What We Believe
The Christian faith is more than an emotional experience; it also involves certain beliefs about God, ourselves, and our relationship to Him. It is part of the responsibility of the church to pass these beliefs on to its members in order to preserve the "faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). Paul was concerned that this be done (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 1 Tim. 3:9; 2 Tim. 2:2). The earliest Christian creed was both a statement of doctrine and an acknowledgment that brought salvation; it was "Jesus is Lord" (Rom. 10:9).
This shows that Christian beliefs are not merely intellectual in nature but point to truths that make possible our right relation to God. This is the point of the Manual's statement concerning the central beliefs of the church that are "essential to Christian experience."
In the process of time it becomes important for a church to declare its beliefs on many matters. This is what the Church of the Nazarene has done. However, the church has taken great care to express beliefs that are clearly taught in Scripture.
A Statement of Belief
The Church of the Nazarene has 16 Articles of Faith. The following is a summary of the 16 statements:
  1. We believe in one God, the Creator of all things, who reveals himself as Father, Son, and Spirit.
  2. We believe in Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man at the same time, who became like us to bring about our salvation.
  3. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is active in the world, bringing us salvation.
  4. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, giving us all we need to know about how to be saved.
  5. We believe that we are all sinners by both nature and act and need God's forgiveness and cleansing.
  6. We believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross and that, by trusting in His death, we can be restored to a right relation to God.
  7. We believe that God has enabled us to turn to Him from sin but that He has not forced us to do so.
  8. We believe that each person must repent, turn away from his sins, and trust Christ to accept him.
  9. We believe that when we turn from sin and trust in Christ, the old record of sin is wiped clean, and we are born anew, thus becoming a part of the family of God.
  10. We believe that after being born anew, we need the fullness of God's Spirit in our hearts. When we make a complete commitment to Him, He cleanses our spirit, fills us with His perfect love, and gives us the power to live victoriously.
  11. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, carrying on His mission through the power of the Holy Spirit.
  12. We believe in baptism and urge people to be baptized as Christians.
  13. We believe in the Lord's Supper.
  14. We believe that God can heal. We pray for healing. We also believe that He can work through medical science.
  15. We believe that Jesus Christ is coming again.
  16. We believe that everyone will face the judgment of God with its rewards and punishments.

 

©Copyright 2000 West Valley Church of the Nazarene.