I was asked recently what I believed. As a Methodist minister my first reaction was to point them to the Bible and the Constitutional Practice and Discipline (CPD) of the Methodist Church in the United Kingdom. My second was to point them to the Nicene Creed. But then I realised that not everyone has the time to read Methodist CPD (Everybody should have time to read the Bible) or may know the Nicene Creed, so I thought I would spell what I believe out simply.

 

Just in case you want to read the Nicene Creed then head here:

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https://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm

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If you want to read Methodist CPD then head here:

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https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/governance/cpd

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But in short here is my own personal belief statement.:

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• I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It carries a God given authority and is applicable to all aspects of our everyday lives.​

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• There is one God who is the Creator of all things. God is eternal, all knowing and everywhere. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.

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• Creation is fallen as a result of our sin. It is our sin that has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives.

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• The Lord Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. Jesus is the only one who can reconcile us to God. He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory. He empowers us for life.

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• God’s salvation and love is a gift given freely. In order to receive forgiveness and be born again, we must repent of our sins, believe in and confess openly the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives and becoming his disciples.

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• The Scriptures teach the importance of the Church and the necessity of believers to meet regularly together for fellowship, worship, prayer, preaching of the Word, and the breaking of bread.

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• Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us the gifts and talents so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives which is to worship God and serve the community in which we live. God wants to transform us so that we can live lives that may serve as a witness to God’s goodness and mercy 

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• Jesus will return in glory and all of humankind will stand before the throne of God on judgement day. Our choices in this life will determine where we spend eternity.

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• The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires commitment to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

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