WHATDOUNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE?
by Dr. William Bouknight
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus was the Son ofGod, 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 Saviorand Mediator, who intercedes for us and by him all persons will be judged.
Article II,The Confession of Faith,TheBook of Discipline: "We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and trulyman, 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 ofthe Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. As ministering servant helived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead andascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He iseternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all persons areto be judged."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THECROSS?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that sin separated allpersons from God. Jesus' death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice, makingpossible our forgiveness and reconciliation with God. To repent of sin andtrust in Jesus Christ are the only requirements for one to receive thatforgiveness and reconciliation made possible by Jesus' death.
The Nicene Creed: "For our sake hewas crucified under Pontius Pilate. . ."
Article II,The Articles ofReligion,The Book of Discipline: ". . Christ, veryGod and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried toreconcile 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 ofDiscipline: "The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfectredemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world,both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but thatalone. . ."
Article VI, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: ". . everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, whois the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT SIN?
The official United Methodist doctrine is this: because ofrebellion against God going all the way back to Adam, all persons are inclinedtoward 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 andplease God. Only through an intervention of God's grace can a person overcomesin and become part of the Kingdom of God.
Article VII, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: ". . man is very far gone from original righteousness, andof his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually."
Article VII, The Confession of Faith,The Book ofDiscipline: "We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apartfrom the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclinedtoward evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Inhis own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing andacceptable to God..."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUTJUSTIFICATION?
The official United Methodist doctrine is this: when a personrepents of sin and trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that person isforgiven of sin and receives the gift of eternal life (right relationship withGod). The Holy Spirit takes up residence in that person, teaching and equippinghim or her to he a disciple of Christ, and confirming that the person is indeeda child of God.
Article IX, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "We are accounted righteous before God only for the meritof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works ordeservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a mostwholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort."
Article IX, The Confession of Faith,The Book of Discipline:"We believe we are never accounted righteous before God through our worksor merit, but that penitent sinners are justified or accounted righteous beforeGod only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. "We believe regeneration isthe renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of theHoly Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experiencenewness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God andis enabled to serve him with the will and the affections. "We believe,although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to depart from graceand fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed inrighteousness."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THERESURRECTION OF JESUS?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus' physical bodybecame alive again after three days in the grave.
The Apostles Creed: ". . .the thirdday her rose from the dead."
Article III, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took againhis body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature. .."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THETRINITY?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that God is one God inthree 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 I, 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 threepersons, of one substance, power and eternity - - - the Father, the Son, andthe Holy Spirit."
Article I, The Confession of Faith,The Book of Discipline:"We believe in the one true, holy, and living God, Eternal Spirit, who isCreator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He isinfinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with graciousregard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. Webelieve the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son, and HolySpirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THEBIBLE?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that the Bible wasinspired by God and contains all things necessary for salvation. When readunder the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is our true rule and guidefor faith and practice.
Article V, The Articles of Religion,The Book of Discipline:"The Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation; so thatwhatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to berequired of any person that it should be believed as an article of faith, or bethought requisite or necessary to salvation. . ."
Article VI, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both inthe Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ . .. Although the law given from God by Moses concerning ceremonies and rites doesnot bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity bereceived in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever isfree from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral."
Article IV, The Confession of Faith,The Book of Discipline:"We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word ofGod so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received throughthe Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever isnot revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to made an articleof faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT HEAVENAND HELL?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus will judge theliving and the dead. Those who have not accepted Jesus' offer of forgivenessand new life are at risk of living apart from him for all eternity. JesusChrist alone is empowered to judge one's eternal destiny.
The Nicene Creed: "He (Jesus) will come again in glory tojudge the living and the dead."
Article XII, The Confession of Faith,The Book ofDiscipline: "We believe all persons stand under the righteous judgmentof Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day. We believe in the resurrectionof the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endlesscondemnation."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THESECOND COMING?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that Jesus Christ willreturn again in glory, bringing human history to a close, and inaugurating hisKingdom in all its fullness.
The Nicene Creed: "He (Jesus) will come again in glory . .."
Article III, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: ". . .he (Christ) ascended into heaven, and there sittethuntil he return to judge all persons at the last day."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOLYSPIRIT?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that the Holy Spirit isof one substance with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convinces theworld of sin, and leads persons to a response in faith to the gospel. The HolySpirit is the Christian's primary teacher, comforter, and source of power.
The Nicene Creed: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with theFather and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through theprophets."
Article IV, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "The Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son,is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very andeternal God."
Article III, The Confession of Faith,The Book ofDiscipline: "We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and isone in being with the Father and the Son. He convinces the world of sin, ofrighteousness and of judgment. He leads persons through faithful response tothe gospel into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, sustains, andempowers the faithful and guides them into all truth."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT BAPTISM?
The official United Methodist doctrine is that the baptism ofbelievers signifies repentance and forgiveness of sin, new birth, and the entryinto Christian discipleship.
Young children, with or without baptism, are under the atonement ofChrist and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christianbaptism. For them baptism is a symbol of God taking the initiative toward them.Their baptism should be followed by Christian nurture within the church.Hopefully, they will be led at a later time to receive the gift of salvationthrough profession of faith in Christ.
The Nicene Creed: "We acknowledge one baptism for theforgiveness of sins."
Article XVII, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark ofdifference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are notbaptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptismof young children is to be retained in the Church."
Article VI, The Confession of Faith,The Book of Discipline:". . .We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith,and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation ofthe new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship. "Webelieve children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdomof God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. Children of believingparents through Baptism become the special responsibility of the Church. Theyshould be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by professionof faith confirm their Baptism. . ."
WHAT DO UNITED METHODISTS BELIEVE ABOUT HOLYCOMMUNION?
Holy Communion (or the Lord' s Supper) is a faithful remembrance ofthe suffering and death of Christ and a celebration of love within the Church.Those who in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake ofthe body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until He comes in glory.
Article XVIII, The Articles of Religion,The Book ofDiscipline: "The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the lovethat Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is asacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that, to such asrightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break isa partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is apartaking of the blood of Christ. "Transubstantiation, or the change ofthe substance of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, cannot be proved byScripture, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthrows thenature of a sacrament, and has given occasion to many superstitions. "Thebody of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenlyand spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received andeaten in the Supper is faith. "The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was notby Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped."
Article VI, The Confession of Faith,The Book of Discipline:". . .We believe the Lord's Supper is a representation of our redemption,a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and unionwhich Christians have with Christ and with one another. Those who rightly,worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake ofthe body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until he comes."
