Theological and Philosophical Statements
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| Theological and Philosophical Statements
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Our Statement of Faith
Association of Vineyard Churches (Page 4)
| We believe that the whole world is under the domination of Satan | ¤ The devil led [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” ¤ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. | Luke 4:5-7 1 John 5:19 |
| and that all people are sinners by nature | ¤ For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ¤ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. | 1 Corinthians 15:22 Ephesians 2:1-3 |
| and choice. | ¤ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ¤ Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. | Romans 1:21-23 Romans 1:32 |
| All people therefore are under God’s just judgement. | ¤ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness ... ¤ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ¤ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. ¤ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. | Romans 1:18 Romans 2:5 2 Corinthians 5:10 Ephesians 5:6 |
| Through the preaching of the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God | ¤ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” ¤ But when [the Samaritans] believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¤ Boldly and without hindrance [Paul] preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. ¤ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. | Mark 1:14-15 Acts 8:12 Acts 28:31 Ephesians 5:5 |
| and the work of the Holy Spirit, | ¤ But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. | John 16:7-11 |
| God regenerates, | ¤ Jesus answered [Nicodemus], “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ¤ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. | John 3:5-8 1 Peter 1:23 |
| justifies, | ¤ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. ¤ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! | Romans 5:1-2 Romans 5:9 |
| adopts | ¤ For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship [“adoption” – NASB]. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¤ Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” | Romans 8:15 Galatians 4:6 |
| and sanctifies | ¤ ... just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, [“to sanctify her” – NASB] cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ¤ And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy [“that He might sanctify the people” – NASB] through his own blood. | Ephesians 5:25-27 Hebrews 13:12 |
| through Jesus by the Spirit | ¤ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. | 1 Peter 1:1-2 |
| all who repent of their sins | ¤ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. | Acts 2:38 |
| and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord | ¤ ... That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. | Romans 10:9 |
| and Saviour. | ¤ We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. | 1 John 4:13-15 |
| By this they are released from Satan’s domain and enter into God’s kingdom reign. | ¤ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ¤ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | Colossians 1:13-14 Philippians 3:20-21 |
| We believe in the one, | ¤ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” ¤ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. | John 17:20-21 Ephesians 4:3-6 |
| holy, | ¤ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred (“holy” – NASB), and you are that temple. | 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 |
| universal Church. | ¤ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (18) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¤ To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours ... ¤ For through [Christ] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household ... ¤ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. | Matthew 16:17-18 1 Corinthians 1:2 Ephesians 2:18-19 1 Peter 2:9-10 |
| All who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour are regenerated by the Holy Spirit | ¤ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. | Titus 3:4-7 |
| and form the living Body of Christ, | ¤ Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. | Romans 12:4-5 |
| of which He is the head | ¤ And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. ¤ ... Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. | Ephesians 1:22-23 Ephesians 5:23 |
| and of which we are all members. | ¤ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. | 1 Corinthians 12:27 |
| We believe that Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism | ¤ “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” | Matthew 28:19-20 |
| and the Lord’s Supper. Both are available to all believers. | ¤ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 |
| We believe that God’s kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, | ¤ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” ¤ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ¤ “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” | Daniel 7:13-14 Matthew 4:23 Matthew 12:28 |
| that it continues to come in the ministry of the Spirit though the Church, | ¤ [Our Father] ... your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¤ As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. ¤ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ¤ Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. ¤ “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” ¤ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. | Matthew 6:10 Matthew 10:7-8 Matthew 24:14 Mark 13:11 John 15:26-27 Romans 14:17-18 |
| and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Christ - | ¤ “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” ¤ After [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” ¤ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. | Mark 13:26 Acts 1:9-11 2 Thessalonians 2:8 |
| His return to the earth as King. | ¤ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. | Revelation 19:11-16 |
| After Christ returns to reign, | ¤ But each in his own turn [will be made alive]: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. | 1 Corinthians 15:23-25 |
| He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works, | ¤ And the devil, who deceived [the nations], was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. | Revelation 20:10 |
| the resurrection of the dead, | ¤ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. | 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 |
| the final judgement | ¤ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear [the Son of Man’s] voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” ¤ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. | John 5:28-30 Revelation 20:11-15 |
| and the eternal blessing of the righteous and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. | ¤ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ... Then [the goats] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” | Matthew 25:31-46 |
| Finally, God will be all in all | ¤ Then the end will come, when {Christ] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. | 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 |
| and His kingdom, His rule and reign, | ¤ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. | 1 Timothy 6:13-16 |
| will be fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth, | ¤ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. ¤ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” | 2 Peter 3:13 Revelation 21:5 |
| recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells | ¤ Nothing impure will ever enter [the new Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. | Revelation 21:27 |
| and in which He will forever be worshipped. | ¤ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ¤ After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” | 1 Timothy 1:17 Revelation 7:9-12 |
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Our Statement of Faith
Our Statement of Faith (page 2)
Our Statement of Faith (page 3)
Our Statement of Faith (page 4)
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The Practices We Aim To Instill
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