God
THE TRINITY: There is one God, and within his essential nature are three distinct and equal persons. Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16–17
The Father: We believe in one living and true God, both holy and loving, eternal, unlimited in power, wisdom, and goodness, the Creator and Preserver of all things. Psalm 90:2; 115:4; 147:5; Acts 17:24-25
The Son of God: We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, fully God and fully man. John 1:1; John 3:16; Philippians 2:6
The Holy Spirit: He is the Administrator of grace to all mankind. He is ever present, assuring, preserving, guiding and enabling the believer. John 16:7-11; Romans 8:15
The Father: We believe in one living and true God, both holy and loving, eternal, unlimited in power, wisdom, and goodness, the Creator and Preserver of all things. Psalm 90:2; 115:4; 147:5; Acts 17:24-25
The Son of God: We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, fully God and fully man. John 1:1; John 3:16; Philippians 2:6
The Holy Spirit: He is the Administrator of grace to all mankind. He is ever present, assuring, preserving, guiding and enabling the believer. John 16:7-11; Romans 8:15
The Bible
The Bible is God's Word and it is inspired and infallible. It is without error in its original manuscripts and its teachings carry the authority of God, himself. 2 Tim 3:15–17
Humanity & Sin
God’s Purpose for Humanity: The two great commandments: love the Lord our God with all our heart, and our neighbors as ourselves, summarize God’s law as it is revealed in the Bible. They are the standard for every area of life. Lev. 19:18, 34; Matt. 5:44–48; 7:12; Mark 12:28–31
God’s Plan for Marriage and Sexuality: 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; Matt. 19:4–6; Rom. 1:26-28
Sin Nature: Humanity's creation in the image of God included the ability to choose between right and wrong. We believe that sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, resulting in a fallen, broken world, and a sin nature within every human being. This sin nature now makes it impossible for us to choose what is right and it separates us from God. Gen. 3; Jer. 17:9-10; Rom. 5:12–14
God’s Plan for Marriage and Sexuality: 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; Matt. 19:4–6; Rom. 1:26-28
Sin Nature: Humanity's creation in the image of God included the ability to choose between right and wrong. We believe that sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, resulting in a fallen, broken world, and a sin nature within every human being. This sin nature now makes it impossible for us to choose what is right and it separates us from God. Gen. 3; Jer. 17:9-10; Rom. 5:12–14
salvation through jesus
The Atonement: Jesus offered Himself, once and for all, through His sufferings and death on the cross, providing full payment for the sins of the whole world. Only those who put their faith in Jesus can receive this atonement and be forgiven of their sins. Isa. 53; John 3:16; 1 John 2:2
Repentance and Faith: God makes it possible for sinful human beings to voluntarily respond in repentance and faith (through prevenient grace). This ability comes from God, but the act is the individual's. Repentance is a response to the conviction 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 sin. 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. Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:8-10
Justification: God declares a believer to be righteous, granting full pardon of all sin, delivering from guilt, and completely releasing from the penalty of sins committed. Acts 13:38–39; Rom. 3:28; Gal. 3:6–14
Regeneration: When someone repents and puts their faith in Jesus, they are made new by the Holy Spirit. They are given new spiritual life with the capacity for love and obedience. John 1:12–13; 3:3, 5–8; 2 Cor. 5:17
Adoption: 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. Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:5-6
Repentance and Faith: God makes it possible for sinful human beings to voluntarily respond in repentance and faith (through prevenient grace). This ability comes from God, but the act is the individual's. Repentance is a response to the conviction 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 sin. 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. Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:8-10
Justification: God declares a believer to be righteous, granting full pardon of all sin, delivering from guilt, and completely releasing from the penalty of sins committed. Acts 13:38–39; Rom. 3:28; Gal. 3:6–14
Regeneration: When someone repents and puts their faith in Jesus, they are made new by the Holy Spirit. They are given new spiritual life with the capacity for love and obedience. John 1:12–13; 3:3, 5–8; 2 Cor. 5:17
Adoption: 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. Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:5-6
spiritual growth
Good Works: Although good works cannot save us from our sins or from God's judgment, they are the fruit of faith and follow after regeneration. Eph. 2:10; James 2:18, 22; 1 Peter 2:9, 12
Sin after Regeneration: It is possible to fall into sin after regeneration, but by repentance and faith we can find forgiveness and restoration. John 15:4–6; Heb. 10:35–39; 1 John 1:9
Sanctification: 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 their heart and to walk in all His holy commandments blameless. God can give believers victory over sinful habits, actions, and attitudes. Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23-24
Sin after Regeneration: It is possible to fall into sin after regeneration, but by repentance and faith we can find forgiveness and restoration. John 15:4–6; Heb. 10:35–39; 1 John 1:9
Sanctification: 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 their heart and to walk in all His holy commandments blameless. God can give believers victory over sinful habits, actions, and attitudes. Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23-24
the church
The Church: Jesus is the founder and only Head of the Church, which is made up of all who believe in Jesus Christ. A local church is a body of believers formally organized on gospel principles, meeting regularly for the purposes of evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and worship. Matt. 16:18; 18:17; Acts 2:41–47; Eph. 4:11-12
The Gifts of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the agent of all spiritual gifts and that these gifts are given to glorify God and not man. These gifts are to be exercised in love under the authority of Jesus and for the building up of the Church. While we do not seek to limit any personal and private expression of faith, we believe that only a language readily understood by the entire group is appropriate to use in any gathering of the church. Rom. 12:4–8; 1 Cor. 12:1–14:40
The Sacraments—Baptism and the Lord's Supper: 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.
The Gifts of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the agent of all spiritual gifts and that these gifts are given to glorify God and not man. These gifts are to be exercised in love under the authority of Jesus and for the building up of the Church. While we do not seek to limit any personal and private expression of faith, we believe that only a language readily understood by the entire group is appropriate to use in any gathering of the church. Rom. 12:4–8; 1 Cor. 12:1–14:40
The Sacraments—Baptism and the Lord's Supper: 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.
- Water baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward transformation of the heart and should be administered to all believers. Matt. 3:13–17; Rom. 6:3-4
- The Lord's Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death and our hope in His victorious return, as well as a sign of the love that Christians have for each other. Matt. 26:26–28; 1 Cor. 11:23–29
eternal destiny
Eternal Destiny: The Bible teaches 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. Heb. 9:27; 2 Peter 3:7; Rev. 20:11–13
The Second Coming of Christ: There will be a bodily resurrection from the dead at Christ’s Second Coming. The certainty of the personal and imminent return of Christ inspires holy living and zeal for the evangelization of the world. John 5:28-29; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 20-21
The Second Coming of Christ: There will be a bodily resurrection from the dead at Christ’s Second Coming. The certainty of the personal and imminent return of Christ inspires holy living and zeal for the evangelization of the world. John 5:28-29; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 20-21
For more information, read the Articles of Religion of The Wesleyan Church and the Position Statements of The Wesleyan Church.