Methodist Belief

• God is all-knowing, possesses infinite love and goodness, is all-powerful, and the creator of all things. God has always existed and will always continue to exist. God is three persons in one, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus was God on Earth (conceived of a virgin), in the form of a man who was crucified for the sins of all people, and who was physically resurrected to bring them the hope of eternal life.
• The grace of God is seen by people through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and in their world.
• Close adherence to the teachings of Scripture is essential to the faith because Scripture is the Word of God.
• Christians are part of a universal church and must work with all Christians to spread the love of God.
• Baptism is a sacrament or ceremony in which a person is anointed with water to symbolize being brought into the community of faith.
• Communion is a sacrament in which participants eat bread and drink juice to show that they continue to take part in Christ’s redeeming resurrection by symbolically taking part in His body (the bread) and blood (the juice).
• People can only be saved through faith in Jesus Christ, not by any other acts of redemption such as good deeds.
• Methodist teaching is that people must use logic and reason in all matters of faith.
• Prevenient grace is present before they are saved from the error of their ways.
• Justifying grace is given at the time of their repentance and forgiveness by God.
• Sanctifying grace is received when they have finally been saved from their sins and the sins of the world.