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PREAMBLE

        In order that we may preserve our God-given heritage, the faith once delivered to the saints, especially the doctrine and experience of entire sanctification as a second work of grace, and also that we may cooperate effectually with other branches of the Church of Jesus Christ in advancing God’s kingdom, we, the ministers and lay members of the Church of the Nazarene, in accordance with the principles of constitutional legislation established among us, do hereby ordain, adopt, and set forth as the fundamental law or Constitution of the Church of the Nazarene the Articles of Faith, the General Rules, and the Articles of Organization and Government here following, to wit:

ARTICLES OF FAITH 

1.   Triune God 
        We believe in one God who is eternal, without limits, and that He is creator and ruler of the universe. He is holy in every part of his being and is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7; 40:18-31; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 14:6-27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:13-18)

 2.   Jesus Christ
        We believe in Jesus Christ, who was always with God, but became human and was born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is not a man who became a God, nor is he God dressed up as a man. Instead he is fully God and fully human with the two natures combined into one.
          We believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life of perfect obedience, died a sacrificial death and in so doing defeated all the powers of evil. Through God’s mighty power, he was raised to life and as the perfect Son of God/Son of man ascended into heaven where he intercedes for us. 

(Matthew 1:20-25; 16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-18; Acts 2:22-36; Romans 8:3, 32-34; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-22; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Hebrews 1:1-5; 7:22-28; 9:24-28; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3, 15) 

3.   The Holy Spirit
        We believe in the Holy Spirit who convinces the world of sin, gives new life to those who repent and believe in Jesus, guides, teaches and sanctifies believers.

(John 7:39; 14:15-18, 26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33; 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27; Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:24; 4:13) 

4.   The Holy Scriptures
        We believe that the 66 books of the Bible are the inspired word of God. We believe it shows us all that we need to know for our salvation.

(Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21) 

5.   Sin, Original and Personal
        We believe that sin come into the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. We believe that sin is of two kinds; the self-centered sinful nature that resists God and actual sins that people commit.

5.1 We believe that as a result of Adam’s sin, all people are born with a sinful nature. The sinful nature resists God and continually pulls people to commit acts of sin. We believe that the sinful nature remains within the heart of the Christian until removed through the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit.

5.2 Sin is a deliberate breaking of God’s law. It is not the same as mistakes, forgetfulness or other shortcomings, which are a result of our fallen human condition. Sin is essentially the act of breaking the law of love, and unbelief in the saving work of Jesus.

(Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-25; 5:12-14; 7:1—8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John 1:7-8)(Personal sin: Matthew 22:36-40 {with 1 John 3:4}; John 8:34-36; 16:8-9; Romans 3:23; 6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9‑2:4; 3:7-10)

6.   Atonement
        We believe that Jesus Christ suffered, shed his blood and died on the cross to make atonement for our sin and to bring us back into fellowship with God. We believe there is no other way to be saved and that Jesus died for all people. Jesus provides salvation to little children and those who are incapable of making decisions for themselves. All others must repent and believe in order to receive salvation.

(Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:46-48; John 1:29; 3:14-17; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; 4:17-25; 5:6-21; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Galatians 1:3-4; 3:13-14; Colossians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:19-25; 1 John 2:1-2)  

7.   Free Agency
        We believe that people were created in the image of God and so have the ability to choose between right and wrong. Adam sinned and as a result all people are born with a sinful nature and we are unable to save themselves by their own good works.
        We believe that the grace of God enables any person to turn from sin to righteousness and believe on Jesus for pardon and cleansing from sin if they so desire.
        We believe that even though a person is saved and sanctified they may fall into sin and be eternally lost unless they repent of their sins.

(Godlikeness and moral responsibility: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 1:8-10; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:1-4; Micah 6:8; Romans 1:19-20; 2:1-16; 14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8)(Natural inability: Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms 14:1-4; 51:5; John 3:6a; Rom 3:10-12; 5:12-14, 20a; 7:14-25)(Free grace and works of faith: Ezekiel 18:25-26; John 1:12-13; 3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans 5:6-8, 18; 6:15-16, 23; 10:6-8; 11:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 10:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:10a; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-15; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; James 2:18-22; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 2:20-22) 

8.   Repentance
        We believe that all have sinned and are far away from God.  We believe the Holy Spirit works in the lives of all who have sinned and draws them back towards God. We believe that all who sincerely turn from their sin, that is repent, and believe in Christ will receive pardon and spiritual life.

(2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 32:5-6; 51:1-17; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 3:12-14; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 33:14-16; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 3:1-14; 13:1-5; 18:9-14; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30-31; 26:16-18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9) 

9.   Justification, Regeneration and Adoption
        We believe that all who believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as Lord and Saviour are justified. This means that God forgives the sins committed, releases them from the penalty of sin and accepts them as righteous.
        When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we are born again – we are given a new moral nature and a new spiritual life that is characterized by faith, love and obedience.
        We believe that when we are forgiven and born again, God also graciously adopts us into the family of God. We believe that forgiveness, the new birth and adoption into the family of God takes place when we repent, and believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit and tells us that we are forgiven and adopted into the family of God.

(Luke 18:14; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 5:24; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 3:21-26, 28; 4:5-9, 17-25; 5:1, 16-19; 6:4; 7:6; 8:1, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:16-21; 3:1-14, 26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:1, 4-5; Philippians 3:3-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 1:9; 3:1-2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9-13, 18)

10.   Entire Sanctification
        We believe that after being born again, there is another work of God in which believers are set free from original sin, and brought into a state of total commitment to God, so that they live a life of loving obedience to God and love for others.
        When we are sanctified, the blood of Jesus cleanses our hearts, and the Holy Spirit fills our hearts, giving us power to serve God and live a godly life. The Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit that he has cleansed and filled us.
        The human side of sanctification involves entire consecration and faith that God will sanctify. This experience is also known as “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and “Christian holiness.”
        We believe there is a difference between a pure heart and a mature character.  God can purify our hearts in an instant but a mature character comes about through spiritual growth over a period of time.   

(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4, 8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians 3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9)(“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17-18)(“Heart purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3)(“Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9)(“Fullness of the blessing”: Romans 15:29)(“Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1—7:29; John 15:1-11; Romans 12:1—15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17—5:20; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20—3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 20-21) 

11.   The Church
        The church is made up of all people who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The church expresses its life in united worship, preaching the word of God, participating in the sacraments, obeying Christ and encouraging one another in their Christian lives.
        The church is to continue the work of Christ in the world through holy living, evangelism, discipleship and practical service. All of this is done through the power of the Holy Spirit.
        The church is both universal and local and should express its life and worship in ways that are culturally relevant. The church sets people apart for special ministries and carries on its ministry of evangelism and loving service as it waits for the coming of Jesus Christ.

(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19, 24; 18:15-20; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26; 20:21-23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28-29; 4:16; 10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 7:17; 11:1, 17-33; 12:3, 12-31; 14:26-40; 2 Corinthians 5:11—6:1; Galatians 5:6, 13-14; 6:1-5, 15; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27; Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12, 21; 4:1-2, 10-11; 1 John 4:17; Jude 24; Revelation 5:9-10)