|
At Vision of Glory we believe the following:
Statement of Authority
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings; the infallible authority of God speaking to His church and as such is the basis for all our teachings. II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21; John 17:17; Matt. 5:17-18; II Sam. 22:31; Prov. 30:5-6; Ps. 12:6; Ps. 119:105, Ps. 119:160
The central message of the Bible is the gospel of Jesus Christ declaring the only way of salvation for all of humankind. John 3:16; John 5:39; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10
The whole of Scripture is vitally important to and directly supportive of this central message of the Bible. II Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12-13; John 10:35; John 8:31-32
Confession of Faith
This Congregation confesses the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This Congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. We teach and believe the following:
a. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
b. The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
c. The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. This Congregation accepts them as a whole and in all their parts as the divinely inspired, revealed, and inerrant Word of God and submits to this as the only infallible authority in all matters of faith and life. They record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
As brief and true statements of the doctrine of the Word of God, this Congregation accepts and confesses the following symbols, subscription to which shall be required of all its 3 members:
(1) the ancient ecumenical creeds: the Apostolic, the Nicene, and Athanasian;
(2) the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and
(3) Luther's Small Catechism.
As further elaboration of and in accord with these Lutheran Symbols, this Congregation also receives the other documents in the Book of Concord of 1580: the Apology, Luther's Large Catechism, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, and the Formula of Concord and recognizes them as normative for its theology.
This Congregation accepts without reservation the Symbolical books of the evangelical Church, not insofar as, but because they are the presentation and explanation of the pure doctrine of the Word of God and a summary of the faith of the evangelical Lutheran Church.
This Congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
Statement of Purpose
To bring the transforming power of the good news in Jesus Christ to a sick and dying world by the leading of the Spirit of God.
To equip the body of Christ at Vision of Glory, through the preaching of the Word of God, by the administering of the Word through the Sacraments, and through teaching the Word of God, so the Lordship of Jesus will be obvious in the everyday lives of each one. Col. 2:6-7; Rom. 15:4
II Tim. 3:16-17; Rom. 10:14; Matt. 28:19; Luke 22:19-20
To emphasize the personal relationship between Jesus and the believer (John 15:13-15; John 14:20; John 14:23), the indwelling, leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16; John 16:13-15), and the power of personal and intercessory prayer. James 5:16; Col. 4:2; John 15:7; Ezekiel 22:30
To gather with other believers to worship and praise the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in truth and in the freedom of the Spirit. John 4:23-24; II Cor. 3:17; Ps. 150
To be vigilant in maintaining scriptural truth and sound teaching within the congregation and to be a visible light. III John 1:4; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1; I Tim. 4:6; Rom. 6:17; II Tim. 4:2; II John 1:9-10; I Cor. 15:58
To exercise the power and authority given by the Living God to believers against the evil principalities and powers of this world. Matt. 16:18
God brings us all together as a family at Vision of Glory to encourage and affirm one another in our faith. Col. 3:12-17; Heb. 10:25; I Thess. 5:12-18
Statement of Mission
To bring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the lost, as the Holy Spirit of God leads, through personal and congregational outreach to the community and through world mission. Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:42; Mark 16:15-18; II Cor. 2:14-16; II Cor. 5:20
To be a caring, supportive, praying community in the hands of the Lord. Acts 2:42; Gal. 6:10; Matt. 25:40; Col. 1:9-12
Statement on the Family
God has ordained marriage between one man and one woman until parted by death. He blesses this intimate union. Gen. 2:21-24
Children, from the moment of conception, are a gift of God and are to be nurtured within the family circle. Jer. 1:5; Ps. 127:5; Ps. 139:13-15
The primary responsibility for teaching children the Word of God belongs to the parents. The church assists the parents with this important task. Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:69; Deut. 4:9; Deut. 11:18-21
Statement on Social Concerns
Sexual Relationships:
* outside of marriage are hurtful and destructive and are forbidden by the Word of God.
Matt. 15:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21; I Cor. 6:15-18; I Cor. 3:16; Exodus 20:14
* between people of the same sex are against the natural order and are forbidden by the
Word of God. Rom. 1:4-7; Gal. 5:19-21; Lev. 18:22; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Lev. 20:13
Sanctity of life:
* The unborn child is a human being, possessing the right of life. I Cor. 3:16
* All human life is protected from the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia by
the commandment of God not to murder. Exodus 20:13; Luke 18:20
* Emotional and physical abuse of children or adults is contrary to Scripture. I Cor. 10:23-
24; Col. 3:19-21; Eph. 6:4
* The use of pornography for entertainment or psychological treatment is destructive and
contrary to the Creator's purpose for human sexuality. I Cor. 15:33; Phil. 4:8; Mark
9:42-43; I Tim. 4:12
Our fellowship recognizes that Christians are vulnerable to all the struggles common to humanity and provides, under the guidance of God's Word and His Holy Spirit, a counseling ministry, lay and professional, to bring healing to hurting people. Gal. 6:1-2
It is our desire to extend the grace, mercy and love of God in our Lord Jesus Christ to all people. Eph. 4:32; Gal. 6:10; Luke 1:77-79
|
