We practice these three principles as part of our beliefs:
In essential beliefs, WE HAVE UNITY
“There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all...” Ephesians. 4:4-6 (NIV)
In non-essential beliefs, WE HAVE LIBERTY
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1, 4:12, 22 (NIV)
In all our beliefs, WE HAVE LOVE
“...If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains - but have no love. I amount to nothing at all.” 1 Corinthians. 13:2 (PH)
These are the beliefs we hold to be true:
We believe in one God who has expressed himself in personal ways. We know God’s personality as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible communicates God’s saving message and is our reliable authority in all matters related to faith and Christian living.
We believe that all humankind struggles with a downward pull that leads us to sin, or make choices that oppose God’s best.
We believe that unless we experience God’s help and salvation through a faith commitment to Jesus Christ, our future is one of eternal separation from God and all that is good.
We believe the love and grace of God is extended to every person in the provision Jesus Christ made in his death and resurrection. By turning from our own selfishness and trusting Jesus Christ, we experience a new life, being freed from the old patterns of self-destructive acts called sin.
We believe our new life in Jesus Christ is the gateway to transformation. Following our moment of faith in Jesus, we believe there is another moment in which we present our life completely to Christ in order to live under his authority and to experience his transforming power.
We believe that the Christian experience is more than a change of mind. It is accompanied by assurance that is grounded in both the Scriptures as well as the inner witness of God’s Spirit.
We believe that all who live for Jesus Christ have an eternal future. Our belief in such a future includes both the fulfillment of God’s creative purpose as well as the accountability of all persons endowed with the power of choice.
For more information on the Church of the Nazarene, visit www.nazarene.org.
