Our Beliefs

The Church of the Nazarene is a mainstream Christian evangelical denomination with 90 local congregations in the UK and over 1.5 million members in 120 or more countries. Arising in 1908 as a distinct denomination within the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, it is similar in doctrine and organisation to Methodism.

From time to time the Church (believers in Jesus Christ, of whatever denomination) has tried to express its key beliefs in formal statements called Creeds. Our denomination's Agreed Statement of Belief similarly summarises beliefs that are held by most Christians:

• We believe in one God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.
• We believe that man is born with a fallen nature, and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.
• We believe that the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
• We believe that the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.
• We believe that believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.
• We believe that our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.

The Nazarene Constitution includes more detailed Articles of Faith with references to the Scriptures from which the doctrines are derived. Whichever way we express them, it can take an entire lifetime to explore these beliefs and to appreciate their relevance to everything we do.