Our Beliefs

The Holy Trinity

There is only one true God, the creator of all. Within the unity of this Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are one in eternity, deity, and purpose; everlasting, omnipotent, infinite wisdom and goodness.

The Son

His Incarnation

Jesus Christ was God in flesh, come to reconcile people to Him. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born to the virgin Mary, and He brought together the deity of God and the humanity of mankind. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. He came to save us. For us the Son of God suffered, went the the cross, died and was buried. He shed His blood as a blameless sacrifice for our sins so that we may be forgiven. We acknowledge, with joy and gratitude, that He is our Savior, the perfect mediator between God and us.

His Resurrection and Exaltation

Jesus Christ is risen and victorious over death. After His resurrection Christ ascended into heaven and sits as our exalted Lord at the right hand of God the Father. There He intercedes on our behalf until all His enemies are brought into complete subjection. He will return as a judge over all people. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

His Person

The Holy Spirit is the third being in the Trinity. He is one with the Father and the Son, equal in deity, majesty and power. He is God effective in Creation, in life and in the church. Jesus Christ’s incarnation and ministry were accomplished through the Holy Spirit and He continues to reveal, interpret and glorify the Lord.

His Work in Salvation

The Holy Spirit is the administrator of our salvation planned by the Father and carried out through the death, resurrection and ascension of the Son. He is the effective agent in our conviction, sanctification and glorification. The Holy Spirit is our Lord’s ever-present self, indwelling, assuring and enabling the believer.

His Relation in the Church

The Holy Spirit is poured out upon the church by the Father and the Son. He is the church’s life and witnessing power and gives us the love of God and makes the lordship of Jesus Christ real in the believer so that the gifts of His words and service may do His good work and increase the church. He is the spirit of truth in the world and the Word of God is His instrument.

Authority

The Bible is God’s Written word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It bears unerring witness to Jesus Christ, who is the living Word. It is the trustworthy record of God’s revelation, completely truthful in all it affirms. It has been faithfully preserved and proves itself in the experiences of man. The Scripture was given to us through human authors, who were directed and inspired by the Lord through the Holy Spirit, in the languages and literary forms of their times. God continues to speak to the generations through His Word by the illumination of the Holy Spirit in His people. The Bible has authority over all human life. It teaches the truth of God, His creation, His people, His one and only Son and the destiny of mankind. It teaches the way of salvation and the life of faith.

Authority of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testament. Both bear witness to God’s salvation in Christ; both Speak of God’s Will for His people. The ancient laws for ceremonies and rites for Israel are not necessarily binding for Christians today, however, by Jesus Christ’s example we are to follow the moral commandments given in the Old Testament.

Authority of the New Testament

The New Testament fulfills and interprets the Old Testament. It records the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is God’s final word concerning mankind, sin, salvation, the world and its destiny.

Christ’s Sacrifice

Jesus Christ became the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. No other satisfaction for sin is necessary, for there is nothing and no other that could atone.

New Life in Christ

Through the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ it is possible for us to have a new life and a right relationship with Him. By His Spirit, God imparts new life and puts people into a relationship with Himself as they repent and their faith responds to His grace. Entrance into and continuance in our new life involves justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, and restoration.

Justification

This term illustrates that in our new relationship in Jesus Christ believers are counted as righteous, freed from the guilt and penalty of their sins.

Regeneration

In our new relationship in Christ we are given new life and a spiritual nature capable of faith, love, and obedience to Christ Jesus as Lord. Believers are born again as a new creation. Their old life is past and a new life has begun.

Adoption

In our new relationship believers are His wanted children, no longer slaves to the mastery of sin and Satan. The Holy Spirit is our witness that believers are the children of God.

Entire Sanctification

This is the work that the Holy Spirit begins in a consecrated believer, following regeneration, as they exercise their faith in Christ’s redeeming blood, to cleanse us in that moment from all our sin and prepare us for His service. This new relationship is witnessed by the Holy Spirit and maintained by faith and obedience. Sanctification enables the believer to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and minds. It allows us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and prepares us for growth in grace.

Restoration

Christians may be sustained in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. However, we may still grieve the Holy Spirit with acts of disobedience without returning to the slavery of sin. When this happens we must humbly seek forgiveness by accepting correction from the Holy Spirit and making right our relationship with Christ. Christians can sin willfully and sever their relationship with Christ. Even so, with repentance before God the relationship may be repaired by His merciful forgiveness. God’s grace is sufficient for those who truly repent. This forgiveness, however, does not allow for the liberty to sin and escape the consequences of sinning.

Inspired by the Articles of Religion of the Free Methodist Church