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| Faith Statement of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka |
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We believe in one God, Holy, Loving and Forgiving, Just and Gracious, yet Infinite, sovereign, all powerful and all knowing who is present everywhere and is eternally co-existent in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We rejoice in the living presence of God in creation, redemption and consummation offered through grace to the whole world. |
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We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life, who taught, healed and performed divine miracles, and died an atoning death sufficient for all human beings. We believe in His bodily resurrection and ascension and His coming again in power and glory. |
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We believe in the Holy Spirit who indwells every person who has repented of sin and has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and He imparts His gifts empowers us to be signs of Christ's presence and character in our communities and in the world through our preaching, teaching and in deeds of justice, peace, mercy and healing as manifestations of our faith. |
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We believe in the divine authority and in infallible truth and teachings of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as originally given which is the prime rule of faith and practice. It is the centre of all spiritual and theological reflection, a process influenced by reason, tradition and experience while aware that scripture is the primary source and criterion of all Christian doctrine. |
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We believe that all human beings were created in the image of God, but due to sin and disobedience to God, are now under condemnation, but ...... redeemed by our response to Christ through his death on the cross and his resurrection. We affirm therefore the Centrality of God’s grace in Christ in our lives which is prevenient, justifying and sanctifying enabling us to pursue Scriptural holiness to overcome evil. |
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We believe the sacraments as divine appointment, namely of Baptism and the Lord's Supper in which we participate in the mystery of God's presence, redemption and reconciliation, and affirm our fellowship in the Body of Christ. |
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We believe that we are called to witness to God's reign among us now, and look forward to the full realization of the coming of Gods Kingdom when there will be the resurrection of the Body, Judgement and eternal life as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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We believe that in worship we celebrate His presence with gratitude and praise to God's mighty acts in creation, in history, in our communities and in our personal lives. We confess our sins against God and one another and receive God's gracious forgiveness. We wait for God's presence and intercede for one another in prayer. We affirm and respond to God's creating and saving power in the proclamation of the Gospel and we go out into the world to share the good news, to love and serve others and to be instruments of Justice, Righteousness and Peace in the establishment of God's reign on earth. |
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We believe that we the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who came to serve rather than be served, are called to go into the world to serve all people regardless of their economic and social status, race, gender, age physical and mental ability, religious or cultural origin, in ways that are appropriate to their context, affirming the life of holiness which holds together conversion and justice, works of piety and works of mercy. |
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We believe and cherish our true place in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church which consists of all people saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. We affirm that the love we share in Christ is stronger than our conflicts, broader than our opinions and deeper than the wounds we inflict on one another and therefore commit ourselves to participate in our congregations/denominations and the whole Christian family, for the purpose of nurture, outreach renewed and Christian witness. |
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We believe that having experienced the gospel of Jesus Christ as the liberating power from all oppression, we stand in solidarity with all people who seek freedom, peace and justice and commit ourselves to love our neighbour through dialogue and partnership for service to the world for all people. |
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“The People Called Methodists are the friends of all and enemies of none” |
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