THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST CHURCH, INC

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST CHURCH, INC.

Offering New Life in Jesus Christ by Seeking, Shaping & Sending Disciples

Preamble

The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. is a community of believers living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Those who become

members of The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. join in our mission of transforming lives by making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. seeks to glorify God through our shared ministries and life

together to reach our lost and broken world.

The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. stands in the long tradition of Wesleyan ministry extending the invitation of God’s grace

to all people. As Wesleyan Christians, our life together consists of the following disciplines experienced through the Wesleyan

way of serving Christ:

1) Corporate worship where God is exalted, fellowship is experienced, gifts are given, the Word of God is proclaimed,

and the sacraments duly administered.

2) Fellowship and discipleship ministries where people can learn to live the truth of God’s Word, grow in the fruit of

the Spirit, experience loving accountability, and share in the daily lives of fellow disciples.

3) Outreach opportunities where we both show God’s love in practical ways through strategic missional ministries and

declare God’s goodness through evangelistic ministries.

4) Support and grow in fellowship with the global church to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the entire world.

Doctrinal Standards

Doctrinal standards provide unity and clarity in our teaching and living. The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. affirms the

historic Wesleyan Christian faith that has been taught through the generations. To ground our teaching and Christian living,

we affirm the following doctrinal standards:

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and Earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried; *

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Standard Sermons and the Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament of John Wesley.

The Articles of Religion

Article 1: Faith in the Trinity

We believe in the one living and true God, both holy and loving, eternal, unlimited in power, wisdom, and goodness, the

Creator and Preserver of all things. Within this unity there are three persons of one essential nature, power and eternity—

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Article 2: The Father

We believe the Father is the Source of all that exists, whether of matter or spirit. With the Son and the Holy Spirit, He

made man, male and female, in His image. By intention He relates to people as Father, thereby forever declaring His

goodwill toward them. In love, He both seeks and receives penitent sinners.’’

Article 3: The Son

We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin

Mary, truly God and truly man. He died on the cross and was buried, to be a sacrifice both for original sin and for all

human transgressions, and to reconcile us to God. Christ rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and there

intercedes for us at the Father’s right hand until He returns to judge all humanity at the last day.

Article 4: The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is of the same essential nature, majesty, and

glory, as the Father and the Son, truly and eternally God. He is the Administrator of grace to all, and is particularly the

effective Agent in conviction for sin, in regeneration, in sanctification, and in glorification. He is ever present, assuring,

preserving, guiding, and enabling the believer.

Article 5: The Sufficiency and Full Authority of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation

We believe the Bible is God’s written Word, uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible bears unerring witness to Jesus

Christ, the living Word. The Scriptures have come to us through human authors who wrote, as God moved them, in the

language and literary forms of their times. God continues, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, to speak through this Word

to each generation and culture. The Bible has authority over all human life. It teaches the truth about God, his creation, his

people his one and only son and the destiny of humankind.

We believe that they contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved

thereby, is not to be required of any man or woman that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite

or necessary to salvation.

We believe that the books of the Old and New Testaments constitute the Holy Scriptures. The Old Testament is not contrary

to the New. Both Testaments bear witness to God’s salvation in Christ; both speak of God’s will for His people. The ancient

laws for ceremonies and rites, and the civil precepts for the nation Israel are not necessarily binding on Christians today.

But, on the example of Jesus we are obligated to obey the moral commandments of the Old Testament.

The books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2

Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of

Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

The New Testament fulfills and interprets the Old Testament. It is the record of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and the

Holy Spirit. It is God’s final word regarding humankind, sin, salvation, the world and its destiny.

The books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians,

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James,

1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

Article 6: Personal Choice

We believe that humanity’s creation in the image of God included ability to choose between right and wrong. Thus

individuals were made morally responsible for their choices. But since the fall of Adam, people are unable in their own

strength to do the right. This is due to original sin, which is not simply the following of Adam’s example, but rather the

corruption of the nature of each mortal, and is reproduced naturally in Adam’s descendants. Because of it, humans are very

far gone from original righteousness, and by nature are continually inclined to evil. They cannot of themselves even call

upon God or exercise faith for salvation. But through Jesus Christ the prevenient grace of God makes possible what humans

in self effort cannot do. It is bestowed freely upon all, enabling all who will to turn and be saved.

Article 7: Sin

We believe that through the disobedience of Adam and Eve sin entered the world and all creation suffered its

consequences. The effects of sin include disruption of the relationship between God and humanity, deterioration of the

natural order of creation, and exploitation of persons by evil or misguided social systems. The whole of creation groans for

redemption. Each person is born with a proclivity toward sin, manifested in an inordinate orientation toward self and

independence from God, leading to deliberate acts of unrighteousness.

The consequences of sin include a loss of fellowship with God, a self-absorption with one’s own interests rather than love

and concern for others, a bondage to things which distort the divine image, a persistent inability to live righteously, and

ultimately everlasting misery and separation from God. The atoning work of Christ is the only remedy for sin, whether

original, willful or involuntary.

Article 8: Atonement

We believe Christ offered once and for all the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. No other satisfaction

for sin is necessary; none other can atone.

Article 9: Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption

We believe that when one repents of personal sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, that at the same moment that

person is justified, regenerated, adopted into the family of God, and assured of personal salvation through the witness of

the Holy Spirit.

We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby a person is accounted righteous, granted full pardon of all

sin, delivered from guilt, completely released from the penalty of sins committed, by the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ, by faith alone, not on the basis of works.

We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that work of the Holy Spirit whereby, when one truly repents and

believes, one’s moral nature is given a distinctively spiritual life with the capacity for love and obedience. This new life is

received by faith in Jesus Christ, it enables the pardoned sinner to serve God with the will and affections of the heart, and

by it the regenerate are delivered from the power of sin which reigns over all the unregenerate.

We believe that adoption is the act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer becomes a partaker of all the

rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a child of God.

Article 10: Good Works

We believe that although good works cannot save us from our sins or from God’s judgment, they are the fruit of faith and

follow after regeneration. Therefore they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and by them a living faith may be

as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.

Article 11: Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is that saving work of God beginning with new life in Christ whereby the Holy Spirit renews

His people after the likeness of God, changing them through crisis and process, from one degree of glory to another, and

conforming them to the image of Christ.

Sanctification is initiated at the moment of justification and regeneration. From that moment there is a gradual or

progressive sanctification as the believer walks with God and daily grows in grace and in a more perfect obedience to

God. This sanctifying relationship with God remedies the divided mind, redirects the heart to God, and empowers believers

to please and serve God in their daily lives. Thus, God sets His people free to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and

strength, and to love their neighbor as themselves.

Article 12: The Church

We believe that the church is created by God. It is the people of God. Christ Jesus is its Lord and Head. The Holy Spirit is

its life and power.

The Church is to preach the pure Word of God, properly administer the sacraments according to Christ’s instructions, and

live in obedience to all that Christ commands. A local church is a body of believers formally organized on gospel principles,

meeting regularly for the purposes of evangelism, nurture, fellowship, and worship.

Article 13: The Sacraments

We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the sacraments of the church commanded by Christ and

ordained as a means of grace when received through faith. They are means of grace through faith, tokens of our

profession of Christian faith, and signs of God’s gracious ministry toward us. By them, He works within us to quicken,

strengthen and confirm our faith.

Water baptism signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ to be administered to believers as

declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Baptism is a symbol of the new covenant of grace as circumcision was the symbol of the old covenant; and, since infants are

recognized as being included in the atonement, they may be baptized upon the request of parents or guardians who shall

give assurance for them of necessary Christian training. They shall be required to affirm the vow for themselves before

being accepted into church membership.

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death. To those who rightly, worthily and with faith receive

it, 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. The supper is also a sign of the love and unity that Christians have among themselves.

Christ, according to His promise, is really present in the sacrament. But His body is given, taken and eaten only after a

heavenly and spiritual manner. No change is affected in the element; the bread and wine are not literally the body and

blood of Christ. Nor is the body and blood of Christ literally present with the elements. The elements are never to be

considered objects of worship. The body of Christ is received and eaten in faith.

Article 14: The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the certainty of the personal and imminent return of Christ inspires holy living and zeal for the

evangelization of the world. At His return He will fulfill all prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph over

evil.

Article 15: The Resurrection of the Dead

We believe in the bodily resurrection from the dead of all people— of the just unto the resurrection of life, and of the

unjust unto the resurrection of damnation. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of the resurrection which will occur at

Christ’s Second Coming. The raised body will be a spiritual body, but the person will be whole and identifiable.

Article 16: Judgment of All People

We believe that the Scriptures reveal God as the Judge of all and the acts of His judgment are based on His omniscience

and eternal justice. His administration of judgment will culminate in the final meeting of all persons before His throne of

great majesty and power, where records will be examined and final rewards and punishments will be administered.

Adopted January 27, 2

022, by The New Life in Christ Church, Inc. Board

I have read and understand the Constitution of the New Life in Christ Church, Inc.

By: _________________________________ Date: ____________________________

Please Print Name: _____________________________