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Beliefs

The Doctrinal Clause of the Deed of Union of 1932 (The Constitutional Basis of the Methodist Church)

“The Methodist Church claims and cherishes its place in the Holy Catholic Church which is 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 on the divine revelation recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The Methodist Church acknowledges this revelation as the supreme rule of faith and conduct.”

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. We recognise that not everybody shares exactly the same understanding of biblical texts but the following statements set out what Yealmpton Methodist Church believes. We welcome all who love the Lord or seek to know Him.

      1. There is only one true and living God, who reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
        The three Persons are one in purpose and one in action and form the Godhead, known as the Holy Trinity.
      2. God is Creator and Sustainer of all things seen and unseen.
        All people are created in God’s image and are deeply loved by Him. Therefore each individual’s life has dignity and purpose which can only be found through faith in Him. The world exists because God created it, it belongs to Him and therefore we should cherish and care for it.
      3. Jesus Christ is God revealed in human form.
        Fulfilling all scriptural prophecies, Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, became flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, willingly took upon Himself all of our sins, died and rose again bodily, and is at the right hand of the Father as our Advocate and Mediator.
      4. The Holy Spirit is God interacting in the world.
        The Third Person of the Trinity indwells all believers; it is in this way that the Father and the Son make their home with those who love Jesus. The Spirit leads them into truth, guides them through life, and gives them the power to reach out to a lost and needy world. He convicts people of their sin and draws them to Christ.
      5. The church is the family of God.
        The true church of Jesus Christ keeps His commandments and shows His love to the world. Its main mission is to spread the good news of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has given His church His authority and power to carry out this work. The church celebrates two Sacraments instituted by Jesus: Holy Communion, which remembers Christ’s death until He comes again; and Baptism witnessing to new life in Christ following conversion.
      6. Man has a sinful nature and is in need of reconciliation to God.
        Because of his sinful nature man is separated from God and deserves the judgement of God. But God’s free gift of forgiveness and a sure hope of resurrection and eternal life are available to all who turn to Him in repentance and active trust. This free gift is through one Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood on the cross. This supreme sacrifice shows how much God loves us.
      7. The Bible is the true and living word of God.
        The Bible is unique amongst writings in that it is truth given to man by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So all scripture is inspired and the original text has been accurately preserved through the centuries. The Bible is for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. It also reveals truth about the future.
      8. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
        After death every person will come before the judgement seat of Christ. Those who have been reconciled to God through belief and trust in Jesus Christ, that is ‘born again’, will go to heaven. Those who have consciously rejected belief in Christ will not have their names in the Book of Life and will forever experience hell, which is separation from God.
      9. The Return of the LORD Jesus Christ
        At the end of this age Jesus Christ will return to earth to resurrect those who are asleep in Christ, take to Himself believers who are alive at His coming, rule the nations in righteousness as King and usher in the fullness of the Kingdom of God.