Our Mission is God’s mission for the church (1 Timothy 3:15)
1. to be the assembly of God
3. to be the pillar and foundation of the truth
1. The Church is a family
We show familial love to each other (1 Timothy 5:1-2) openly sharing problems & hardships, bearing the burdens of others, working hard to reconcile when conflicts arise, always seeking the best for others. We should prioritize one anot
her (Galatians 6:10) Do good to all people and especially to those who belong to the family of faith, Is there a need? Is someone struggling physically, emotionally, financially? Let us take on that burden. Because the church is God’s family, we gain closer fellowship by knowing God more (1 John 1:3) The apostles taught of the experience with Christ so that others might have fellowship with God and them. If we are growing in Christ, knowing Him and His Word more, we will naturally grow in fellowship with one another.
2. The Church functions as the assembly of the living God. (1Timothy 3:14-15)
Believers are called together for worshipping and obeying the living God. Being the assembly of the living God reminds us that God commands us to meet with the church in order to stimulate and encourage each other:
In diverse ministries. (Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:9-16)
Of our calling to be holy (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, 1 Peter 1:16)
Of our need to constantly avail ourselves to corporate worship
(Hebrews 10:24-25)
3. The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth
The church, formed by the gospel, is for the gospel, and by her life and witness, she commends the gospel and is the primary apologetic for the gospel before the world. The church puts the gospel on display in regard to three gospel truths:
1. Justification: the church is the community of the justified. We relate to one another as brothers and sisters without fear or favor because Christ is our justification. Those relationships display that to a watching world.
2. Forgiveness: as the forgiven, we become the forgivers. People understand the doctrine more when they see it displayed in real time, up close and personal, in our lives.
3. Reconciliation: It is in being reconciled to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit, that we become a reconciled community. We are no longer strangers to God and therefore are no longer strangers to one another. When people witness our reconciliation, they see a tangible expression of what God has done for sinners in Christ. When the church puts the gospel on display in this way, we draw people’s attention to the gospel. In Jesus, truth was embodied. He did not merely speak the truth; He was the truth. He did not come to simply tell the world about God; He came as God. So, it is with His people. We speak the truth of the gospel with our lips. We show the glory of the gospel by the manner in which we live life-on-life together on mission as His church. How we fulfill our God given mission:
1. Corporate worship (Hebrews 10:25, 1 John 1:7)
2. Devotion to the apostles teaching, fellowship, Lords supper, and prayer. Discipleship: Teaching, and encouraging personal devotion to Gods Word, as we all have received the Teacher. (John 14:16, 16:13, 1 John 2:27, 1 Peter 2:9)
4. Church Discipline (Matthew 18:15-20, Galatians 6:1-5, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13)
What we value: Gospel centered way of life. What is the gospel? The gospel is the “good news” of Jesus Christ. To understand the good news of Jesus Christ, a person must first understand the bad news of humanity as well as the righteousness and justice of God.
1) Bad news of humanity. i) Humanity is born separated from God because of original sin. (Genesis 2, 3) (Psalm 51:5) (Romans 5:12)
ii) Being a sinner is far worse than “making mistakes”. We are by nature unreceptive and even hostile toward Holy God. (1 Corinthians 2:14) (Romans 8:7)
iii) By nature, we are born “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3) (John 8:44)
iv) Humanity is not capable of doing good or pleasing God by our own power. There is only evil and corruption in the heart of fallen man. (Genesis 6:5) (Genesis 8:21) (Jeremiah 17:9) (Romans 3:10-18).
2) The problem: Gods righteousness and justice. i) God cannot just simply overlook sin by justifying the wicked. (Proverbs 17:15) (Deuteronomy 32:4) (Numbers 14:18)
ii) God is angry with the wicked. (Psalm 7:11)
3) The gospel (GOOD NEWS) God so loved humanity that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes will not perish but receive eternal life. (John 3:16)
i) Gods plan of salvation through Jesus Christ is first and foremost for His glory, and this plan was from before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) (Psalm 79:9) (Ephesians 1:6)
ii) Gods plan of salvation through Jesus Christ is 100% from Triune God. (Ephesians 1:3-4, 11-12)
iii) God chooses a people to be saved from Himself, by Himself, and for Himself. iv) Jesus is second Person of the Triune God, Whom has been with the Father from the beginning along with Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26) (John 1:1,14)
v) Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% Man, often referred to as hypostatic union. (John 1:1, 14) (Philippians 2:6-7)
vi) Jesus was conceived of Holy Spirit, born of a woman, and born under the law in order to redeem those who were under the curse of the law. (Mathew 1:20-21) (Galatians 4:4)
vii) Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, fulfilling every jot ant tittle of the law. Jesus submitted Himself in humble obedience to His Father, and only done as the Father commanded. (John 5:18-20) (John 8:28) (Mathew 5:17)
viii) Living a perfect life of righteousness as the Son of Man, Jesus became sin on the cross. He drank down the full cup of His Fathers wrath against sin so that justice remains intact and Jesus becomes the Justifier for those who believe. (2 Corinthian 5:21) (Isaiah 53:6,10) (Romans 3:23-26)
ix) Salvation is not earned or worked for (so no one can boast) but received by believing the works of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Galatians 2:8-10) (Galatians 2:16) (Galatians 3:2)
x) Justice now satisfied and His imputed righteousness given to the believer; the Christian is also given a brand-new life in Christ. This life is “eternal life” and is given through Holy Spirit in regeneration. A Christian is a new creature because we have been born of God. (John 3:16) (1John 5:20) (Colossians 1:27) (Galatians 2:20) (2 Corinthians 5:17)
xi) This new life in Christ rises us to new plains of living by grace through faith. (Titus 2:11-12)
xii) The Christian now has two natures (human) and (divine) (Galatians 5:17) (2 Peter 1:4)
xiii) No longer only human and not yet fully redeemed, we battle sin. (1 Corinthians 3:3) (1 John 1:8)
xiv) By grace, we fight the good fight of faith and mortify our flesh. (Romans 8:13) (1 Peter 2:11) (1 Corinthians 9:27)
xv) The gospel is the “power of God” to salvation and we believe “it is finished”, it is ongoing, and it is not yet complete. (justification, sanctification, glorification.) (Romans 1:16-17) (Romans 8:28-30)
xvi) We are called to believe God and wait on the Lord for our final day of redemption, where we will receive a new body and be as our precious Lord is in purity and holiness, trusting that God will finish what He started in us. Forgiving, sanctifying and one day perfecting our salvation. (1 John 2:1) (1 John 2:6) (1 Corinthian 15:53) (1 John 3:2)
Church Ordinances
1) Profession of Faith (Romans 10:9) and Believer’s Baptism (Colossians 2:11-12, Romans 6:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4-6, Acts 2:41)
2) Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
True Vine practices close communion meaning that all who are spiritually baptized into the universal body of Christ and have a like-minded faith are welcomed to participate. (NOTE: Those who are under discipline or living in a lifestyle of unrepentant sin known to True Vine will not be able to participate.)
