What We Believe In
Faith Statement
The full expression of our doctrinal and theological beliefs is enshrined in the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church, which can be found here: The Methodist Church in Singapore – The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church (1784). In summary, we believe that:
- There is one eternal Triune God, consisting of three equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ is the Son of God made flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered, was put to death on a cross, died, and was buried.
- Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his death, and appeared to the disciples. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge all men – living and dead – in the end.
- The Holy Spirit, as the bond of love between Father and Son, proceeds from them both. Though He is a Person in his own right, he shares in the essence of the Triune Godhead, and therefore shares in the majesty and glory of the Father and the Son as well.
- The Bible is holy scripture, and contains all that we need for our salvation.
- The Old Testament stands in continuity with the New Testament, and together with the New Testament, is God’s testament of salvation for all humanity, in Christ.
- All humanity bears the stain of original sin, which has sundered our relationship with God.
- Our ability to willingly turn to God is itself a work of divine grace, for apart from it would not even be possible for us to desire God.
- We are made worthy in God’s eyes, through faith in Christ alone, and not of our own merit.
- Good works are the fruit arising from our faith in Christ, and though we cannot earn our salvation, they are nonetheless pleasing to God.
- While we are on the way to perfection in love, we might still sin. God, in his mercy, does grant us the grace of pardon and correction when we repent.
- The visible Church of Christ is a gathering of faithful people who celebrate the Sacraments and the preaching of the Word.
- The Church celebrates two Sacraments, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. These are visible signs of an invisible grace, signifying new birth, and our redemption and nourishment, respectively.
- Children and infants should be baptised in the Church, as a pledge of faith to Christ, and as a pledge from the Church to nurture and raise them in the faith.
Sengkang Methodist is local conference in connection with the Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore. Together as the Methodist Church in Singapore, we uphold the historic and creedal faith of the Church through the ages, particularly the Apostle’s Creed, and the Nicene Creed. Our social witness is also well summarized in the Methodist Social Creed, which is as follows:
METHODIST SOCIAL CREED
- We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts for personal gain.
- We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its care, preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
- We joyfully receive for ourselves and others, the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage and the family.
- We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the ageing, the dying, and those with handicaps; to improvement in the quality of life, and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
- We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the good of themselves and others; in the rights of property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and the cultivation of a simple lifestyle; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
- We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to freedom for all people, and to the rule of justice and law among nations.
- We believe in the present and final triumph of God in human affairs, and affirm that the world is our parish.
For a more comprehensive delineation of our Methodist Social Principles, please refer to: methodistsg-social-principles-2020.pdf; a repository of Methodist Doctrine and Beliefs can also be found here: The Methodist Church in Singapore – Beliefs.