Who Are We?

What we believe as Methodists
Length: 20:10

This is the message given on June 14, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.

Why we believe what we believe!
Various Scriptures

This morning we will be looking at some church history and trying to remember who we are and why we believe what we believe.

We are Methodist, Protestant, Christians. We follow the teachings of Christ through the Protestant movements and methods of John and Charles Wesley (1736) and others.

I am going to focus on 5 aspects of our beliefs this morning.

We believe
1. The Holy Scriptures
2. By faith alone
3. By grace alone
4. Through Christ alone
5. To God alone be the glory

1. Sola Scriptura
As United Methodist Christians, we stand with Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the reformers of the 1500’s on the principle of "only the Scriptures". We are saying that the Bible – nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else has infallible authority for us.

Scripture is inerrant and infallible. 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses16-17 states “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2004, paragraph 103 (page 67), says:
”We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation.”

The infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture is in its ability to lead you to Jesus Christ,
and teach you how to live a Christian life.

2. Sola Fide
We believe by faith alone. What does that mean? Only faith and nothing else, is all you need to become a Christian.

Take a look at John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 gives us the Gospel in a few simple words.

If you believe in Jesus, that’s all it takes to receive eternal life. That’s liberating! All I need to become a Christian, and all I need to stay a Christian, is to have faith in Jesus.

Notice what it does NOT say. It does not say you need to go to church every Sunday, pray everyday, give a tithe, read the Bible, serve on various committees or whatever.

Sometimes, we forget how simple the Gospel is! It is by faith alone.

The logical question is, “How do you know your faith is real”? James chapter 2 verse 14 tells us faith without works is dead. When you have faith you will have a deep longing in your heart to go to Church, to pray, to give of your time and money and reading and studying the Bible. That’s how you know your faith is genuine.

From the United Methodist Book of Discipline 2004 paragraph 103, page 69:
“We believe we are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but that penitent sinners are justified or accounted righteous before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Sola Gratia
We believe in grace alone. Before you were born, God was thinking about you. God already had plans to bless your life. That’s grace.

When you became a Christian, God forgave all of your sins. That’s justifying grace.
As you learn to let go of your problems, and let the Holy Spirit make you more like Jesus: that’s sanctifying grace.
When Jesus returns to earth. The new bodies we will receive will last forever. That’s glorifying grace.

We use the word grace to describe God’s unmerited love. As Protestant Christians we firmly believe that God’s grace is all it takes to make us right with God.

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

What does it mean when it says: "For it is by grace you have been saved"?

It means that the Savior paid it all. When Jesus died on the cross, He completely paid for all of your sins and mine. There isn't any left over payments to be made. You don't have to earn even a fraction of your salvation. Jesus paid it ALL.

That is grace.

From the United Methodist Book of Discipline 2004 paragraph 103, pages 68
“We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God.”

Matthew chapter 19 verse 16 records a man going up to Jesus and asking, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" That one sentence sums up exactly how the world sees religion. People want to know, "What is it going to cost me?" "What do you want ME to do?"

But the Gospel turns worldly wisdom on its head. Salvation has a price tag, but it has been marked "PAID IN FULL BY JESUS CHRIST".

Since God gives us grace, then that obviously comes from Him and we can’t brag about it. What about faith? Isn’t faith something that we do? Isn’t that something we can take credit for?

Actually, NO. The Bible is really clear about that. The faith you have was given to you by God. It is a gift. You can’t brag about something you didn’t make.

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We are people who have already won the victory! We are people who have read the end of the book. We are people who can enjoy God's wonderful world!

Why?
Because we don't earn salvation. By faith, we celebrate the victory that is certainly coming! Yes, Christians still have problems and sickness, and crisis, and difficulties. But, even in the midst of trouble, we have grace and that makes all the difference!

Understanding the meaning of grace has tremendous consequences for evangelism. All of the other religions have rules for people follow to save themselves through their own effort. We have a message of grace. The price has already been paid. We get to tell people about the wonders of God’s grace.

4. Soli Christo

We believe in Christ alone. Some people get offended when they hear Christians say "Jesus is the only way to God". They might say, "That's exclusivism." Well, truth is exclusive right?

It excludes what isn't true. Christianity makes an amazing claim: Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Either that is true, or it is not. There is no middle ground, no other twist or interpretation.

In John chapter 14 verse 6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Christianity is an either/or religion. Either you are a Christian and follow Christ or you are not. Christ will take nothing less than 100% commitment.

From the United Methodist Book of Discipline 2004 paragraph 103, pages 68-69.
”The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.”

Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. There is no Plan B. There is only one plan, Jesus.

This is not something that we debate. Christ alone is our path to salvation.

5. Soli Deo Gloria

Finally, we believe to God alone belongs the glory.

First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This is a key verse for us. It means that everything we do, every word we speak, every decision we make, should be done to give glory, praise and honor to God.

From the United Methodist Book of Discipline 2004 paragraph 103, pages 69.
”We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.”

Each night before you go to bed, replay the day in your head and make a list of things that you did or said that glorified God and those that didn’t glorify God. Continuously try to glorify God with your actions.

Live for Jesus. That is the finest thing we can ever do. Repent, believe the Gospel, and live for Christ. If you do that, you will be giving God the glory he deserves.

We believe
1. The Holy Scriptures
2. By faith alone
3. By grace alone
4. Through Christ alone
5. To God alone be the glory

Closing Prayer

Lord, help us truly believe and live by the Holy Scriptures, by our faith and your grace through Christ, so that we may give you all the glory and honor and praise this week and throughout our lives. AMEN.