Topic
|
Free Methodist
Church 2
|
Wesleyan Church 3
|
Church of the
Nazarene 4
|
Preamble |
A/100. In order that we
may wisely preserve and
pass on to posterity the
heritage of doctrine and
principles of Christian
living transmitted to us
as evangelicals in the
Arminian-Wesleyan
tradition, insure church
order by sound
principles and
ecclesiastical polity,
and prepare the way for
evangelization of the
world and the more
effective cooperation
with other branches of
the church of Christ in
the advancement of
Christ's kingdom, we,
the ministers and lay
members of the Free
Methodist Church, in
accordance with
constitutional
procedure, do hereby
ordain, establish, and
set forth the following
as the Constitution of
the Free Methodist
Church. |
|
In order that we may
preserve our God-given
heritage, the faith once
delivered to the saints,
especially the doctrine
and experience of entire
sanctification as a
second work of grace,
and also that we may
cooperate effectually
with other branches of
the Church of Jesus
Christ in advancing
God’s kingdom, we, the
ministers and lay
members of the Church of
the Nazarene, in
accordance with the
principles of
constitutional
legislation established
among us, do hereby
ordain, adopt, and set
forth as the fundamental
law or Constitution of
the Church of the
Nazarene the Articles of
Faith, the General
Rules, and the Articles
of Organization and
Government here
following, to wit: |
God |
The Trinity |
I. The Holy
Trinity
A/101. There is but
one living and true God,
the maker and preserver
of all things. And in
the unity of this
Godhead there are three
persons: the Father, the
Son, and the Holy
Spirit. These three are
one in eternity, deity,
and purpose;
everlasting, of infinite
power, wisdom, and
goodness.
Genesis 1:1-2; Exodus
3:13-15; Deuteronomy 6:4
Matthew 28:19; John
1:1-3; 5:19-23; 8:58;
14:9-11; 15:26;
16:13-15; 2 Corinthians
13:14 |
1.
Faith in the Holy
Trinity
210.
We believe in the one
living and true God,
both holy and loving,
eternal, unlimited in
power, wisdom and
goodness, the Creator
and Preserver of all
things. Within this
unity there are three
persons of one essential
nature, power and
eternity — the Father,
the Son and the Holy
Spirit.
Gen.
1:1; 17:1; Ex. 3:13-15;
33:20; Deut. 6:4; Ps.
90:2; Isa. 40:28-29;
Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19;
John 1:1-2; 4:24; 16:13;
17:3; Acts 5:3-4;
17:24-25; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6;
Eph. 2:18; Phil. 2:6;
Col. 1:16-17; 1 Tim.
1:17; Heb. 1:8; 1 John
5:20. |
I.
The Triune God
1. We believe in one
eternally existent,
infinite God, Sovereign
of the universe; that He
only is God, creative
and administrative, holy
in nature, attributes,
and purpose; that He, as
God, is Triune in
essential being,
revealed as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1; Leviticus
19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-5;
Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7;
40:18-31; Matthew
3:16-17; 28:19-20; John
14:6-27; 1 Corinthians
8:6; 2 Corinthians
13:14; Galatians 4:4-6;
Ephesians 2:13-18)1 |
The Father |
|
2.
The Father
212.
We believe the Father is
the Source of all that
exists, whether of
matter or spirit. With
the Son and the Holy
Spirit, He made man,
male and female, in His
image. By intention He
relates to people as
Father, thereby forever
declaring His goodwill
toward them. In love, He
both seeks and receives
penitent sinners.
Ps.
68:5; Isa. 64:8; Matt.
7:11; John 3:17; Rom.
8:15; 1 Peter 1:17. |
|
Jesus Christ |
II. The
Son
His
Incarnation
A/103. God
was himself in
Jesus Christ to
reconcile people
to God.
Conceived by the
Holy Spirit,
born of the
Virgin Mary, He
joined together
the deity of God
and the humanity
of humankind.
Jesus of
Nazareth was God
in flesh, truly
God and truly
human. He came
to save us. For
us the Son of
God suffered,
was crucified,
dead and buried.
He poured out
His life as a
blameless
sacrifice for
our sin and
transgressions.
We gratefully
acknowledge that
He is our
Savior, the one
perfect mediator
between God and
us.
Matthew 1:21;
20:28; 26:27-28;
Luke 1:35;
19:10; John 1:1,
10, 14;; 2
Corinthians
5:18-19;
Philippians
2:5-8; Hebrews
2:17; 9:14-15
His
Resurrection and
Exaltation
A/104. Jesus
Christ is risen
victorious from
the dead. His
resurrected body
became more
glorious, not
hindered by
ordinary human
limitations.
Thus He ascended
into heaven.
There He sits as
our exalted Lord
at the right
hand of God the
Father, where He
intercedes for
us until all His
enemies shall be
brought into
complete
subjection. He
will return to
judge all
people. Every
knee will bow
and every tongue
confess Jesus
Christ is Lord,
to the glory of
God the Father.
Matthew
25:31-32; Luke
24:1-7; 24:39;
John 20:19; Acts
1:9-11; 2:24;
Romans 8:33-34;
2 Corinthians
5:10;
Philippians
2:9-11; Hebrews
1:1-4
|
3.
The Son of God
214.
We believe in Jesus
Christ, the only
begotten Son of God. He
was conceived by the
Holy Spirit and born of
the Virgin Mary, truly
God and truly man. He
died on the cross and
was buried, to be a
sacrifice both for
original sin and for all
human transgressions,
and to reconcile us to
God. Christ rose bodily
from the dead, and
ascended into heaven,
and there intercedes for
us at the Father’s right
hand until He returns to
judge all humanity at
the last day.
Ps.
16:8-10; Matt. 1:21, 23;
11:27; 16:28; 27:62-66;
28:5-9, 1617; Mark
10:45; 15; 16:6-7; Luke
1:27, 31, 35; 24:4-8,
23; John 1:1, 14, 18;
3:16-17; 20:26-29; 21;
Acts 1:2-3; 2:24-31;
4:12; 10:40; Rom. 5:10,
18; 8:34; 14:9; 1 Cor.
15:3-8, 14; 2 Cor.
5:18-19; Gal. 1:4; 2:20;
4:4-5; Eph. 5:2; 1 Tim.
1:15; Heb 2:17; 7:27;
9:14, 28; 10:12; 13:20;
1 Peter 2:24; 1 John
2:2; 4:14. |
II.
Jesus Christ
2. We believe in
Jesus Christ, the Second
Person of the Triune
Godhead; that He was
eternally one with the
Father; that He became
incarnate by the Holy
Spirit and was born of
the Virgin Mary, so that
two whole and perfect
natures, that is to say
the Godhead and manhood,
are thus united in one
Person very God and very
man, the God-man.
We believe that Jesus
Christ died for our
sins, and that He truly
arose from the dead and
took again His body,
together with all things
appertaining to the
perfection of man’s
nature, wherewith He
ascended into heaven and
is there engaged in
intercession for us.
(Matthew 1:20-25;
16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35;
John 1:1-18; Acts
2:22-36; Romans 8:3,
32-34; Galatians 4:4-5;
Philippians 2:5-11;
Colossians 1:12-22; 1
Timothy 6:14-16; Hebrews
1:1-5; 7:22-28; 9:24-28;
1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3, 15) |
Holy Spirit |
III. The
Holy Spirit
His Person
A/105. The
Holy Spirit is
the third person
of the Trinity.
Proceeding from
the Father and
the Son, He is
one with them,
the eternal
Godhead; equal
in deity,
majesty, and
power. He is God
effective in
Creation, in
life, and in the
church. The
Incarnation and
ministry of
Jesus Christ
were
accomplished by
the Holy Spirit.
He continues to
reveal,
interpret, and
glorify the Son.
Matthew
28:19; John
4:24; 14:16-17,
26; 15:26;
16:13-15
His Work in
Salvation
A/106. The
Holy Spirit is
the
administrator of
the salvation
planned by the
Father and
provided by the
Son's death,
Resurrection,
and Ascension.
He is the
effective agent
in our
conviction,
regeneration,
sanctification,
and
glorification.
He is our Lord's
ever-present
self,
indwelling,
assuring, and
enabling the
believer.
John 16:7-8;
Acts 15:8-9;
Romans 8:9,
14-16; 1
Corinthians
3:16; 2
Corinthians
3:17-18;
Galatians 4:6
His Relation to
the Church
A/107. The
Holy Spirit is
poured out upon
the church by
the Father and
the Son. He is
the church's
life and
witnessing
power. He
bestows the love
of God and makes
real the
lordship of
Jesus Christ in
the believer so
that both His
gifts of words
and service may
achieve the
common good, and
build and
increase the
church. In
relation to the
world He is the
Spirit of truth,
and His
instrument is
the Word of God.
Acts 5:3-4;
Romans 8:14; 1
Corinthians
12:4-7; 2 Peter
1:21
|
4.
The Holy Spirit
216.
We believe in the Holy
Spirit who proceeds from
the Father and the Son,
and is of the same
essential nature,
majesty, and glory, as
the Father and the Son,
truly and eternally God.
He is the Administrator
of grace to all, and is
particularly the
effective Agent in
conviction for sin, in
regeneration, in
sanctification, and in
glorification. He is
ever present, assuring,
preserving, guiding, and
enabling the believer.
Job
33:4; Matt. 28:19; John
4:24; 14:16-17; 15:26;
16:13-15; Acts 5:3-4;
Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 3:17;
Gal. 4:6. |
III. The Holy Spirit
3. We believe in the
Holy Spirit, the Third
Person of the Triune
Godhead, that He is ever
present and efficiently
active in and with the
Church of Christ,
convincing the world of
sin, regenerating those
who repent and believe,
sanctifying believers,
and guiding into all
truth as it is in Jesus.
(John 7:39; 14:15-18,
26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33;
15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27;
Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6;
Ephesians 3:14-21; 1
Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2
Thessalonians 2:13; 1
Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:24;
4:13) |
The Holy Scriptures |
Holy Scriptures |
IV.
Authority
A/108. The
Bible is God's
written Word,
uniquely
inspired by the
Holy Spirit. It
bears unerring
witness to Jesus
Christ, the
living Word. As
attested by the
early church and
subsequent
councils, it is
the trustworthy
record of God's
revelation,
completely
truthful in all
it affirms. It
has been
faithfully
preserved and
proves itself
true in human
experience.
The
Scriptures have
come to us
through human
authors who
wrote, as God
moved them, in
the languages
and literary
forms of their
times. God
continues, by
the illumination
of the Holy
Spirit, to speak
through this
Word to each
generation and
culture.
The Bible has
authority over
all human life.
It teaches the
truth about God,
His creation,
His people, His
one and only
Son, and the
destiny of
humankind. It
also teaches the
way of salvation
and the life of
faith. Whatever
is not found in
the Bible nor
can be proved by
it is not to be
required as an
article of
belief or as
necessary to
salvation.
Deuteronomy
4:2; 28:9; Psalm
19:7-11; John
14:26; 17:17;
Romans 15:4; 2
Timothy 3:14-17;
Hebrews 4:12;
James 1:21
V.
Authority of the
Old Testament
A/109. The
Old Testament is
not contrary to
the New. Both
Testaments bear
witness to God's
salvation in
Christ; both
speak of God's
will for His
people. The
ancient laws for
ceremonies and
rites, and the
civil precepts
for the nation
Israel are not
necessarily
binding on
Christians
today. But, on
the example of
Jesus we are
obligated to
obey the moral
commandments of
the Old
Testament.
The books of
the Old
Testament are:
Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus,
Numbers,
Deuteronomy,
Joshua, Judges,
Ruth, 1 Samuel,
2 Samuel, 1
Kings, 2 Kings,
1 Chronicles, 2
Chronicles,
Ezra, Nehemiah,
Esther, Job,
Psalms,
Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes,
The Song of
Solomon, Isaiah,
Jeremiah,
Lamentations,
Ezekiel, Daniel,
Hosea, Joel,
Amos, Obadiah,
Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah,
Haggai,
Zechariah,
Malachi.
Matthew
5:17-18; Luke
10:25-28; John
5:39, 46-47;
Acts 10:43;
Galatians
5:3-41; Peter
1:10-12
VI. New
Testament
A/110. The
New Testament
fulfills and
interprets the
Old Testament.
It is the record
of the
revelation of
God in Jesus
Christ and the
Holy Spirit. It
is God's final
word regarding
humankind, sin,
and salvation,
the world and
its destiny.
The books of
the New
Testament are:
Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John,
Acts, Romans, 1
Corinthians, 2
Corinthians,
Galatians,
Ephesians,
Philippians,
Colossians, 1
Thessalonians, 2
Thessalonians, 1
Timothy, 2
Timothy, Titus,
Philemon,
Hebrews, James,
1 Peter, 2
Peter, 1 John, 2
John, 3 John,
Jude,
Revelation.
Matthew
24:35; Mark
8:38; John
14:24; Hebrews
2:1-4; 2 Peter
1:16-21; 1 John
2:2-6;
Revelation 21:5;
22:19
|
5.
The Sufficiency and Full
Authority of the Holy
Scriptures for Salvation
218.
We believe that the
books of the Old and New
Testaments constitute
the Holy Scriptures.
They are the inspired
and infallibly written
Word of God, fully
inerrant in their
original manuscripts and
superior to all human
authority, and have been
transmitted to the
present without
corruption of any
essential doctrine. We
believe that they
contain all things
necessary to salvation;
so that whatever is not
read therein, nor may be
proved thereby, is not
to be required of any
man or woman that it
should be believed as an
article of faith, or be
thought requisite or
necessary to salvation.
Both in the Old and New
Testaments life is
offered ultimately
through Christ, who is
the only Mediator
between God and
humanity. The New
Testament teaches
Christians how to
fulfill the moral
principles of the Old
Testament, calling for
loving obedience to God
made possible by the
indwelling presence of
His Holy Spirit.
The canonical books of
the Old Testament are:
Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy, Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel,
2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2
Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2
Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, Esther, Job,
Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, The Song
of Solomon, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Lamentations,
Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah and
Malachi.
The canonical books of
the New Testament are:
Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, Acts, Romans, 1
Corinthians, 2
Corinthians, Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1
Thessalonians, 2
Thessalonians, 1
Timothy, 2 Timothy,
Titus, Philemon,
Hebrews, James, 1 Peter,
2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John,
3 John, Jude and
Revelation.
Ps.
19:7; Matt. 5:17-19;
22:37-40; Luke 24:27,
44; John 1:45; 5:46;
17:17; Acts 17:2, 11;
Rom. 1:2; 15:4, 8;
16:26; 2 Cor. 1:20; Gal.
1:8; Eph. 2:15-16; 1
Tim. 2:5; 2 Tim.
3:15-17; Heb. 4:12;
10:1; 11:39; James 1:21;
1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter
1:19-21; 1 John 2:3-7;
Rev. 22:18-19. |
IV.
The Holy Scriptures
4. We believe in the
plenary inspiration of
the Holy Scriptures, by
which we understand the
66 books of the Old and
New Testaments, given by
divine inspiration,
inerrantly revealing the
will of God concerning
us in all things
necessary to our
salvation, so that
whatever is not
contained therein is not
to be enjoined as an
article of faith.
(Luke 24:44-47; John
10:35; 1 Corinthians
15:3-4; 2 Timothy
3:15-17; 1 Peter
1:10-12; 2 Peter
1:20-21) |
Mankind |
Original Sin Free
Will & Mankind |
VII.
Free Moral
Persons
A/111. God
created human
beings in His
own image,
innocent,
morally free and
responsible to
choose between
good and evil,
right and wrong.
By the sin of
Adam, humans as
the offspring of
Adam are
corrupted in
their very
nature so that
from birth they
are inclined to
sin. They are
unable by their
own strength and
work to restore
themselves in
right
relationship
with God and to
merit eternal
salvation. God,
the Omnipotent,
provides all the
resources of the
Trinity to make
it possible for
humans to
respond to His
grace through
faith in Jesus
Christ as Savior
and Lord. By
God's grace and
help people are
enabled to do
good works with
a free will.
Genesis 1:27;
Psalm 51:5;
130:3; Romans
5:17-19;
Ephesians 2:8-10
VIII.
Law of Life and
Love
A/112. God's
law for all
human life,
personal and
social, is
expressed in two
divine commands:
Love the Lord
God with all
your heart, and
love your
neighbor as
yourself. These
commands reveal
what is best for
persons in their
relationship
with God,
others, and
society. They
set forth the
principles of
human duty in
both individual
and social
action. They
recognize God as
the only
Sovereign. All
people as
created by Him
and in His image
have the same
inherent rights
regardless of
sex, race, or
color. All
should therefore
give God
absolute
obedience in
their
individual,
social, and
political acts.
They should
strive to secure
to everyone
respect for
their person,
their rights,
and their
greatest
happiness in the
possession and
exercise of the
right within the
moral law.
Matthew
23:35-40; John
15:17; Galatians
3:28; 1 John
4:19-21
IX. Good
Works
A/113. Good
works are the
fruit of faith
in Jesus Christ,
but works cannot
save us from our
sins nor from
God's judgment.
As expressions
of Christian
faith and love,
our good works
performed with
reverence and
humility are
both acceptable
and pleasing to
God. However,
good works do
not earn God's
grace.
Matthew 5:16;
7:16-20; Romans
3:27-28;
Ephesians 2:10;
2 Timothy 1:8-9;
Titus 3:5
|
6.
God’s Purpose for
Humanity
220.
We believe that the two
great commandments which
require us to love the
Lord our God with all
the heart, and our
neighbors as ourselves,
summarize the divine law
as it is revealed in the
Scriptures. They are the
perfect measure and norm
of human duty, both for
the ordering and
directing of families
and nations, and all
other social bodies, and
for individual acts, by
which we are required to
acknowledge God as our
only Supreme Ruler, and
all persons as created
by Him, equal in all
natural rights.
Therefore all persons
should so order all
their individual, social
and political acts as to
give to God entire and
absolute obedience, and
to assure to all the
enjoyment of every
natural right, as well
as to promote the
fulfillment of each in
the possession and
exercise of such rights.
Lev.
19:18, 34; Deut.
1:16-17; Job 31:13-14;
Jer. 21:12; 22:3; Micah
6:8; Matt. 5:44-48;
7:12; Mark 12:28-31;
Luke 6:27-29, 35; John
13:34-35; Acts 10:34-35;
17:26; Rom. 12:9; 13:1,
7-8, 10; Gal. 5:14;
6:10; Titus 3:1; James
2:8; 1 Peter 2:17; 1
John 2:5; 4:12-13; 2
John 6.
8.
Personal Choice
224.
We believe that
humanity’s creation in
the image of God
included ability to
choose between right and
wrong. Thus individuals
were made morally
responsible for their
choices. But since the
fall of Adam, people are
unable in their own
strength to do the
right. This is due to
original sin, which is
not simply the following
of Adam’s example, but
rather the corruption of
the nature of each
mortal, and is
reproduced naturally in
Adam’s descendants.
Because of it, humans
are very far gone from
original righteousness,
and by nature are
continually inclined to
evil. They cannot of
themselves even call
upon God or exercise
faith for salvation. But
through Jesus Christ the
prevenient grace of God
makes possible what
humans in self effort
cannot do. It is
bestowed freely upon
all, enabling all who
will to turn and be
saved.
Gen.
6:5; 8:21; Deut. 30:19;
Josh. 24:15; 1 Kings
20:40; Ps. 51:5; Isa.
64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mark
7:21-23; Luke 16:15;
John 7:17; Rom. 3:10-12;
5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:22;
Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:5;
Titus 3:5; Heb. 11:6;
Rev. 22:17. |
V.
Sin, Original and
Personal
5. We believe that
sin came into the world
through the disobedience
of our first parents,
and death by sin. We
believe that sin is of
two kinds: original sin
or depravity, and actual
or personal sin.
5.1. We believe that
original sin, or
depravity, is that
corruption of the nature
of all the offspring of
Adam by reason of which
everyone is very far
gone from original
righteousness or the
pure state of our first
parents at the time of
their creation, is
averse to God, is
without spiritual life,
and inclined to evil,
and that continually. We
further believe that
original sin continues
to exist with the new
life of the regenerate,
until the heart is fully
cleansed by the baptism
with the Holy Spirit.
5.2. We believe that
original sin differs
from actual sin in that
it constitutes an
inherited propensity to
actual sin for which no
one is accountable until
its divinely provided
remedy is neglected or
rejected.
5.3. We believe that
actual or personal sin
is a voluntary violation
of a known law of God by
a morally responsible
person. It is therefore
not to be confused with
involuntary and
inescapable
shortcomings,
infirmities, faults,
mistakes, failures, or
other deviations from a
standard of perfect
conduct that are the
residual effects of the
Fall. However, such
innocent effects do not
include attitudes or
responses contrary to
the spirit of Christ,
which may properly be
called sins of the
spirit. We believe that
personal sin is
primarily and
essentially a violation
of the law of love; and
that in relation to
Christ sin may be
defined as unbelief.
(Original sin: Genesis
3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm
51:5; Jeremiah 17:9-10;
Mark 7:21-23; Romans
1:18-25; 5:12-14;
7:1-8:9; 1 Corinthians
3:1-4; Galatians
5:16-25; 1 John 1:7-8)
(Personal sin: Matthew
22:36-40 {with 1 John
3:4}; John 8:34-36;
16:8-9; Romans 3:23;
6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23;
1 John 1:9-2:4; 3:7-10) |
Marriage and the
Family |
|
7.
Marriage and the Family
222.
We believe that every
person is created in the
image of God, that human
sexuality reflects that
image in terms of
intimate love,
communication,
fellowship,
subordination of the
self to the larger
whole, and fulfillment.
God’s Word makes use of
the marriage
relationship as the
supreme metaphor for His
relationship with His
covenant people and for
revealing the truth that
that relationship is of
one God with one people.
Therefore God’s plan for
human sexuality is that
it is to be expressed
only in a monogamous
lifelong relationship
between one man and one
woman within the
framework of marriage.
This is the only
relationship which is
divinely designed for
the birth and rearing of
children and is a
covenant union made in
the sight of God, taking
priority over every
other human
relationship.
Gen.
1:27-28; 2:18, 20,
23-24; Isa. 54:4-8;
62:5b; Jer. 3:14; Ezek.
16:3ff.; Hosea 2; Mal.
2:14; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark
10:9; John 2:1-2, 11; 1
Cor. 9:5; Eph. 5:23-32;
1 Tim. 5:14; Heb. 13:4;
Rev. 19:7-8. |
|
Salvation |
Atonement |
X. Christ's
Sacrifice
A/114. Christ offered
once and for all the one
perfect sacrifice for
the sins of the whole
world. No other
satisfaction for sin is
necessary; none other
can atone.
Luke 24:46-48;; John
3:16; Acts 4:12;; Romans
5:8-11; Galatians 2:16;
3:2-3; Ephesians 1:7-8;
2:13; Hebrews 9:11-14,
25-26; 10:8-14
XI. The New Life
in Christ
A/115. A new life and
a right relationship
with God are made
possible through the
redemptive acts of God
in Jesus Christ. God, by
His Spirit, acts to
impart new life and put
people into a
relationship with
Himself as they repent
and their faith responds
to His grace.
Justification,
regeneration, and
adoption speak
significantly to
entrance into and
continuance in the new
life.
John 1:12-13; 3:3-8;
Acts 13:38-39; Romans
8:15-17; Ephesians
2:8-9; Colossians 3:9-10 |
9.
The Atonement
226.
We believe that Christ’s
offering of himself,
once and for all,
through His sufferings
and meritorious death on
the cross, provides the
perfect redemption and
atonement for the sins
of the whole world, both
original and actual.
There is no other ground
of salvation from sin
but that alone. This
atonement is sufficient
for every individual of
Adam’s race. It is
unconditionally
effective in the
salvation of those
mentally incompetent
from birth, of those
converted persons who
have become mentally
incompetent, and of
children under the age
of accountability. But
it is effective for the
salvation of those who
reach the age of
accountability only when
they repent and exercise
faith in Christ.
Isa.
52:13—53:12; Luke
24:46-47; John 3:16;
Acts 3:18; 4:12; Rom.
3:20, 24-26; 5:8-11, 13,
18-20; 7:7; 8:34; 1 Cor.
6:11; 15:22; Gal. 2:16;
3:2-3; Eph. 1:7; 2:13,
16; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb.
7:23-27; 9:11-15, 24-28;
10:14; 1 John 2:2; 4:10. |
VI.
Atonement
6. We believe that
Jesus Christ, by His
sufferings, by the
shedding of His own
blood, and by His death
on the Cross, made a
full atonement for all
human sin, and that this
Atonement is the only
ground of salvation, and
that it is sufficient
for every individual of
Adam’s race. The
Atonement is graciously
efficacious for the
salvation of the
irresponsible and for
the children in
innocency but is
efficacious for the
salvation of those who
reach the age of
responsibility only when
they repent and believe.
(Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; Mark
10:45; Luke 24:46-48;
John 1:29; 3:14-17; Acts
4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26;
4:17-25; 5:6-21; 1
Corinthians 6:20; 2
Corinthians 5:14-21;
Galatians 1:3-4;
3:13-14; Colossians
1:19-23; 1 Timothy
2:3-6; Titus 2:11-14;
Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14;
13:12; 1 Peter 1:18-21;
2:19-25; 1 John 2:1-2) |
Prevenient Grace |
|
|
VII. Prevenient Grace
7. We believe that
the human race’s
creation in Godlikeness
included ability to
choose between right and
wrong, and that thus
human beings were made
morally responsible;
that through the fall of
Adam they became
depraved so that they
cannot now turn and
prepare themselves by
their own natural
strength and works to
faith and calling upon
God. But we also believe
that the grace of God
through Jesus Christ is
freely bestowed upon all
people, enabling all who
will to turn from sin to
righteousness, believe
on Jesus Christ for
pardon and cleansing
from sin, and follow
good works pleasing and
acceptable in His sight.
We believe that all
persons, though in the
possession of the
experience of
regeneration and entire
sanctification, may fall
from grace and
apostatize and, unless
they repent of their
sins, be hopelessly and
eternally lost.
(Godlikeness and moral
responsibility: Genesis
1:26-27; 2:16-17;
Deuteronomy 28:1-2;
30:19; Joshua 24:15;
Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah
1:8-10; Jeremiah
31:29-30; Ezekiel
18:1-4; Micah 6:8;
Romans 1:19-20; 2:1-16;
14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8
Natural inability:
Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms
14:1-4; 51:5; John 3:6a;
Romans 3:10-12; 5:12-14,
20a; 7:14-25
Free grace and works
of faith: Ezekiel
18:25-26; John 1:12-13;
3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans
5:6-8, 18; 6:15-16, 23;
10:6-8; 11:22; 1
Corinthians 2:9-14;
10:1-12; 2 Corinthians
5:18-19; Galatians 5:6;
Ephesians 2:8-10;
Philippians 2:12-13;
Colossians 1:21-23; 2
Timothy 4:10a; Titus
2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3;
3:12-15; 6:4-6;
10:26-31; James 2:18-22;
2 Peter 1:10-11;
2:20-22) |
Repentance and Faith |
|
10.
Repentance and Faith
228.
We believe that for men
and women to appropriate
what God’s prevenient
grace has made possible,
they must voluntarily
respond in repentance
and faith. The ability
comes from God, but the
act is the individual’s.
Repentance is prompted
by the convicting
ministry of the Holy
Spirit. It involves a
willful change of mind
that renounces sin and
longs for righteousness,
a godly sorrow for and a
confession of past sins,
proper restitution for
wrongdoings, and a
resolution to reform the
life. Repentance is the
precondition for saving
faith, and without it
saving faith is
impossible. Faith, in
turn, is the only
condition of salvation.
It begins in the
agreement of the mind
and the consent of the
will to the truth of the
gospel, but issues in a
complete reliance by the
whole person in the
saving ability of Jesus
Christ and a complete
trusting of oneself to
Him as Savior and Lord.
Saving faith is
expressed in a public
acknowledgment of His
Lordship and an
identification with His
Church.
Mark
1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3;
24:47; John 3:16; 17:20;
20:31; Acts 5:31; 10:43;
11:18; 16:31; 20:21;
26:20; Rom. 1:16; 2:4;
10:8-10, 17; Gal. 3:26;
Eph. 2:8; 4:4-6; Phil.
3:9; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2
Tim. 2:25; Heb. 11:6;
12:2; 1 Peter 1:9; 2
Peter 3:9. |
VIII. Repentance
8. We believe that
repentance, which is a
sincere and thorough
change of the mind in
regard to sin, involving
a sense of personal
guilt and a voluntary
turning away from sin,
is demanded of all who
have by act or purpose
become sinners against
God. The Spirit of God
gives to all who will
repent the gracious help
of penitence of heart
and hope of mercy, that
they may believe unto
pardon and spiritual
life.
(2
Chronicles 7:14; Psalms
32:5-6; 51:1-17; Isaiah
55:6-7; Jeremiah
3:12-14; Ezekiel
18:30-32; 33:14-16; Mark
1:14-15; Luke 3:1-14;
13:1-5; 18:9-14; Acts
2:38; 3:19; 5:31;
17:30-31; 26:16-18;
Romans 2:4; 2
Corinthians 7:8-11; 1
Thessalonians 1:9; 2
Peter 3:9)
|
Justification,
Regeneration, and
Adoption |
Justification
A/116. Justification
is a legal term that
emphasizes that by a new
relationship in Jesus
Christ people are in
fact accounted
righteous, being freed
from both the guilt and
the penalty of their
sins.
Psalm 32:1-2; Acts
10:43; Romans 3:21-26,
28; 4:2-5; 5:8-9; 1
Corinthians 6:11;
Philippians 3:9
Regeneration
A/117. Regeneration
is a biological term
which illustrates that
by a new relationship in
Christ, one does in fact
have a new life and a
new spiritual nature
capable of faith, love,
and obedience to Christ
Jesus as Lord. The
believer is born again
and is a new creation.
The old life is past; a
new life is begun.
Ezekiel 36:26-27;
John 5:24; Romans 6:4; 2
Corinthians 5:17;
Ephesians 4:22-24;
Colossians 3:9-10; Titus
3:4-5; 1 Peter 1:23
Adoption
A/118. Adoption is a
filial term full of
warmth, love, and
acceptance. It denotes
that by a new
relationship in Christ
believers have become
His wanted children
freed from the mastery
of both sin and Satan.
Believers have the
witness of the Spirit
that they are children
of God.
Romans 8:15-17;
Galatians 4:4-7;
Ephesians 1:5-6; 1 John
3:1-3 |
11.
Justification,
Regeneration and
Adoption
230.
We believe that when one
repents of personal sin
and believes on the Lord
Jesus Christ, that at
the same moment that
person is justified,
regenerated, adopted
into the family of God,
and assured of personal
salvation through the
witness of the Holy
Spirit.
We
believe that
justification is the
judicial act of God
whereby a person is
accounted righteous,
granted full pardon of
all sin, delivered from
guilt, completely
released from the
penalty of sins
committed, by the merit
of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ, by faith
alone, not on the basis
of works.
We
believe that
regeneration, or the new
birth, is that work of
the Holy Spirit whereby,
when one truly repents
and believes, one’s
moral nature is given a
distinctively spiritual
life with the capacity
for love and obedience.
This new life is
received by faith in
Jesus Christ, it enables
the pardoned sinner to
serve God with the will
and affections of the
heart, and by it the
regenerate are delivered
from the power of sin
which reigns over all
the unregenerate.
We
believe that adoption is
the act of God by which
the justified and
regenerated believer
becomes a partaker of
all the rights,
privileges and
responsibilities of a
child of God.
Justification: Hab. 2:4;
Acts 13:38-39; 15:11;
16:31; Rom. 1:17; 3:28;
4:2-5; 5:1-2; Gal.
3:6-14; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil
3:9; Heb. 10:38.
Regeneration: John
1:12-13; 3:3, 5-8; 2
Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26;
Eph. 2:5, 10, 19; 4:24;
Col. 3:10; Titus 3:5;
James 1:18; 1 Peter
1:3-4; 2 Peter 1:4; 1
John 3:1.
Adoption: Rom. 8:15;
Gal. 4:5, 7; Eph. 1:5.
Witness of the Spirit:
Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 4:6;
1 John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19. |
IX.
Justification,
Regeneration, and
Adoption
9. We believe that
justification is the
gracious and judicial
act of God by which He
grants full pardon of
all guilt and complete
release from the penalty
of sins committed, and
acceptance as righteous,
to all who believe on
Jesus Christ and receive
Him as Lord and Savior.
10. We believe that
regeneration, or the new
birth, is that gracious
work of God whereby the
moral nature of the
repentant believer is
spiritually quickened
and given a
distinctively spiritual
life, capable of faith,
love, and obedience.
11. We believe that
adoption is that
gracious act of God by
which the justified and
regenerated believer is
constituted a son of
God.
12. We believe that
justification,
regeneration, and
adoption are
simultaneous in the
experience of seekers
after God and are
obtained upon the
condition of faith,
preceded by repentance;
and that to this work
and state of grace the
Holy Spirit bears
witness.
(Luke 18:14; John
1:12-13; 3:3-8; 5:24;
Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17;
3:21-26, 28; 4:5-9,
17-25; 5:1, 16-19; 6:4;
7:6; 8:1, 15-17; 1
Corinthians 1:30; 6:11;
2 Corinthians 5:17-21;
Galatians 2:16-21;
3:1-14, 26; 4:4-7;
Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:1,
4-5; Philippians 3:3-9;
Colossians 2:13; Titus
3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1
John 1:9; 3:1-2, 9; 4:7;
5:1, 9-13, 18)
|
Good
Works |
|
12.
Good Works
232.
We believe that although
good works cannot save
us from our sins or from
God’s judgment, they are
the fruit of faith and
follow after
regeneration. Therefore
they are pleasing and
acceptable to God in
Christ, and by them a
living faith may be as
evidently known as a
tree is discerned by its
fruit.
Matt.
5:16; 7:16-20; John
15:8; Rom 3:20; 4:2, 4,
6; Gal. 2:16; 5:6; Eph.
2:10; Phil. 1:11; Col.
1:10; 1 Thess. 1:3;
Titus 2:14; 3:5; James
2:18, 22; 1 Peter 2:9,
12. |
|
Entire Sanctification |
XII. Entire
Sanctification;
A/119. Entire
sanctification is that
work of the Holy Spirit,
subsequent to
regeneration, by which
the fully consecrated
believers, upon exercise
of faith in the atoning
blood of Christ, are
cleansed in that moment
from all inward sin and
empowered for service.
The resulting
relationship is attested
by the witness of the
Holy Spirit and is
maintained by faith and
obedience. Entire
sanctification enables
believers to love God
with all their hearts,
souls, strength, and
minds, and their
neighbor as themselves,
and it prepares them for
greater growth in grace.
Leviticus 20:7-8;
John 14:16-17; 17:19;
Acts 1:8; 2:4; 15:8-9;
Romans 5:3-5; 8:12-17;
12:1-2; 1 Corinthians
6:11; 12:4-11; Galatians
5:22-25; Ephesians
4:22-24; 1 Thessalonians
4:7; 5:23-24; 2
Thessalonians 2:13;
Hebrews 10:14; |
14.
Sanctification: Initial,
Progressive, Entire
236.
We believe that
sanctification is that
work of the Holy Spirit
by which the child of
God is separated from
sin unto God and is
enabled to love God with
all the heart and to
walk in all His holy
commandments blameless.
Sanctification is
initiated at the moment
of justification and
regeneration. From that
moment there is a
gradual or progressive
sanctification as the
believer walks with God
and daily grows in grace
and in a more perfect
obedience to God. This
prepares for the crisis
of entire sanctification
which is wrought
instantaneously when
believers present
themselves as living
sacrifices, holy and
acceptable to God,
through faith in Jesus
Christ, being effected
by the baptism with the
Holy Spirit who cleanses
the heart from all
inbred sin. The crisis
of entire sanctification
perfects the believer in
love and empowers that
person for effective
service. It is followed
by lifelong growth in
grace and the knowledge
of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. The life
of holiness continues
through faith in the
sanctifying blood of
Christ and evidences
itself by loving
obedience to God’s
revealed will.
Gen.
17:1; Deut. 30:6; Ps.
130:8; Isa. 6:1-6; Ezek.
36:25-29; Matt. 5:8, 48;
Luke 1:74-75; 3:16-17;
24:49; John 17:1-26;
Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4;
15:8-9; 26:18; Rom.
8:3-4; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11;
2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:13,
24; 5:25-27; 1 Thess.
3:10, 12-13; 4:3, 78;
5:23-24; 2 Thess. 2:13;
Titus 2:11-14; Heb.
10:14; 12:14; 13:12;
James 3:17-18; 4:8; 1
Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:4;
1 John 1:7, 9; 3:8-9;
4:17-18; Jude 24. |
X.
Entire Sanctification
13. We believe that
entire sanctification is
that act of God,
subsequent to
regeneration, by which
believers are made free
from original sin, or
depravity, and brought
into a state of entire
devotement to God, and
the holy obedience of
love made perfect.
It is wrought by the
baptism with the Holy
Spirit, and comprehends
in one experience the
cleansing of the heart
from sin and the
abiding, indwelling
presence of the Holy
Spirit, empowering the
believer for life and
service.
Entire sanctification
is provided by the blood
of Jesus, is wrought
instantaneously by
faith, preceded by
entire consecration; and
to this work and state
of grace the Holy Spirit
bears witness.
This experience is
also known by various
terms representing its
different phases, such
as "Christian
perfection," "perfect
love," "heart purity,"
"the baptism with the
Holy Spirit," "the
fullness of the
blessing," and
"Christian holiness."
14. We believe that
there is a marked
distinction between a
pure heart and a mature
character. The former is
obtained in an instant,
the result of entire
sanctification; the
latter is the result of
growth in grace.
We believe that the
grace of entire
sanctification includes
the impulse to grow in
grace. However, this
impulse must be
consciously nurtured,
and careful attention
given to the requisites
and processes of
spiritual development
and improvement in
Christlikeness of
character and
personality. Without
such purposeful endeavor
one’s witness may be
impaired and the grace
itself frustrated and
ultimately lost.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34;
Ezekiel 36:25-27;
Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew
3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17;
John 7:37-39; 14:15-23;
17:6-20; Acts 1:5;
2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans
6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4,
8-14; 12:1-2; 2
Corinthians 6:14-7:1;
Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25;
Ephesians 3:14-21;
5:17-18, 25-27;
Philippians 3:10-15;
Colossians 3:1-17; 1
Thessalonians 5:23-24;
Hebrews 4:9-11;
10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12;
1 John 1:7, 9)
("Christian perfection,"
"perfect love":
Deuteronomy 30:6;
Matthew 5:43-48;
22:37-40; Romans
12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1
Corinthians 13;
Philippians 3:10-15;
Hebrews 6:1; 1 John
4:17-18
"Heart purity": Matthew
5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1
Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3
"Baptism with the Holy
Spirit": Jeremiah
31:31-34; Ezekiel
36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3;
Matthew 3:11-12; Luke
3:16-17; Acts 1:5;
2:1-4; 15:8-9
"Fullness of the
blessing": Romans 15:29
"Christian holiness":
Matthew 5:1-7:29; John
15:1-11; Romans
12:1-15:3; 2 Corinthians
7:1; Ephesians
4:17-5:20; Philippians
1:9-11; 3:12-15;
Colossians 2:20-3:17; 1
Thessalonians 3:13;
4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy
2:19-22; Hebrews
10:19-25; 12:14;
13:20-21; 1 Peter
1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11;
3:18; Jude 20-21) |
Restoration |
XIII.
Restoration
A/120. Christians may
be sustained in a
growing relationship
with Jesus as Savior and
Lord. However, they may
grieve the Holy Spirit
in the relationships of
life without returning
to the dominion of sin.
When they do, they must
humbly accept the
correction of the Holy
Spirit, trust in the
advocacy of Jesus, and
mend their
relationships.
Christians can sin
willfully and sever
their relationship with
Christ. Even so by
repentance before God,
forgiveness is granted
and the relationship
with Christ restored,
for not every sin is the
sin against the Holy
Spirit and unpardonable.
God's grace is
sufficient for those who
truly repent and, by His
enabling, amend their
lives. However,
forgiveness does not
give believers liberty
to sin and escape the
consequences of sinning.
God has given
responsibility and power
to the church to restore
penitent believers
through loving reproof,
counsel, and acceptance.
Matthew 12:31-32;
18:21-22; Romans 6:1-2;
Galatians 6:1; 1 John
1:9; 2:1-2; 5:16-17;
Revelation 2:5; 3:19-20 |
13.
Sin After Regeneration
234.
We believe that after we
have experienced
regeneration, it is
possible to fall into
sin, for in this life
there is no such height
or strength of holiness
from which it is
impossible to fall. But
by the grace of God one
who has fallen into sin
may by true repentance
and faith find
forgiveness and
restoration.
Mal.
3:7; Matt. 18:21-22;
John 15:4-6; 1 Tim. 4:1,
16; Heb.
10:35-39; 1 John 1:9;
2:1, 24-25. |
|
The
Gifts of the Spirit |
|
15.
The Gifts of the Spirit
238.
We believe that the Gift
of the Spirit is the
Holy Spirit himself, and
He is to be desired more
than the gifts of the
Spirit which He in His
wise counsel bestows
upon individual members
of the Church to enable
them properly to fulfill
their function as
members of the body of
Christ. The gifts of the
Spirit, although not
always identifiable with
natural abilities,
function through them
for the edification of
the whole Church. These
gifts are to be
exercised in love under
the administration of
the Lord of the Church,
not through human
volition. The relative
value of the gifts of
the Spirit is to be
tested by their
usefulness in the Church
and not by the ecstasy
produced in the ones
receiving them.
Luke
11:13; 24:49; Acts 1:4;
2:38-39; 8:19-20; 10:45;
11:17; Rom. 12:4-8; 1
Cor. 12:1—14:40; Eph.
4:7-8, 11-16; Heb. 2:4;
13:20-21; 1 Peter
4:8-11. |
|
The Church |
The Church |
XIV. The Church
A/121. The church is
created by God. It is
the people of God.
Christ Jesus is its Lord
and Head. The Holy
Spirit is its life and
power. It is both divine
and human, heavenly and
earthly, ideal and
imperfect. It is an
organism, not an
unchanging institution.
It exists to fulfill the
purposes of God in
Christ. It redemptively
ministers to persons.
Christ loved the church
and gave himself for it
that it should be holy
and without blemish. The
church is a fellowship
of the redeemed and the
redeeming, preaching the
Word of God and
administering the
sacraments according to
Christ's instruction.
The Free Methodist
Church purposes to be
representative of what
the church of Jesus
Christ should be on
earth. It therefore
requires specific
commitment regarding the
faith and life of its
members. In its
requirements it seeks to
honor Christ and obey
the written Word of God.
Matthew 16:15-18;
18:17; Acts 2:41-47;
9:31; 12:5; 14:23-26;
15:22; 20:28; 1
Corinthians 1:2; 11:23;
12:28; 16:1; Ephesians
1:22-23; 2:19-22;
3:9-10; 5:22-23;
Colossians 1:18; 1
Timothy 3:14-15 |
16.
The Church
240.
We believe that the
Christian Church is the
entire body of believers
in Jesus Christ, who is
the founder and only
Head of the Church. The
Church includes both
those believers who have
gone to be with the Lord
and those who remain on
the earth, having
renounced the world, the
flesh and the devil, and
having dedicated
themselves to the work
which Christ committed
unto His church until He
comes. The Church on
earth is to preach the
pure Word of God,
properly administer the
sacraments according to
Christ’s instructions,
and live in obedience to
all that Christ
commands. A local church
is a body of believers
formally organized on
gospel principles,
meeting regularly for
the purposes of
evangelism, nurture,
fellowship and worship.
The Wesleyan Church is a
denomination consisting
of those members within
district conferences and
local churches who, as
members of the body of
Christ, hold the faith
set forth in these
Articles of Religion and
acknowledge the
ecclesiastical authority
of its governing bodies.
Matt.
16:18; 18:17; Acts
2:41-47; 9:31; 11:22;
12:5; 14:23; 15:22;
20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2;
12:28; 16:1; 2 Cor. 1:1;
Gal. 1:2; Eph. 1:22-23;
2:19-22; 3:9-10, 21;
5:22-33; Col. 1:18, 24;
1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess.
1:1; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb.
12:23; James 5:14. |
XI.
The Church
15. We believe in the
Church, the community
that confesses Jesus
Christ as Lord, the
covenant people of God
made new in Christ, the
Body of Christ called
together by the Holy
Spirit through the Word.
God calls the Church
to express its life in
the unity and fellowship
of the Spirit; in
worship through the
preaching of the Word,
observance of the
sacraments, and ministry
in His name; by
obedience to Christ and
mutual accountability.
The mission of the
Church in the world is
to continue the
redemptive work of
Christ in the power of
the Spirit through holy
living, evangelism,
discipleship, and
service.
The Church is a
historical reality,
which organizes itself
in culturally
conditioned forms;
exists both as local
congregations and as a
universal body; sets
apart persons called of
God for specific
ministries. God calls
the Church to live under
His rule in anticipation
of the consummation at
the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah
31:33; Matthew 8:11;
10:7; 16:13-19, 24;
18:15-20; 28:19-20; John
17:14-26; 20:21-23; Acts
1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2;
13:1; 14:23; Romans
2:28-29; 4:16; 10:9-15;
11:13-32; 12:1-8;
15:1-3; 1 Corinthians
3:5-9; 7:17; 11:1,
17-33; 12:3, 12-31;
14:26-40; 2 Corinthians
5:11-6:1; Galatians 5:6,
13-14; 6:1-5, 15;
Ephesians 4:1-17;
5:25-27; Philippians
2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians
4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13;
Hebrews 10:19-25; 1
Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12,
21; 4:1-2, 10-11; 1 John
4:17; Jude 24;
Revelation 5:9-10) |
The Language of
Worship |
XV. The Language
of Worship
A/122. According to
the Word of God and the
custom of the early
church, public worship
and prayer and the
administration of the
sacraments should be in
a language understood by
the people. The
Reformation applied this
principle to provide for
the use of the common
language of the people.
It is likewise clear
that the Apostle Paul
places the strongest
emphasis upon rational
and intelligible
utterance in worship. We
cannot endorse practices
which plainly violate
these scriptural
principles.
Nehemiah 8:5, 6, 8;
Matthew 6:7; 1
Corinthians 14:6-9; 1
Corinthians 14:23-25 |
|
|
Baptism and
the Lord’s Supper |
XVI. The Holy
Sacraments
A/123. Water baptism
and the Lord's Supper
are the sacraments of
the church commanded by
Christ. They are means
of grace through faith,
tokens of our profession
of Christian faith, and
signs of God's gracious
ministry toward us. By
them, He works within us
to quicken, strengthen,
and confirm our faith.
Matthew 26:26-29;
28:19; Acts 22:16;
Romans 4:11; 1
Corinthians 10:16-17;
11:23-26; Galatians 3:27
Baptism
A/124. Water baptism
is a sacrament of the
church, commanded by our
Lord, signifying
acceptance of the
benefits of the
atonement of Jesus
Christ to be
administered to
believers, as
declaration of their
faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior.
Baptism is a symbol
of the new covenant of
grace as circumcision
was the symbol of the
old covenant; and, since
infants are recognized
as being included in the
atonement, they may be
baptized upon the
request of parents or
guardians who shall give
assurance for them of
necessary Christian
training. They shall be
required to affirm the
vow for themselves
before being accepted
into church membership.
Acts 2:38, 41;
8:12-17; 9:18; 16:33;
18:8; 19:5; John 3:5; 1
Corinthians 12:13;
Galatians 3:27-29;
Colossians 2:11-12;
Titus 3:5
The Lord's
Supper
A/125. The Lord's
Supper is a sacrament of
our redemption by
Christ's death. To those
who rightly, worthily,
and with faith receive
it, the bread which we
break is a partaking of
the body of Christ; and
likewise the cup of
blessing is a partaking
of the blood of Christ.
The supper is also a
sign of the love and
unity that Christians
have among themselves.
Christ, according to
His promise, is really
present in the
sacrament. But His body
is given, taken, and
eaten only after a
heavenly and spiritual
manner. No change is
effected in the element;
the bread and wine are
not literally the body
and blood of Christ. Nor
is the body and blood of
Christ literally present
with the elements. The
elements are never to be
considered objects of
worship. The body of
Christ is received and
eaten in faith.
Mark 14:22-24; John
6:53-58; Acts 2:46; 1
Corinthians 5:7-8;
10:16; 11:20, 23-29 |
17.
The Sacraments: Baptism
and the Lord’s Supper
242.
We believe that water
baptism and the Lord’s
Supper are the
sacraments of the church
commanded by Christ and
ordained as a means of
grace when received
through faith. They are
tokens of our profession
of Christian faith and
signs of God’s gracious
ministry toward us. By
them, He works within us
to quicken, strengthen
and confirm our faith.
We
believe that water
baptism is a sacrament
of the church, commanded
by our Lord and
administered to
believers. It is a
symbol of the new
covenant of grace and
signifies acceptance of
the benefits of the
atonement of Jesus
Christ. By means of this
sacrament, believers
declare their faith in
Jesus Christ as Savior.
Matt.
3:13-17; 28:19; Mark
1:9-11; John 3:5, 22,
26; 4:1-2; Acts 2:38-39,
41; 8:12-17, 36-38;
9:18; 16:15, 33; 18:8;
19:5; 22:16; Rom
2:28-29; 4:11; 6:3-4; 1
Cor. 12:13; Gal.
3:27-29; Col. 2:11-12;
Titus 3:5.
We
believe that the Lord’s
Supper is a sacrament of
our redemption by
Christ’s death and of
our hope in His
victorious return, as
well as a sign of the
love that Christians
have for each other. To
such as receive it
humbly, with a proper
spirit and by faith, the
Lord’s Supper is made a
means through which God
communicates grace to
the heart.
Matt.
26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24;
Luke 22:19-20; John
6:48-58; 1 Cor. 5:7-8;
10:3-4, 16-17; 11:23-29. |
XII. Baptism
16. We believe that
Christian baptism,
commanded by our Lord,
is a sacrament
signifying acceptance of
the benefits of the
atonement of Jesus
Christ, to be
administered to
believers and
declarative of their
faith in Jesus Christ as
their Savior, and full
purpose of obedience in
holiness and
righteousness.
Baptism being a
symbol of the new
covenant, young children
may be baptized, upon
request of parents or
guardians who shall give
assurance for them of
necessary Christian
training.
Baptism may be
administered by
sprinkling, pouring, or
immersion, according to
the choice of the
applicant.
(Matthew 3:1-7;
28:16-20; Acts 2:37-41;
8:35-39; 10:44-48;
16:29-34; 19:1-6; Romans
6:3-4; Galatians
3:26-28; Colossians
2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-22)
XIII. The Lord’s Supper
17. We believe that
the Memorial and
Communion Supper
instituted by our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ
is essentially a New
Testament sacrament,
declarative of His
sacrificial death,
through the merits of
which believers have
life and salvation and
promise of all spiritual
blessings in Christ. It
is distinctively for
those who are prepared
for reverent
appreciation of its
significance, and by it
they show forth the
Lord’s death till He
come again. It being the
Communion feast, only
those who have faith in
Christ and love for the
saints should be called
to participate therein.
(Exodus 12:1-14; Matthew
26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25;
Luke 22:17-20; John
6:28-58; 1 Corinthians
10:14-21; 11:23-32) |
Divine Healing |
|
|
XIV. Divine Healing
18. We believe in the
Bible doctrine of divine
healing and urge our
people to seek to offer
the prayer of faith for
the healing of the sick.
We also believe God
heals through the means
of medical science.
(2
Kings 5:1-19; Psalm
103:1-5; Matthew
4:23-24; 9:18-35; John
4:46-54; Acts 5:12-16;
9:32-42; 14:8-15; 1
Corinthians 12:4-11; 2
Corinthians 12:7-10;
James 5:13-16)
|
Last Things |
The
Second Coming of Christ |
XVII.
The Kingdom of
God
A/126. The
kingdom of God
is a prominent
Bible theme
providing
Christians with
both their tasks
and hope. Jesus
announced its
presence. The
kingdom is
realized now as
God's reign is
established in
the hearts and
lives of
believers.
The church,
by its prayers,
example, and
proclamation of
the gospel, is
the appointed
and appropriate
instrument of
God in building
His kingdom. But
the kingdom is
also future and
is related to
the return of
Christ when
judgment will
fall upon the
present order.
The enemies of
Christ will be
subdued; the
reign of God
will be
established; a
total cosmic
renewal which is
both material
and moral shall
occur; and the
hope of the
redeemed will be
fully realized.
Matthew 6:10,
19-20; 24:1;
Acts 1:8; Romans
8:19-23; 1
Corinthians
15:20-25;
Philippians
2:9-10; 1
Thessalonians
4:15-17; 2
Thessalonians
1:5-12; 2 Peter
3:3-10;
Revelation 14:6;
21:3-8; 22:1-5,
17
XVIII.
The Return of
Christ
A/127. The
return of Christ
is certain and
may occur at any
moment, although
it is not given
us to know the
hour. At His
return He will
fulfill all
prophecies
concerning His
final triumph
over all evil.
The believer's
response is
joyous
expectation,
watchfulness,
readiness, and
diligence.
Matthew
24:1-51; 26:64;
Mark 13:26-27;
Luke 17:26-37;
John 14:1-3;
Acts 1:9-11; 1
Thessalonians
4:13-18; Titus
2:11-14; Hebrews
9:27-28;
Revelation 1:7;
19:11-16;
22:6-7, 12, 20
|
18.
The Second Coming of
Christ
244.
We believe that the
certainty of the
personal and imminent
return of Christ
inspires holy living and
zeal for the
evangelization of the
world. At His return He
will fulfill all
prophecies made
concerning His final and
complete triumph over
evil.
Job
19:25-27; Isa. 11:1-12;
Zech. 14:1-11; Matt.
24:1-51; 25; 26:64; Mark
13:1-37; Luke 17:22-37;
21:5-36; John 14:1-3;
Acts 1:6-11; 1 Cor.
1:7-8; 1 Thess. 1:10;
2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18;
5:1-11, 23; 2 Thess.
1:6-10; 2:1-12; Titus
2:11-14; Heb. 9:2728;
James 5:7-8; 2 Peter
3:1-14; 1 John 3:2-3;
Rev. 1:7; 19:1116;
22:6-7, 12, 20. |
XV.
Second Coming of Christ
19. We believe that
the Lord Jesus Christ
will come again; that we
who are alive at His
coming shall not precede
them that are asleep in
Christ Jesus; but that,
if we are abiding in
Him, we shall be caught
up with the risen saints
to meet the Lord in the
air, so that we shall
ever be with the Lord.
(Matthew 25:31-46; John
14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11;
Philippians 3:20-21; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18;
Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews
9:26-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15;
Revelation 1:7-8;
22:7-20) |
Resurrection,
Judgment, and Destiny |
XIX.
Resurrection
A/128. There
will be a bodily
resurrection
from the dead of
both the just
and the unjust,
they that have
done good unto
the resurrection
of life; they
that have done
evil unto the
resurrection of
damnation. The
resurrected body
will be a
spiritual body,
but the person
will be whole
and
identifiable.
The Resurrection
of Christ is the
guarantee of
resurrection
unto life to
those who are in
Him.
John 5:28-29;
1 Corinthians
15:20, 51-57; 2
Corinthians
4:13-14
XX.
Judgment
A/129. God
has appointed a
day in which He
will judge the
world in
righteousness in
accordance with
the gospel and
our deeds in
this life.
Matthew
25:31-46; Luke
11:31-32; Acts
10:42; 17:31;
Romans 2:15-16;
14:10-11; 2
Corinthians
5:6-10; Hebrews
9:27-28;
10:26-31; 2
Peter 3:7
XXI.
Final Destiny
A/130. Our
eternal destiny
is determined by
God's grace and
our response,
not by arbitrary
decrees of God.
For those who
trust Him and
obediently
follow Jesus as
Savior and Lord,
there is a
heaven of
eternal glory
and the
blessedness of
Christ's
presence. But
for the finally
impenitent there
is a hell of
eternal
suffering and of
separation from
God.
A/131. The
doctrines of the
Free Methodist
Church are based
upon the Holy
Scriptures and
are derived from
their total
biblical
context. The
references below
are appropriate
passages related
to the given
articles. They
are listed in
their biblical
sequence and are
not intended to
be exhaustive.
Mark 9:42-48;
John 14:3;
Hebrews 2:1-3;
Revelation
20:11-15;
21:22-27
|
19.
The Resurrection of the
Dead
246.
We believe in the bodily
resurrection from the
dead of all people— of
the just unto the
resurrection of life,
and of the unjust unto
the resurrection of
damnation. The
resurrection of Christ
is the guarantee of the
resurrection which will
occur at Christ’s Second
Coming. The raised body
will be a spiritual
body, but the person
will be whole and
identifiable.
Job
19:25-27; Dan. 12:2;
Matt. 22:30-32; 28:1-20;
Mark 16:18; Luke 14:14;
24:1-53; John 5:28-29;
11:21-27; 20:1—21:25;
Acts 1:3; Rom. 8:11; 1
Cor. 6:14; 15:1-58; 2
Cor. 4:14; 5:1-11; 1
Thess. 4:13-17; Rev.
20:4-6, 11-13.
20.
The Judgment of All
Persons
248.
We believe that the
Scriptures reveal God as
the Judge of all and the
acts of His judgment are
based on His omniscience
and eternal justice. His
administration of
judgment will culminate
in the final meeting of
all persons before His
throne of great majesty
and power, where records
will be examined and
final rewards and
punishments will be
administered.
Eccl.
12:14; Matt. 10:15;
25:31-46; Luke 11:31-32;
Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom.
2:16; 14:10-12; 2 Cor.
5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb.
9:27; 2 Peter 3:7; Rev.
20:11-13.
21.
Destiny
250.
We believe that the
Scriptures clearly teach
that there is a
conscious personal
existence after death.
The final destiny of
each person is
determined by God’s
grace and that person’s
response, evidenced
inevitably by a moral
character which results
from that individual’s
personal and volitional
choices and not from any
arbitrary decree of God.
Heaven with its eternal
glory and the
blessedness of Christ’s
presence is the final
abode of those who
choose the salvation
which God provides
through Jesus Christ,
but hell with its
everlasting misery and
separation from God is
the final abode of those
who neglect this great
salvation.
Dan.
12:2; Matt. 25:34-46;
Mark 9:43-48; Luke 13:3;
John 8:21-23; 14:2-3; 2
Cor. 5:6, 8, 10; Heb.
2:1-3; 9:27-28; 10:2631;
Rev. 20:14-15;
21:1—22:5, 14-15. |
XVI. Resurrection,
Judgment, and Destiny
20. We believe in the
resurrection of the
dead, that the bodies
both of the just and of
the unjust shall be
raised to life and
united with their
spirits-"they that have
done good, unto the
resurrection of life;
and they that have done
evil, unto the
resurrection of
damnation."
21. We believe in
future judgment in which
every person shall
appear before God to be
judged according to his
or her deeds in this
life.
22. We believe that
glorious and everlasting
life is assured to all
who savingly believe in,
and obediently follow,
Jesus Christ our Lord;
and that the finally
impenitent shall suffer
eternally in hell.
(Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel
2:10; Psalm 50:6; Isaiah
26:19; Daniel 12:2-3;
Matthew 25:31-46; Mark
9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31;
20:27-38; John 3:16-18;
5:25-29; 11:21-27; Acts
17:30-31; Romans 2:1-16;
14:7-12; 1 Corinthians
15:12-58; 2 Corinthians
5:10; 2 Thessalonians
1:5-10; Revelation
20:11-15; |
|