Our Doctrinal Heritage

United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. Living in a covenant of grace under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we participate in the first fruits of God's coming reign and pray in hope for its full realization on earth as in heaven.

Our heritage in doctrine and our present theological task focus upon a renewed grasp of the sovereignty of God and of God's love in Christ amid the continuing crises of human existence.

Our preaching and teaching is grounded in Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in experience, and tested by reason.

Our Doctrinal History

The pioneers in the traditions that flowed together into The United Methodist Church understood themselves as standing in the central stream of Christian spirituality and doctrine, loyal heirs of the authentic Christian tradition. In John Wesley's words, theirs was "the old religion, the religion of the Bible, the religion . . .of the whole church in the purest ages." Their gospel was grounded in the biblical message of God's self-giving love revealed in Jesus Christ.

Wesley's portrayal of the spiritual pilgrimage in terms of "the scripture way of salvation" provided their model for experiential Christianity. They assumed and insisted upon the integrity of basic Christian truth and emphasized its practical application in the lives of believers.

This perspective is apparent in the Wesleyan understanding of "catholic spirit." While it is true that United Methodists are fixed upon certain religious affirmations, grounded in the gospel and confirmed in their experience, they also recognize the right of Christians to disagree on matters such as forms of worship, structures of church government, modes of Baptism, or theological explorations. They believe such differences do not break the bond of fellowship that ties Christians together in Jesus Christ. Wesley's familiar dictum was, "As to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think."

But, even as they were fully committed to the principles of religious toleration and theological diversity, they were equally confident that there is a "marrow" of Christian truth that can be identified and that must be conserved. This living core, as they believed, stands revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal and corporate experience, and confirmed by reason. They were very much aware, of course, that God's eternal Word never has been, nor can be, exhaustively expressed in any single form of words.

They were also prepared, as a matter of course, to reaffirm the ancient creeds and confessions as valid summaries of Christian truth. But they were careful not to set them apart as absolute standards for doctrinal truth and error.

Beyond the essentials of vital religion, United Methodists respect the diversity of opinions held by conscientious persons of faith. Wesley followed a time-tested approach: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity."

The spirit of charity takes into consideration the limits of human understanding. "To be ignorant of many things and to be mistaken in some," Wesley observed, "is the necessary condition of humanity." The crucial matter in religion is steadfast love for God and neighbor, empowered by the redeeming and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Doctrinal Standards and General Rules

What do we believe about Jesus?

The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus was the Son of God, the child of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, truly God and truly Man, who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven.  He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us and by him all persons will be judged.

Article ll, The Confession of Faith, The Book of Discipline: "We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united.  He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.  As minstering servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross.  He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return.  He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all persons are to be judged."

What do we believe about the cross?

The official United Methodist doctrine is that sin separated all persons from God.  Jesus' death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice, making possible out forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  To repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ are the only requirements for one to receive that forgiveness and reconciliation made possible by Jesus' death.

The Nicene Creed: "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate..."

Article ll, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "... Christ, very God and  very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin, but also for the actual sins of people.'

Article XX, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone..."

Article Vl, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "... Everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man."

What do we believe about sin?

The official United Methodist doctrine is:

Because of rebellion against God going all the way back to Adam, all persons are inclined toward sin and selfishness.  Sin means missing the mark of God's righteousness; it means to be in rebellion against God, to disobey his laws.

A person by strength of will power alone cannot forsake sin and please God.  Only through an intervention of God's grace can a person overcome sin and become part of the Kingdom of God.

Article Vll, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "... Man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually."

Article Vll, The Confession of Faith, The Book of Discipline: "We believe the man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined toward evil.  Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God..."

What do we believe about justification?

The official United Methodist doctrine is this:

When a person repents of sin and trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that person is forgiven of sin and receives the gift of eternal life (right relationship with God).  The Holy Spririt takes up residence in that person, teaching and equipping him or her to he a disciple of Christ, and confirming that the person is indeed a child of God.

Article lX, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of out Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings.  Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort."

Article lX, The Confession of Faith, The Book of Discipline: "We believe we are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but that penitent sinners are justified or accounted righteous before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."

We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine mature and experience newness of life.  By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections.

"We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness."

What do we believe about the resurrection of Jesus?

The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus' physical body became alive again after three days in the grave.

The Apostles Creed: "... The third day he arose from the dead."

Article lll, The Articles of Religion, The book of Discipline: "Christ did turly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature..."

What do we believe about the Trinity?

The official United Methodist doctrine is that God is one God in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Apostles Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit..."

Article l, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible.  And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity... the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Article l, The Confession of Faith, The Book of Discipline: "We believe in the one true, holy, and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.  He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name.  We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirt, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power."

What do we believe about the Bible?

The offcial United Methodist doctrine is that the Bible was inspired by God and contains all things necessary for salvation.  When read under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is our true rule and guide for faith and practice.

Article V, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "The Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any person that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation..."

Article Vl, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ... Although the law given from God by Moses concerning ceremonies and rites does not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral."

Articles lV, The Confession of Faith, the Book of Discipline: "We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation.  It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice.  Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation."

What do we believe about the second coming?

The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus Christ will return again in glory, bringing human history to a close and inaugurating his Kingdom in all its fullness.

The Nicene Creed: "He (Jesus) will come again in glory..."

Article lll, The Articles of Religion, The Book of Discipline: "...He (Christ) ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all persons at the last day."

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.