What We Believe

Methodism represents a Protestant Christian theology based on the 1700s revival movement of John Wesley.
The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church are the two foundational documents of the Methodist Church and reflect our expression of the Christian faith. We have summarized them below, with the associated scripture references.

in one true, holy, and living God who is the maker and preserver of all things. He has revealed Himself as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three persons of one substance, power, and eternity.
Genesis 1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

in Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. He is the Word made flesh, born of the virgin – Mary – by the power of the Holy Spirit. He suffered, was crucified, died, and buried to reconcile us to the Father and to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. There is salvation in no other name.
John 1:14; Acts 4:10-12; I Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20

in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave as an actual event in recorded history. He arose with an actual body, ascended into heaven, and will return again to earth as the final judge of all persons.
Matthew 28:5-7; Acts 2:29-36; I Corinthians 15:12-22; Acts 10:39-42

the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. He is our Helper, Teacher, and Guide, and the one who dwells in the lives of all true believers. He provides the power for us to be witnesses of the good news of Jesus in the entire world.
John 14:15-18, 26; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18

the Holy Bible is the word of God and contains all things necessary for salvation. The Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and it alone is the ultimate rule and guide for living the Christian life.
Isaiah 40:8; John 20:31; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12

that all persons are sinners by nature and are helpless to change their condition through any human power or ability. We are put into a right relationship to God by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is a gift of the grace of God and is available to all who, as an act of free will, respond to God’s offer of salvation.
Romans 3:23; 5:1-2, 6-11; 6:23; 10:9-11; Ephesians 2:8-9

all who put faith in Jesus Christ and the salvation He alone can give are born again and, therefore, citizens of the Kingdom of God. They are made new creations by the power of the Holy Spirit, freed from the curse of sin, and enabled to be faithful servants of God and others. As believers, we can fall into a life of sin by an act of our will through a rebellious and disobedient heart toward the known will of God. Forgiveness is available to all who turn from their sin and desire to live a new life following Jesus Christ.
John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 1:6-7; 3:5-10

the church is a community of all true believers of Jesus Christ. All Christians need to be a part of the fellowship of a local congregation where the Word of God is preached, and the sacraments are administered. The church exists for the worship of God, to proclaim the good news about Jesus to the entire world, and to help believers mature in their faith so they can be in ministry in the church and mission in the world.
Matthew 16:18-19; I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:11-16

the sacraments are signs of God’s love and grace for us and of our profession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In the practice of the sacraments, by the mystery of faith, we experience the grace of God in our lives and are strengthened in our faith. We observe two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (or “The Lord’s Supper”).
Matthew 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Matthew 26:26-30

baptism is a sign that we are followers of Christ and marks us as belonging to the family of God. It is a sign of the new birth. We practice the baptism of children but do not believe it is sufficient for salvation. All persons, at some point in their lives, must accept for themselves God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:3-4; Luke 18:15-17; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 4:4-6

the Lord’s Supper is a sign of God’s love toward us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It also reminds us of the way we are to love each other. We are to participate in Holy Communion in faith with a sincere desire to live a new life following Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 11:17-29

that followers of Jesus Christ are to continue growing in their faith and are to be in ministry and mission in and through their local church. Christians are set apart (or “sanctified”) to live lives that are both fruitful and faithful to the will of God. A person who is sanctified is freed from the power of sin and seeks to live a holy life, which is defined as loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving others as you would love yourself.
Mark 12:28-31; John 15:1-8; I Thessalonians 4:3-8; I Peter 1:13-16; Hebrews 12:14

it is the will of God for all Christians to join together regularly for the public worship of God. Worship is essential to the life of the church, and the regular gathering of the Christian community is necessary for Christian fellowship and growth.
Acts 2:46; Hebrews 10:24-25

that all persons will stand under final judgment of Jesus Christ.

in the resurrection of the dead.

those who are in a right relationship to Jesus Christ will live forever with God in a place the Bible calls heaven, and those who reject the gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from God in a place the Bible calls hell.
Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; I John 5:11-12; Revelation 22:12-17