OUR CONFESSION OF FAITH

The Godhead

We believe in the one triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Who are co-eternal in being, co-equals in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah. 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

The Father

We believe in God the Father, the Almighty, creator of all the heavens and the earth, perfect in holiness, perfect in love, perfect in judgment, from whom the Son and Spirit proceed. (Genesis 1:1; 17:1; Isaiah 5:16; 6:3; 43:15; Matthew 11:25; John 6:57; 8:42; 14:16-17; 16:28; 1 John 4:16)

The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

A.   We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (John 1:2, 14; Luke 1:35)

B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead, and that His name and work are our sole means of salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 4:25; Acts 4:12)

C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, where He is exalted at the right hand of God above all power and dominion, and ministers as our High Priest and Intercessor. (Acts 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:14; 7:25; 1 John 2:1)

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person Who is with the Church forever and Who teaches the Church in all truth. The Holy Spirit gives variety of gifts for the common good of the Church and guides the Church and the individual believer in service for the Church and in service towards the world. The Holy Spirit continues to manifest Himself through the gifts as described in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and Ephesians 4:11-12. The individual believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, has his life in Christ and final redemption guaranteed in the Spirit, and is supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 1:16; 16:7; 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Acts 10:19-20; 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Acts 1:8; John 16:8-11)

Scripture

We believe in the sixty-six canonized and commonly recognized books of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by God and inerrant in the original writing, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Depravity

We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become sinners in thought, word, and deed. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; 5:14; Ephesians 2:1-3)

Salvation

We believe that eternal salvation is solely the gift of God, and that all who in sincere contrition repent of their sins, believe the gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith alone, are born again of the Holy Spirit and become adopted sons of God. (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:16)

Second Coming

We believe in the personal, bodily and imminent return of Christ in the air for His saints. (Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Judgment and Eternal State

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11-15)

The Church

We believe in the one, universal Church as the Body of Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the purchased people of God, the bride of Christ. The Church is built and established upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. The Church is united in having one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father and one Head, Jesus Christ. The Church is all those who in faith look upon Jesus Christ as the author and giver of salvation. God has called all believers in various places to join together into local churches as visible expressions of the Church in order to bring the power, the life, the character, and the authority of God into the lives of all people. (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 4:4-6; 5:22-32; 1 Peter 2:5-10)

The Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. However, since the Bible is a diverse collection of narrative stories, poetry, law, and letters, it is helpful to summarize its teaching in a concise form that can be comprehended by both those deeply rooted in the Church and those who have little exposure to the Bible. This is the historical function of the ancient church creeds in the first 400 years of Christ-centered faith.

Every community of faith has two major obligations in regards to its faith, namely absolute faithfulness to the Word of God, and sensitivity to the world in which they live. This means that the Vineyard movement must express the historical, biblical, orthodox Christian beliefs that we hold in common with all Christians, and the particular doctrines that are our distinctive voice, in terms that are relevant to 21st century Christians.

Our Statement of Faith is based on the conviction that the kingdom of God is the central theological motif that gives definition to all that we believe. It is a “kingdom of God” centered theology. This statement is our best current understanding of the Bible from that kingdom perspective.

Vineyard Core Values, Beliefs & Statement of Faith