TRINITY CHURCH OF THE
NAZARENE
The Trinity Church of the Nazarene is composed of those persons who have
voluntarily associated themselves together according to the doctrines and
polity of this church, and who seek Christian fellowship, the conversion of
sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, their up building in holiness,
and the simplicity and spiritual power manifest in the primitive New Testament
Church, together with the preaching of the gospel to every creature.
NAZARENE
The Trinity Church of the Nazarene is composed of those persons who have
voluntarily associated themselves together according to the doctrines and
polity of this church, and who seek Christian fellowship, the conversion of
sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, their up building in holiness,
and the simplicity and spiritual power manifest in the primitive New Testament
Church, together with the preaching of the gospel to every creature.
This We Believe
ARTICLES OF FAITH
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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; 22:1-15)
ARTICLES OF FAITH
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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; 22:1-15)
