Articles of Religion
Article II
Of the Word, or Son of God, Who was Made Very Man
The Son, Who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, Who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried to reconcile His Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. Jn. 1:14; Col. 2:6, 9; I Jn. 4:9,10; Gal. 4:4, 5; I Cor. 15:3, 4.
Article I
Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Deut. 4:39, 6:4; Jn. 4:24; Mt. 28: 19; II Cor. 13:14; I Pet. 1:2.
Article III
Of the Resurrection of Christ
Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again His body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until He returns to judge all men on the last day. Mt. 28:5, 6; I Cor. 15:3, 4; Rev. 1:18; Jn. 11:25; Rev. 22:13, 20.
Article IV
Of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. Acts 5:3, 4; II Cor. 3:17; Jn. 14:26, 27;15:26; Joel 2:28.
Article V
Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation, so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the church.
Of the names of the canonical books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Song of Solomon. *Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Prophets the less.
All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical. II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:21; Heb. 1:1, 2; Psm. 119:89; Isa. 40:8.
*Lamentations of ancient times was a part of the Book of Jeremiah. When this Article of Religion was adopted, Lamentations was included in Jeremiah and we accept this Article of Faith with this understanding and interpretation. Our interpretation is that the book of Lamentations is therefore included in “Four Prophets the greater.”
Article VI
Of the Old Testament
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, Who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, not ought the civil precepts thereof necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. Mt. 5:17, 18; Josh. 1:8; 23:6; Deut. 8:3; Jer. 15:16.
Article VII
Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually. Rom. 5:12; Psm. 51:5; Mt. 15:18, 19; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:9-12.
Article VIII
Of Free Will
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will. Jn. 6:44; Tit. 2:11; Eph, 2:8, 9; I Tim. 2:3, 4.
Article IX
Of the Justification of Man
We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. Rom. 5:1,18; I Cor. 6:11; Gal. 3:24; Gen. 15:6.
Article X
Of Good Works
Although good works, which are the fruits of faith and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God’s judgement, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be so evidently known, as a tree discerned by its fruit. Eph. 2:10; Ja. 2:20; Heb. 10:24; Mt. 5:16.
Article XI
Of Works of Supererogation
Voluntary works besides, over and above God’s commandments, which they call works of supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as they are bound to do, but that they do more for His sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly: When ye have done all that is commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants. Lk. 17:10; Phil. 3:12; Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 12:3.
Article XII
Of Sin After Justification
Not every sin, willingly committed after justification, is the sin against the Holy Ghost and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification: After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God rise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. I Jn. 1:9; Mt. 6:l2; Heb. 12:1, 6; Rev. 3:15-20.
Article XIII
Of the Church
The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly administered according to Christ’s ordinance, and all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. Eph 5:25-27; Acts 2:41, 42, 47; 20:28; Mt. 28:19, 20.
Article XIV
Of Purgatory
The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, worshipping, and adoration as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.
Article XV
*Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People Understand
It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God and the custom of the primitive church to have public prayer in the church or to minister the sacraments in a tongue not understood by the people. I Cor. 14:2, 19, 23, 28, 40.
*As Methodists we stand upon the Articles of Religion and Doctrines of The Southern Methodist Church which are of ancient origin and firmly founded on God’s Word; that said Articles and Doctrines have historically never been construed by this Church to embrace the idea of speaking in unknown tongues or any other charismatic idea contrary to said Articles and Doctrines.
Article XVI
Of the Sacraments
Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace and God’s good will towards us, by which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.
There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel: that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.
Those five commonly called sacraments-that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction-are not to be counted for sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have partly grown out of the corrupt following of the apostles and partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have not the like nature of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper because they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.
The sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily received the same they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith. Mt. 28:19; 26:26-28; I Cor. 11:24-26.
Article XVII
Of Baptism
Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized, but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth.
The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church. Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; I Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27.
Article XVIII
Of the Lord’s Supper
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death: insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ: and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.
The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the means whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith.
The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was not by Christ’s ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. Mt. 26:26-28; I Cor. 10:16;11:23-30; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:19, 20.
Article XIX
Of Both Kinds
The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people: for both parts of the Lord’s Supper, by Christ’s ordinance and commandment, ought to be administered to all Christians alike.
Article XX
Of the one Oblation of Christ, Finished upon the Cross
The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit. Rom. 3:23-25; I Jn. 2:2; Heb. 9:27, 28; 10:10; I Pet. 3:18.
Article XXI
Of the Marriage of Ministers
The ministers of Christ are not commanded by God’s law either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage, therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christians, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve best to godliness. I Tim. 3:2, 4, 5; Tit. 1:5-7.
Article XXII
Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches
It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike, for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God’s Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongeth, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.
Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.
Article XXIII
Of the Rulers of the United States of America
The President, the Congress, the general assemblies, the governors, and the councils of state, as the delegates of the people are the rulers of the United States of America according to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the United States and by the constitutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdictions.* Rom. 13:1-7; Mt. 22:21; Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13,14.
*The Twenty-Third Article of Religion in The Discipline of all our churches in foreign lands shall read: Of the Duty of Christians to the Civil Authority “It is the duty of all Christians, and especially of all Christian ministers, to observe and obey the laws and commands of the governing or supreme authority of the country of which they are citizens or subjects, or in which they reside, and to use all laudable means to encourage and enjoin obedience to the powers that be.”
Article XXIV
Of Christian Men’s Goods
The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability. Deut. 15:7; Lk. 6:38;11:41; Psm. 41:1; Pro. 14:21.
Article XXV
Of A Christian Man’s Oath
As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James, His apostle; so we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet’s teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth. Mt. 5:31-37.