· The Methodist Church is part of the Whole Church, which is the body of Christ.
· There is only one God who created everything.
· There is nothing we can do to buy our way into heaven.
· Jesus died on the Cross and paid the price for all our sins.
· Jesus was buried in a tomb but rose from the dead.
· When Jesus ascended back into heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to guide and help us.
· If we believe in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, then we can be put right with God.
· God is a triune God consisting of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are equal.
· The Bible is not just any book but is the divine revelation of God.
Within these very broad guidelines, there stand four particular emphases which began with John Wesley and remain part of the Methodist Tradition:-
1.
All need to be saved -
the doctrine of original sin
2. All can be saved by grace through faith -
Universal Salvation
3. All can know that they are saved - Assurance
4. All can be saved to the uttermost
- Christian Perfection
Methodism stands firmly within the
Protestant tradition of the worldwide Christian Church. When John Wesley was
asked "What is the character of a Methodist?" part of his detailed answer went thus -
"A Methodist is one who has the
love of God shed abroad in his life by the Holy Ghost given unto him. One who
loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all
his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart and the desire
of his soul."
When the Methodist Church united in
1932 the Deed of Union was drawn up, part of which reads as follows:- 'The
Methodist Church claims and cherishes its place in the Holy Catholic Church
which is in the Body of Christ. It rejoices in the inheritance of the Apostolic
Faith, and loyally accepts the fundamental principles of the historic creeds
and of the Protestant Reformation. It ever remembers that, in the Providence of
God, Methodism was raised up to spread scriptural Holiness through the land by
the proclamation of the Evangelical Faith, and declares its unfaltering resolve
to be true to its Divinely appointed mission. The Doctrines of the Evangelical
Faith which Methodism has held from the beginning and still holds, are based
upon the Divine Revelation recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The Methodist
Church acknowledges this revelation as the supreme rule of faith and practice.'
Methodism is well aware of the
importance of personal religious experience. The Methodist Church owed its
origin, under God, to the profound change which came in the religious
experience of John and Charles Wesley at Whitsuntide 1738.
· It is a fact of life - it comes from God and points to Him.
· Through his experience the Christian knows that his redemption is the work of God's grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).
· Through his experience, the Christian receives assurance that he has been forgiven and is a child of God (Romans 8:12-17).
· The Christian's experience is shared by men and women of all races.
· God's love is given to all and the Christian is committed to offer Christ and His love to all people.
by John Wesley
A Methodist is one who has the love of God shed abroad
in his heart by the Holy Spirit given unto him.
One who loves the Lord his God with all his heart and
soul and mind and strength.
He rejoices evermore, prays without ceasing, and in
everything gives thanks.
His heart is full of love to all mankind and is
purified from envy, wrath, malice, and every unkind affection.
His one desire and the one design of his life is not
to do his own will but the will of Him that sent him.
He keeps all God's commandments from the least to the
greatest.
He follows not the customs of the world, for vice does
not lose its nature through becoming fashionable.
He fares not sumptuously every day.
He cannot lay up treasures upon earth, nor can he
adorn himself with gold and costly apparel.
He cannot join in any diversion that has the least
tendency to vice.
He cannot speak evil of his neighbour any more than he
can lie.
He cannot utter unkind or evil words.
He does good unto all men, unto neighbours, strangers,
friends and enemies.
These are the principles and practices of our sect.
These are the marks of a true Methodist.
By these alone do Methodists desire to be
distinguished from all other men.