Beliefs--The Basics

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The Basics Of Christianity

 

In the essentials of doctrine we strive for UNITY. But in non-essentials we believe in LIBERTY. In all things, we urge CHARITY.     

  1. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority on faith and life.
     
  2. We believe that the Christian faith is objectively true―not based on blind faith, but rather faith in evidence. 

  3. We believe that Christians should be equipped to give a credible defense for the hope that we have.

  4. The nature of God is a Trinity. There is one God that exists in three “persons.”
      
  5. Unlike other worldviews (such as Islam, communism, or atheism) the Bible teaches that mankind, while not as bad as we could be, is sinful by our very nature―falling short of God’s glory. And so, the natural man is worthy of God’s wrath.

  6. The solution for man’s predicament is the Gospel: which is the good news that Jesus lived the perfect life that we are unable to live, suffered and died on the cross to take the penalty for our sin, and rose from the dead proving his divinity―so that through faith in Him alone our sins are forgiven, that we might have eternal life.
     
  7. We are saved by grace through a living, trusting, penitent faith. That is, we get to heaven by God’s gift through our faith, and not by what we do. Yet, obedience and good works are a natural result of true faith and an integral part of Methodist understanding. 


For the biblical basis of the above, study the citations and links in the footnotes below:

Unity: John 8:31; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4-6. 

Liberty: Romans 14:1-10; 1 Corinthians 10:29; Galatians 5:13-15. 

Charity: Ephesians 4:1-4; Colossians 3:14.

  1. Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:24-25; 2 Peter 3:15-16. John Wesley declared: “We know, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,’ and is therefore true and right concerning all things.” and "The written word of God [is] the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice."

  2. Psalm 19:1; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:3; 3:15; 17:2; 18:4; 19:8-10; Romans 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 2:8; Titus 1:9; 2 Peter 1:16

  3. 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 1:3. To learn more, do an internet search for “Christian apologetics” or “apologetics websites,” etc. See also https://goodnewsmag.org/wesley-and-apologetics.

  4. One God: Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 12:29-30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5. Three persons: Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; 14:26; 15:26-27; 20:28-31; Acts 7:59; Romans 8:9-11; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 13:14; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 1:15-17; 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7

  5. Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:3-5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:18; 2:5-11; 3:9-12, 23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; James 2:10; 1 John 1:8; Revelation 20:15.

  6. Isaiah 53:4-6; John 3:16-17; 11:25-26; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; 4:5; 5:1-11; 6:23; 10:9-13; 14:6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:24-26; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:11-14

  7. Matthew 5:2-15; 7:12-13; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 13:3-5; 24:46-47; John 8:51; Acts 3:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 2:16; 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; James 2:14-26; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 1 John 1:9; 2:2-6