Helsinki Vineyard

Like other Christian churches we believe that the Apostolic Creed has declared the faith which is central to all believers of all times.

Many churches have also defined their faith with confessional books or statement of faith. Association of Vineyard Churches has also defined the Statement of Faith and Helsinki Vineyard has expressed the important points of basic christian beliefs in a following way:

General and Special Revelation
We believe that the existence and attributes of God is known through reason and as it is revealed in nature (Ps. 19:1-4; Rom.1:19, 20; Act. 14:15-17). The fall, however, has darkened our understanding so that humanity is unable through such effort to come to know God's plan of salvation (Rom.1:21-25). God´s covenant with humanity is revealed only in His special revelation which in the Bible and received only by faith (1 Cor.1:21-24; 2 Cor.3:5-16; Eph.2:20; 2 Tim.3:15-16; 2 Pet.3:2).Saving revelation has come to us through the stages of the history of Israel (Act.7:2-53), Israel's prophets, and especially through Jesus Christ (Heb.1:1-2; Rom.16:25-26).

The Bible
We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible writers (Jn.14:26; 1 Cor. 2:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet.1:20-21) so that the Bible is infallible (Nu.23:19; Ps.19:8-10; 119:89; Mt.5:17-18; Jn.3:34; 10:35; 1 Thess.2:13; Rev.22:6) in its original manuscripts. We consider the Old and New Testament sixty six books (Lk 24:44; 2 Pet.3:2,15-16; Rev.22: 18-19) inerrant in matters of faith (Isa.40:8; Mt.24:35; Rom.15:4) and life (Mt.7:21-27; Jas.1:22-25) .

The Trinity
We believe that there is only one God (Isa.45:5; 1 Cor.8:4). He is perfect (Mt.5:48) in love (1 Jn.4:18), power (Ex.15:6), justice (Ps.33:5; 89:15; Isa.30:18), goodness (Ex.33:19; Ps.31:17), wisdom (Ps.104:24; Prov.2:6; Isa.28:29) and holiness (Isa.6:3; 1 Pet.1:15-16). In the Godhead are three (Jn.1:18; 10:30; 14:16-17,26; 2 Cor.13:13) eternal (Isa.43:13), and distinct (Matt.3:16-17) persons equal in power and glory (Rev.5:13): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Father
We believe that God the Father created the visible (Gen. 1; Ps. 104; Acts 17:24) and the invisible universe (Col.1:16) through His Son, the eternal Word (Jn.1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17). Everything He created was good (Gen.1:31). God did not reject the fallen world (Jn.3:16) but sustains (Col.1:17; Heb.1:3), nurtures (Mt.6:26-33), and fosters rich life through the Spirit's influence (Ps.104:30). He seeks the salvation of fallen creation (Jn.3:16; Rom.8:19-23).

Jesus
We believe that while living on the earth Jesus Christ was completely man (Jn.1:14,18) and completely God (Phil.2:5-7). Jesus was conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit upon the virgin Mary (Lk.1:30-35) and lived a sinless life (Ac.3:14-15; Heb.4:15). He died on the cross for the sins of the world (1 Jn.2:2) and was raised by the Father to reign on the right hand of God until all of his enemies are under his authority. (1 Cor.15:25; Heb.12:2)

Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead (Mt. 28:19; Ac 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; 12:6, 11), not a "force". The Holy Spirit was poured out on the church on Pentecost and is thus the primary expression of God on earth at this time (Ac 2:1-21). He effects genuine worship of God (Jn. 4:23-24), births spiritual life (Jn. 3:5-8), sanctifies (Rom. 8:13; 15:16), and gives out His gifts (1 Cor.12:7-11) and His power to believers in order to evangelize the world (Act.1:8) and build up the church (Eph.4:11-16).

Humanity
We believe that God created humans in His own image, as man and woman (Gen.1:27), to govern as His stewards of creation (Gen.1:26, 28). Humanity was created to live for God's glory (Isa.43:7; Rom.11:36; Eph.1:11-12), and to worship Him now (Ex.20:1-5; Mt.4:8-10; Rom.1:25) and for ever (Rev. 4:11; 22:3), to become evermore like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-30), and to experience forever the abundant life which he offers (Jn.4:14).

Sin
We believe that the fall of the first human couple brought sin (Rom. 5:12), sickness (Jn. 5:14), death (1 Cor. 15:22) and Satan's authority (Jn.8:44; 1 Jn.5:19) into the world. Every person is born sinful by nature (Ps.51:5; Mt.15:19; Eph.2:3; 1 Pet.1:18). Sin broke the relationship not only between man and woman but also between God and His creation (Gen. 3:14-24).

Redemption, Atonement, Substitutionary Death
We believe that God in His love sent His only Son Jesus to offer mankind eternal and abundant life through faith in Him (Jn. 3:16; 10:10). The believer is redeemed or purchased from sin, death, and the power of Satan (Rom.6:18; Gal.1:4; Col.2:13-14; 1 Pet.1:18-19) by the substitutionary death of Jesus (2 Cor.5:21; Tit.2:14). He bears on the cross our sins and accepts the punishment due us for sin (Gal. 3:13-14). In this way he reconciles us with God (2 Cor. 5:18) and with others (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:12-19).

Satan
We believe that Satan is an evil spiritual being (Eph. 2:2), an angel that rebelled against God (Isa. 14:12-15; Eze. 28:11-19). Satan cannot create anything on his own (Ex. 8:12-15) but perverts God's creation (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan was cast with his angelic cohorts to the earth (Lk.10:18; Rev.12:7-9), where he now reigns (Lk.4:4-6; Jn. 14:30) all that is not given in faith to God. Jesus accomplished on the cross a decisive victory over Satan (Jn. 12:31,32; Col.2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8), who will be ultimately defeated at the end of time (Rev. 20:10).

God's Kingdom
We believe that God's kingdom is eternal (Ps. 45:7; 145:13; Dan. 4:31). The ministry of Jesus Christ on earth was to bring the kingdom of God on earth and, thus, to overthrow the power of Satan (Mt.12:22-29). The kingdom is evident in the forgiveness of sins, the healing of the sick, in casting out demons, and in ministry to the poor (Mt.4:23; 12:28; 14:14-21). Jesus gave instructions to His followers to do the same (Lk. 9:1-6; 10:1-20; Mt.25:35-40). God's kingdom is present now in the midst of those who believe in Jesus (Lk.17:21), but it will come in all its power and fullness when Jesus returns to the earth (Mt. 16:27; Act 1:11).

Salvation
We believe that humanity is saved by turning to God through repentance of sin (Ac.3:19-20) and by faith in the atoning death of Jesus on the cross (1 Cor.1:23-24; 1 Jn. 1:9; 2:2). A person is righteous or innocent before God through faith in the risen Jesus Christ (Act. 13:38-39; Rom.3:22; Tit.3:4-5). It is God's grace alone that saves us (Eph.2:8-9). Rebirth as a child of God happens by faith through the influence of God's word (1 Pet.1:23) and Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5). Our righteousness or good works cannot save us (Rom.3:20). God is the sole author of our salvation (Jn.6:44).

Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is God's ongoing work in a believer, the goal of which is to free us from the effects of sin and to cause us to grow into the image of Christ (Rom.6:18-22; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:5-10). A follower of Jesus is called to live according to the example and commands of Jesus (1 Jn. 2:3-6). God's grace causes a believer to grow in order to reject that way of life which is contrary to the will of God (Tit. 2:11-13). A believer in Jesus will never in this life be completely free from the effects of sin and will be finally transformed at the return of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:42-44; 1 Jn. 1:8).

To be filled with the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in all those who believe in Jesus (Jn.7:38-39; Rom. 8:9-10). God desires to fill believers continuously with His Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). This indwelling is meant to empower us for service and evangelism (Act. 2:4-41; 6:2-3). Attending the filling by the Holy Spirit is usually capacity to function in one or more spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-10, 28) and courage to witness about Jesus (Act. 4:31; 9:17, 20).

Church
We believe that there is only one worldwide church to which all those who believe in Jesus belong (Jn.17:20-21; Eph.4:3-6) independent of denominational affiliation. The church is by nature a prophetic (Ac.2:16-41) community, which is led by the Holy Spirit (Act.13:2; 15:22-32), whose mission is to preach the gospel, baptize, disciple, and nourish believers, encouraging all the church to go on to full maturity in Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:13). The church reveals God's wisdom to the world (Eph. 3:10). The ministry of the church is effected primarily through the local church (Act. 13:19; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1-3). As God's family (Eph. 2:19), the church reveals God's kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19), into which all of humanity is invited (Mt. 13:47; Gal. 3:28).

Baptism
We believe that a believer is to receive baptism after faith is conceived and he or she has become a disciple of Jesus (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk.16:16; Act.2:38). Jesus' death, burial and resurrection are a model for baptism: death to sin through faith (Rom. 6:6, 10-14) and burial in the depths of the baptism waters as well as resurrection from them (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). We want to work for the unity of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 1:12-17) and so we allow freedom of conscience on this issue for those who wish to join the Vineyard.

Communion
We believe that the eucharist is an act intended for believers in Jesus Christ (Lk. 22:19; 1 Cor. 10:21; 11:27-32). This meal serves as a reminder of Jesus's death and brings real unity between Him and His people (1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-25). The eucharist declares the coming of the kingdom (Matt.26:29). For this reason we declare our eucharist table open to believers of all churches (1 Cor. 10:17).

End times
We believe that Jesus will return to earth at the end of time (1 Thess. 4:14-17; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-21). Both the dead and the living are judged according to their deeds (2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15). Those who believe in Jesus already enjoy eternal life (Jn. 5:24). Those who have not believed in Jesus will receive the judgment (Jn. 3:18; Rev. 21:8) together with Satan and his angels of eternal damnation (Matt. 25:41; Jude 6). Finally, God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1).