The General Assembly is the supreme doctrine-formulating
and lawmaking body of the Church of the Nazarene. This Manual
contains the decisions and judgments of ministerial and
lay delegates of the Twenty-first General Assembly, which
met in Anaheim, Calif, June 23-38, 1985, and is therefore
authoritative as a guide for action, Because it is the official
statement of the faith and practice of the church and is
consistent with the teachings of the Scriptures, we expect
our people every where to accept the tenets of doctrine
and the guides and helps to holy living contained in it.
To fail to do so, after formally taking the membership vows
of the Church of the Nazarene injures the witness of the
church, violates her conscience, and dissipates the fellowship
of the people called Nazarenes.
With the Bible as our supreme Guide, illuminated by the
Holy Spirit, and the Manual as our official agreed-upon
statement of faith, practice, and polity, we look forward
to the new quadrennium with joy and unswerving faith in
Jesus Christ.
The Board of General Superintendents
Theological Tradition
The Church of the Nazarene is the largest denomination
in the Wesleyan-Arminian (Holiness) theological tradition.
ARTICLES OF FAITH:
I. THE TRIUNE GOD
We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign
of the universe; that He only is God, creative and administrative,
holy in nature, attributes, and purpose; that He, as God,
is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Ge 1:1-2:1; Lev 19:2; De 6:4-5; Isa 5:16; 6:1-7;
40:18-31; Mt 3:16,17; 28:19,20; Joh 14:6-27; 1Co 8:6; 2Co
13:14; Gal 4:4-6; Eph 2:13-18
II. JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune
Godhead; that He was eternally one with the Father; that
He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the
Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, that
is to say the Godhood and manhood, are thus united in one
Person very God and very man, the God-man. We believe that
Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He truly arose
from the dead and took again His body, together with all
things appertaining to the perfection fo man's nature, wherewith
He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession
for us. Mt 1:20-25; Lu 1:26-35; Joh 1:1-18; Ac 2:22-36;
Ro 8:3; 8:32-34; Gal 4:4-5; Php 2:5-11; Col 1:12-22; 1Ti
6:14-16; Heb 1:1-5; 7:22-28; 1Jo 1:1-3; 4:2,3,15
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the
Triune Godhead, that He is ever present and efficiently
active in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the
world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe,
sanctifying believers, and guiding into all truth as it
is in Jesus. Joh 7:39; 14:15-18,26; 16:7-15; Ac 2:33; 15:8,9;
Ro 8:1-27; Gal 3:1-14; 4:6; Eph 3:14-21; 1Th 4:7,8; 2Th
2:13; 1Pe 1:2; 1Jo 3:24; 4:13
IV. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures,
by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments,
given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will
of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation,
so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined
as an article of faith. Lu 24:44-47; Joh 10:35; 1Co 15:3,4;
2Ti 3:15-17; 1Pe 1:10-12; 2Pe 1:20,21
V. SIN, ORIGINAL AND PERSONAL
We believe that sin came into the world through the disobedience
of our first parents, and death by sin. We believe that
sin is of two kinds: original sin or depravity, and actual
or personal sin.
5.1. We believe that original sin, or depravity, is
that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of
Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from
original righteousness or the pure state of our first
parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God,
is without spiritual life, and inclined to evil, and that
continually. We further believe that original sin continues
to exist with the new life of the regenerate, until eradicated
by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
5.2. We believe that original sin differs from actual
sin in that it constitutes an inherited propensity to
actual sin for which no one is accountable until its divinely
provided remedy is neglected or rejected.
5.3. We believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary
violation of a known law of God by a morally responsible
person. It is therefore not to be confused with involuntary
and inescapable shortcomings, infirmities, faults, mistakes,
failures, or other deviations from a standard of perfect
conduct which are the residual effects of the Fall. However,
such innocent effects do not include attitudes or responses
contrary to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be
called sins of the spirit. We believe that personal sin
is primarily and essentially a violation of the law of
love; and that in relation to Christ sin may be defined
as unbelief. Original sin: Ge 3:1-24; 6:5; Job 15:14;
Ps 51:5; Jer 17:9,10; Mar 7:21-23; Ro 1:18-25; 5:12-14;
7:1-8:9; 1Co 3:1-4; Gal 5:16-25; 1Jo 1:7,8 Personal Sin--cf.
Mt 22:36-40; 1Jo 3:4 Joh 8:34-36; 16:8,9; Ro 3:23; 6:15-23;
8:18-24; 14:23; 1Jo 1:9-2:4; 3:7-10
VI. ATONEMENT
We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings by the
shedding of His own blood, and by His meritorious death
on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and
that this Atonement is the only ground of salvation, and
that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam's race.
The Atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation
of the irresponsible and for the children in innocency,
but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach
the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe.
Isa 53:5,6,11; Mr 10:45; Lu 24:46-48; Joh 1:29; 3:14-17;
Ac 4:10-12; Ro 3:21-26; 4:17-25; 5:6-21; 1Co 6:20; 2Co 5:14-21;
Gal 1:3,4; 3:13,14; Col 1:19-23; 1Ti 2:3-6; Tit 2:11-14;
Heb 2:9; 9:11-14; 13:12; 1Pe 1:18-21; 2:19-25; 1Jo 2:1,2
VII. FREE AGENCY
We believe that man's creation in Godlikeness included
ability to choose between right and wrong, and that thus
he was made morally responsible; that through the fall of
Adam he became depraved so that he cannot now turn and prepare
himself by his own natural strength and works to faith and
calling upon God. But we also believe that the grace of
God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all men,
enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness,
believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin,
and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight.
We believe that man, though in the possession of the experience
of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from
grace and apostatize and, unless he repent of his sin, be
hopelessly and eternally lost. Godlikeness and moral responsibility:
Ge 1:26,27; 2:16,17; De 28:1,2; 30:19; Jos 24:15; Ps 8:3-5;
Isa 1:8-10; Jer 31:29,30; Eze 18:1-4; Mic 6:8; Ro 1:19,20;
2:1-16; 14:7-12; Gal 6:7,8 Natural inability: Job 14:4;
15:14; Ps 14:1-4; 51:5; Joh 3:6 Ro 3:10-12; 5:12-14,20;
7:14-25 Free grace and works of faith: Eze 18:25,26; Joh
1:12,13; 3:6; Ac 5:31; Ro 5:6-8,18; 6:15-16,23; 10:6-8;
11:22; 1Co 2:9-14; 10:1-12; 2Co 5:18,19; Gal 5:6; Eph 2:8-10;
Php 2:12,13; Col 1:21-23; 2Ti 4:10; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 2:1-3;
3:12-15; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; Jas 2:18-22; 2Pe 1:10,11; 2:20-22
VIII. REPENTANCE
We believe that repentance, which is a sincere and thorough
change of the mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of
personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from sin, is
demanded of all who have by act or purpose become sinners
against God. The Spirit of God gives to all who will repent
the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy,
that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual life. 2Ch
7:14; Ps 32:5,6; 51:1-17; Isa 55:6,7; Jer 3:12-14; Eze 18:30-32;
33:14-16; Mr 1:14,15; Lu 3:1-14; Lu 13:1-5; 18:9-14; Ac
2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30,31; 26:16-18; Ro 2:4; 2Co 7:8-11;
1Th 1:9; 2Pe 3:9
IX. JUSTIFICATION, REGENERATION,
AND ADOPTION
We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial
act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and
complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and
acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ
and receive Him as Lord and Savior. 10. We believe that
regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious work of
God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is
spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual
life, capable of faith, love, and obedience. 11. We believe
that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified
and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God. 12.
We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption
are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God
and are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by
repentance; and to this work and state of grace the Holy
Spirit bears witness. Lu 18:14; Joh 1:12,13; 3:3-8; 5:24;
Ac 13:39; Ro 1:17; 3:21-26,28; Ro 4:5-9; 4:17-25; 5:1; 5:16-19;
6:4; 7:6; 8:1; 8:15-17; 1Co 1:30; 6:11; 2Co 5:17-21; Gal
2:16-21; 3:1-14; 3:26; 4:4-7; Eph 1:6,7; 2:1; 2:4,5; Php
3:3-9; Col 2:13; Tit 3:4-7; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jo 1:9; 3:1,2,9;
4:7; 5:1; 5:9-5:13; 5:18
X. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION
We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God,
subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made
free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a
state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience
of love made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with
the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing
of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence
of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and
service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood
of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by faith, preceded
by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace
the Holy Spirit bears witness. This experience is also known
by various terms representing its different phases, such
as "Christian perfection," "perfect love,"
"heart purity," "the baptism with the Holy
Spirit," "the fullness of the blessing,"
and Christian holiness." 14. We believe that there
is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature
character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result
of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth
in grace. We believe that the grace of entire sanctification
includes the impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse
must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given
to the requisites and processes of spiritual development
and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality.
Without such purposeful endeavor one's witness may be impaired
and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost. Jer
31:31-34; Eze 36:25-27; Mal 3:2,3; Mt 3:11,12; Lu 3:16,17;
Joh 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Ac 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8,9; Ro
6:11-13; 6:19; 8:1-4; 8:8-14; 12:1,2; 2Co 6:14-7:1; Gal
2:20; 5:16-25; Eph 3:14-21; 5:17,18; 5:25-27; Php 3:10-15;
Col 3:1-17; 1Th 5:23,24; Heb 4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1,2; 13:12;
1Jo 1:7,9 "Christian perfection," "perfect
love" De 30:6; Mt 5:43-48; 22:37-40; Ro 12:9-21; 13:8-10;
1Co 13:1-13; Php 3:10-15; Heb 6:1; 1Jo 4:17,18 "Heart
purity" Mt 5:8; Ac 15:8,9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:3 "Baptism
with the Holy Spirit" Jer 31:31-34; Eze 36:25-27; Mal
3:2,3; Mt 3:11,12; Lu 3:16,17; Ac 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8,9 "Fullness
of the blessing" Ro 15:29 "Christian holiness"
Mt 5:1-7:29; Joh 15:1-11; Ro 12:1-15:3; 2Co 7:1; Eph 4:17-5:20;
Php 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Col 2:20-3:17; 1Th 3:13; 4:7,8; 5:23;
2Ti 2:19-22; Heb 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20,21; 1Pe 1:15,16;
2Pe 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 1:20,21
XI. THE CHURCH
We believe in the Church, the community that confesses
Jesus Christ as Lord, the covenant people of God made new
in Christ, the Body of Christ called together by the Holy
Spirit through the Word. God calls the Church to express
its life in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit; in worship
through the preaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments,
and ministry in His name; by obedience to Christ and mutual
accountability. The mission of the Church in the world is
to continue the redemptive work of Christ in the power of
the Spirit through holy living, evangelism, discipleship,
and service. The Church is a historical reality, which organizes
itself in culturally conditioned forms, exists both as local
congregations and as a universal body; sets apart persons
called of God for specific ministries. God calls the Church
to live under His rule in anticipation of the consummation
at the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ex 19:3; Jer 31:33;
Mt 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19,24; 18:15-20; 28:19,20; Joh 17:14-26;
20:21-23; Ac 1:7,8; 2:32-47; 6:1,2; 13:1; 14:23; Ro 2:28,29;
4:16; 10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1Co 5:11-6:1; Gal
5:6; 5:13,14; 6:1-5; 6:15; Eph 4:1-17; 5:25-27; Php 2:1-16;
1Th 4:1-12; 1Ti 4:13; Heb 10:19-25; 1Pe 1:1,2,13; 2:4-12,21;
4:1,2; 4:10,11; 1Jo 4:17; Jude 1:24; Re 5:9,10
XII. BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism, commanded by our Lord,
is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of
the atonement of Jesus Christ, to be administered to believers
and declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their
Savior, and full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness.
Baptism being a symbol of the new covenant, young children
may be baptized, upon request of parents or guardians who
shall give assurance for them of necessary Christian training.
Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion,
according to the choice of the applicant. Mt 3:1-7; 28:16-20;
Ac 2:37-41; 8:35-39; 10:44-48; 16:29-34; Ac 19:1-6; Ro 6:3,4;
Gal 3:26-28; Col 2:12; 1Pe 3:18-22
XIII. THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the Memorial and Communion Supper instituted
by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is essentially a New
Testament sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial death,
through the merits of which believers have life and salvation
and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ. It is
distinctively for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation
of its significance, and by it they show forth the Lord's
death till He come again. It being the Communion feast,
only those who have faith in Christ and love for the saints
should be called to participate therein. Ex 12:1-14; Mt
26:26-29; Mr 14:22-25; Lu 22:17-20; Joh 6:28-58; 1Co 10:14-21;
11:23-32
XIV. DIVINE HEALING
We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and
urge our people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for
the healing of the sick. Providential means and agencies
when deemed necessary should not be refused. 2Ki 5:1-19;
Ps 103:1-5; Mt 4:23,24; 9:18-35; Joh 4:46-54; Ac 5:12-16;
9:32-42; 14:8-15; 1Co 12:4-11; 2Co 12:7-10; Jas 5:13-16
XV. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again;
that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them
that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding
in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet
the Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord.
Mt 25:31-46; Joh 14:1,2,3; Ac 1:9-11; Php 3:20,21; 1Th 4:13-18;
Tit 2:11-14; Heb 9:26-28; 2Pe 3:3-15; Re 1:7,8; 22:7-20
XVI. RESURRECTION, JUDGEMENT,
AND DESTINY
We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the bodies
both of the just and of the unjust shall be raised to life
and united with their spirits--"they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." 21.
We believe in future judgment in which every man shall appear
before God to be judged according to his deeds in this life.
22. We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured
to all who savingly believe in, and obediently follow, Jesus
Christ our Lord; and that the finally impenitent shall suffer
eternally in hell. Ge 18:25; 1Sa 2:10; Ps 50:6; Isa 26:19;
Da 12:2,3; Mt 25:31-46; Mr 9:43-48; Lu 16:19-31; 20:27-38;
Joh 3:16-18; 5:25-29; Joh 11:21-27; Ac 17:30,31; Ro 2:1-16;
14:7-12; 1Co 15:12-58; 2Co 5:10; 2Th 1:5-10; Re 20:11-15;
22:1-15
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE--GENERAL
RULES
To be identified with the visible Church is the blessed
privilege and sacred duty of all who are saved from their
sins and are seeking completeness in Christ Jesus. It is
required of all who desire to unite with the Church of the
Nazarene, and thus to walk in fellowship with us, that they
shall show evidence of salvation from their sins by a godly
walk and vital piety; and that they shall be, or earnestly
desire to be, cleansed from all indwelling sin. They shall
evidence their commitment to God--
FIRST. By doing that which is enjoined in the Word of
God, which is our rule of both faith and practice, including
. . . (1) Loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and
strength, and one's neighbor as oneself Ex 20:3-6; Le
19:17,18; De 5:7-10; 6:4,5; Mr 12:28-31; Ro 13:8-10 (2)
Pressing upon the attention of the unsaved the claims
of the gospel, inviting them to the house of the Lord,
and trying to compass their salvation Mt 28:19,20; Ac
1:8; Ro 1:14-16; 2Co 5:18-20 (3) Being courteous to all
men. Eph 4:32; Tit 3:2; 1Pe 2:17; 1Jo 3:18 (4) Being helpful
to those who are also of the faith, in love forbearing
one another Ro 12:13; Ga 6:2,10; Col 3:12-14 (5) Seeking
to do good to the bodies and souls of men; feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned,
and ministering to the needy, as opportunity and ability
are given Mt 25:35,36; 2Co 9:8-10; Ga 2:10; Jas 2:15,16;
1Jo 3:17,18 (6) Contributing to the support of the ministry
and the church and its work in tithes and offerings Mal
3:10; Lu 6:38; 1Co 9:14; 16:2; 2Co 9:6-10; Php 4:15-19
(7) Attending faithfully all the ordinances of God, and
the means of grace, including the public worship of God,
Heb 10:25 the ministry of the Word, Ac 2:42 the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper; 1Co 11:23-30 searching the Scriptures
and meditating thereon; Ac 17:11; 2Ti 2:15; 3:14-16 family
and private devotions. De 6:6,7; Mt 6:6
SECOND. By avoiding evil of every kind, including: (1)
Taking the name of God in vain Ex 20:7; Lev 19:12; Jas
5:12 (2) Profaning of the Lord's Day by participation
in unnecessary secular activities, thereby indulging in
practices that deny its sanctity. Ex 20:8-11; Isa 58:13,14;
Mr 2:27,28; Ac 20:7; Re 1:10 (3) s¥xual immorality,
such as premarital or extramarital relations, perversion
in any form, or looseness and impropriety of conduct.
Ex 20:14; Mt 5:27-32; 1Co 6:9-11; Ga 5:19; 1Th 4:3-7 (4)
Habits or practices known to be destructive of physical
and mental well-being. Christians are to regard themselves
as temples of the Holy Spirit. Pr 20:1; 23:1,2,3; 1Co
6:17-20; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:18 (5) Quarreling, returning evil
for evil, gossiping, slandering, spreading surmises injurious
to the good names of others 2Co 12:20; Ga 5:15; Eph 4:30-32;
Jas 3:5-18; 1Pe 3:9,10 (6) Dishonesty, taking advantage
in buying and selling, bearing false witness, and like
works of darkness Lev 19:10,11; Ro 12:17; 1Co 6:7-10 (7)
The indulging of pride in dress or behavior. Our people
are to dress with the Christian simplicity and modesty
that become holiness. Pr 29:23; 1Ti 2:8-10; Jas 4:6; 1Pe
3:3,4; 1Jo 2:15-17 (8) Music, literature, and entertainments
that dishonor God 1Co 10:31; 2Co 6:14-17; Jas 4:4
THIRD. By abiding in hearty fellowship with the church,
not inveighing against but wholly committed to its doctrines
and usages and actively involved in its continuing witness
and outreach. Eph 2:18-22; 4:1-3; 4:11-16; Php 2:1-8;
1Pe 2:9,10
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