worship God, grow in holiness, and serve our neighbors and the world.
Our Foundation:
The Word of God
Rooted in the Word of God, we find our identity and strength in its divine authority. Scripture is our foundation, fueling our mission and anchoring every aspect of our lives.
The Bible is
The Word of God
The centrality of the word
We believe the Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible, and sufficient Word of God. It is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We trust the Scriptures because they are the primary means by which God reveals His character, His promises, and His redemptive plan centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Since we believe the Bible is God’s voice, we prioritize expository preaching. This ensures the point of the text is the point of the sermon. Rather than human opinions, we "unwrap" the Word to reveal its original context and urgent relevance for our lives today.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8
Vista is a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). This partnership stems from our understanding of the importance of the Gospel, how a church is to be governed, and our desire to partner with like-minded churches to fulfill the Great Commission.
Following Jesus
How can we be sure we're right with God
and that we'll go to heaven when we die?
The answer to these questions is found in what the Bible calls the Gospel (i.e., the good news), which at its core teaches four critical truths...
#1 God Is Our Creator
God made the heavens, the earth, and everything that is in them (Gen. 1:1; Is. 44:24). “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (Ps. 24:1). He created us to know Him, love Him, and live in fellowship with Him. As our Creator, He has rightful authority over our lives and is worthy of our obedience and worship.
God is perfectly holy (Is. 6:3). Because He is holy, He cannot ignore sin. His righteousness sets the standard by which we are judged.
God is perfectly holy (Is. 6:3). Because He is holy, He cannot ignore sin. His righteousness sets the standard by which we are judged.
#2 We Have All Rebelled Against God
Scripture teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Sin separates us from Him (Is. 59:2), and no amount of good works or moral effort can repair that separation. By nature, and by choice, we fail to meet God’s standard.
Because God is just, sin must be judged. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We cannot remove our guilt or satisfy divine justice on our own.
Because God is just, sin must be judged. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We cannot remove our guilt or satisfy divine justice on our own.
#3 Only Jesus Can Save Us
In His love, God provided the only way of reconciliation. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, came into the world to save sinners. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). He lived without sin, died in our place, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
On the cross, Jesus bore the penalty our sins deserved. His death satisfied God’s justice (1 Pet. 3:18), and His righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Salvation is found in no one else!
On the cross, Jesus bore the penalty our sins deserved. His death satisfied God’s justice (1 Pet. 3:18), and His righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Salvation is found in no one else!
#4 God Calls Us to Repent and Believe
The Gospel demands a response. Repentance means acknowledging our sin before God and turning from it (Lk. 13:3). Faith means trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life.
Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, not earned by works (Eph. 2:8–9). Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Rom. 10:9). True faith leads to a new direction of life — knowing, loving, and following Christ! Repent today and put your trust in Jesus.
Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, not earned by works (Eph. 2:8–9). Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Rom. 10:9). True faith leads to a new direction of life — knowing, loving, and following Christ! Repent today and put your trust in Jesus.
Following Jesus
How can we be sure we're right with God
and that we'll go to heaven when we die?
The answer to these questions is found in what the Bible calls the Gospel (i.e., the good news), which at its core teaches four critical truths...
#1 God Is Our Creator
God made the heavens, the earth, and everything that is in them (Gen. 1:1; Is. 44:24). “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (Ps. 24:1). He created us to know Him, love Him, and live in fellowship with Him. As our Creator, He has rightful authority over our lives and is worthy of our obedience and worship.
God is perfectly holy (Is. 6:3). Because He is holy, He cannot ignore sin. His righteousness sets the standard by which we are judged.
God is perfectly holy (Is. 6:3). Because He is holy, He cannot ignore sin. His righteousness sets the standard by which we are judged.
#2 We Have All Rebelled Against God
Scripture teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Sin separates us from Him (Is. 59:2), and no amount of good works or moral effort can repair that separation. By nature, and by choice, we fail to meet God’s standard.
Because God is just, sin must be judged. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We cannot remove our guilt or satisfy divine justice on our own.
Because God is just, sin must be judged. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We cannot remove our guilt or satisfy divine justice on our own.
#3 Only Jesus Can Save Us
In His love, God provided the only way of reconciliation. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, came into the world to save sinners. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
He lived without sin, died in our place, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
On the cross, Jesus bore the penalty our sins deserved. His death satisfied God’s justice (1 Pet. 3:18), and His righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Salvation is found in no one else!
He lived without sin, died in our place, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
On the cross, Jesus bore the penalty our sins deserved. His death satisfied God’s justice (1 Pet. 3:18), and His righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Salvation is found in no one else!
#4 God Calls Us to Repent and Believe
The Gospel demands a response. Repentance means acknowledging our sin before God and turning from it (Lk. 13:3). Faith means trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life.
Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, not earned by works (Eph. 2:8–9). Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Rom. 10:9). True faith leads to a new direction of life — knowing, loving, and following Christ! Repent today and put your trust in Jesus.
Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, not earned by works (Eph. 2:8–9). Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Rom. 10:9). True faith leads to a new direction of life — knowing, loving, and following Christ! Repent today and put your trust in Jesus.