Our Theological
Foundation
The theological ground work has been undertaken by Derek Morphew and we use it with his permission. Derek J. Morphew, The Kingdom Story: Theology, Catechism, Discipleship (Cape Town, South Africa: Vineyard International Publishing, 2025), 9-11. vineyardinstitute.academy
The Sovereign Reign
The kingdom of God, the sovereign rule of the one living God, creator of all things. The kingdom of God is revealed in the story of Israel and the story of Jesus. The story of Israel finds its fulfilment in the story of Jesus. It progresses through three key revelations of the kingdom, the Exodus, the Davidic monarchy and the prophets.
Yahweh defeated the gods and powers of Egypt, liberating His people into covenant as a royal and priestly nation.
Yahweh came to live among them on His throne in the temple, ruling through David and Solomon, causing Israel to experience shalom.
Hope of Yahweh returning to reign, presence in a new temple, transformation of disobedient heart, and a new humanity raised from the dead.
Created for Relationship
We affirm that God created humanity, male and female, equally in His image, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. God created the union of man and woman in marriage as the basis of the human family.
The Calling of Israel
That when humanity failed in this calling, and became corrupted by sin, God raised up His people Israel, as His vehicle to reach all the nations of the earth.
Mosaic Revelation
We learn through the Mosaic revelation of the kingdom that Yahweh defeated the gods and powers of Egypt, liberating His people, entering into covenant with them as His covenant community, and making them a royal and priestly nation.
Davidic Revelation
That through the Davidic revelation of the kingdom Yahweh liberated Israel from oppression, came to live among them on His throne, in the temple, and ruled them through anointing and adopting David and Solomon, causing Israel to experience shalom.
Prophetic Revelation
That through the prophetic revelation of the kingdom Israel's failure in her calling, through idolatry, leading to exile, was followed by the hope of Yahweh returning to reign, through his presence in a new temple, the transformation of Israel's disobedient heart, and a new humanity raised from the dead at the end of the age.
The Birth of Jesus
That the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was heralded by a fresh outpouring of the spirit of prophecy at the dawn of the coming age. As the divine son of God, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
The Ministry of Jesus
We believe in the ministry of Jesus, who anointed by the Holy Spirit (the Christ/King), came announcing, demonstrating and teaching the kingdom of God as the fulfilment of Israel's hope, inaugurating already the liberation of humanity from sickness, Satan, sin, poverty and injustice, religious condemnation and exclusion, and death.
The Saving Death
In the saving death of Jesus the Christ as the Day of Judgment for humanity occurring already, bringing justification and forgiveness of sins.
The Resurrection
In the resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the dead, as the firstfruits of the general resurrection, bringing eternal life or new birth and the promise of victory over the power of sin for those who receive it by faith.
The Ascension
In the ascension of Jesus the Christ, who sat down at the right hand of God, above every power and name, and from where He poured out His prophetic anointing on His disciples, making them His successors.
The Blessed Return
In the return of Jesus the Christ, at the end of the age, when He will judge the living and the dead, some to eternal life and some to eternal loss, and when God will renew and restore all things.
The Holy Spirit
In the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin, drawing humanity to Christ, imparts the forgiveness of sins won on the cross, communicates the new life of the resurrection, is poured out on the church with Pentecostal power, releasing charismatic gifts, transforms the believer, and will finally affect the resurrection of the body.
Repentance, Faith & Baptism
That the saving power of Christ can only be received through repentance and faith, is validly confessed through baptism, and such faith is the only basis upon which disciples of Christ become members of His body, the church.
One Universal Church
In one universal church that includes all those who truly believe in Christ, transcending Jew and Gentile, male and female, and all social, racial and class boundaries. All Christian denominations, traditions, organizations and networks are merely part of this one universal church.
The Commission
That the church is commissioned by Christ to announce and demonstrate the kingdom of God as He did, under His authority, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to all nations until the end of the age.
This kingdom story arises out of the definition of the gospel we preach. These points begin with the most basic and then build progressively.
The good news is that:
God Has Come
God has come, as He promised he would.
To Renew All Things
God has come, to renew all things, including a renewed humanity in his image and a renewed creation.
To Reign
To renew all things, God has come to reign, to let his kingdom come.
Through Anointing Jesus
To renew all things, God has come, to reign, through anointing Jesus as the Christ/King.
Through His Life, Death, Resurrection & Ascension
God has come, to reign, through the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus the Christ/King.
To Liberate Humanity
God has come through the ministry and message of Jesus, to confront the power of Satan and liberate humanity from sin, sickness, demons, religious oppression, death and injustice/poverty.
Day of Judgment in Advance
God has come through the death of Jesus as the Day of Judgment occurring in advance, to liberate humanity from the penalty of sin.
Triumph & New Life
God has come through the resurrection of Jesus the Christ/King, to triumph over the powers of darkness and to give new life (rebirth) or the life of the coming ages (eternal life) to humanity.
Same Anointing Poured Out
God has come, through the ascension of Jesus the Christ/King, to pour out on His disciples the same anointing of the Spirit that was on Him, empowering them to announce and demonstrate the kingdom to all nations and peoples, to the ends of the earth and to the end of the age.
Final Judgment & New Creation
God will come, at the end of the age, to execute final judgment, raise the dead in Christ to eternal life and create a new heaven and a new earth.
Downpayment & Firstfruits
Our firm conviction and hope concerning how God will come at the end of the age is based on how God has come in Jesus and through Pentecost, in realization of the coming age, as downpayment, and firstfruits.
Repent, Believe & Participate
Those who hear the good news must repent and believe in order to receive the blessings of the kingdom and to participate in the proclamation and demonstration of the kingdom to all nations and peoples
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I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places