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Out of obedience to God's Great Commission, to produce disciple making churches that will lead our world to Christ.

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    		•

    CHAPTER ONE
    OF
    THE DISCIPLINE
    (General Principles
    and
    Doctrines)
    NOTE: This book of Discipline shall, for all intents and purposes, be considered the by-laws of the Corporation. Any business section of this Discipline which is contrary to state or Federal law shall be superseded by state or Federal law.

    100         GENERAL PRINCIPLES

    101    The Primitive Methodist Church is a community of Evangelical Christians, united for mutual help in the perfecting of Christian character; for promoting vital Christianity in the earth; and aiding in extending the kingdom of Christ throughout the world.
    102    We acknowledge the right of Christian people to associate themselves in denominations, and formulate such polity for their government as they deem agreeable to the Word of God.
    103    We recognize in our church one order of ministry — Elder. We recognize equal representation of ministry and laity to the Conference.
    104    All persons shall have the right of private interpretation in spiritual matters, and shall have equal right to express interpretations which do not violate the Word of God or the rights of others.
    105    No minister or member will teach doctrines which are contrary to the stated doctrines of the Primitive Methodist Church.

    110          DOCTRINES

    111    We believe the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God (1). We believe it to be Divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit (2). We further believe that its declarations are final (3). And that it is the only true rule of faith and practice (4).
        (1) I Peter 1:23; Luke 24:27,44; Deut. 8:3; I Peter 1:25.
        (2) II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21.
        (3) Matthew 24:34; I Peter 1:25; Psalm 119:89.
        (4) Acts 17:10-12; Isaiah 34:16; Romans 10:17; I Thess. 2:13.

    112          BIBLICAL INERRANCY

        We believe that the scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are, in their original autographs, wholly and verbally given by God and are therefore free from error or fault. Furthermore, the Bible is without error in all of its teachings. This is true no less when it speaks about creation, science, geography or world history, than when it reveals the condition of man and God’s plan of salvation. While the Bible is not specifically a textbook on science, history, mathematics or geography, we are convinced that whatever statements it makes within the scope of any of these subjects is without error.

    This doctrine of inerrancy is verified by:
        1. The character of God - Psalm 119:160; Hebrews 6:17,18.
        2. The testimony of Jesus Christ - John 17:17. 101.2
        3. The witness of the Apostles.
            - Paul (II Timothy 3:16)
            - Peter (II Peter 1:21)
        4. The convictions of the Church Fathers - from Iranaeus to Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc.
        5. The results of modern scholarship
            - archaeological findings and the research done on discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls only confirm the position of inerrancy always held by the evangelical church.

    We believe the Bible teaches the following doctrines:

    113        THE TRIUNE GOD:

        We believe that God exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons, one God (1). We believe He is self-existent, infinite, personal, unchangeable and eternal in His being (2). He is perfect in holiness, love, justice, goodness, wisdom and truth (3). He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (4). He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, visible and invisible (5).
        1. Matthew 28:18-20; II Cor. 13:14; Deut. 6:4; John 10:30.
        2. Exodus 3:11-18; Psalm 90:1-2; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 1:12; Psalm 22:3.
        3. Exodus 34:6; Deut. 32:4; Isa. 6:3; Isa. 57:15; Psalm 103:8; I Timothy 1:17; II Peter 3:9; I John 4:8-16.
        4. Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Jer. 23:23-24; Jer. 17:19; Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:18-20.
        5. Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3; II Peter 3:5-7.

    114        THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST:

        We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ (1); in His eternity (2); in His incarnation by the virgin birth (3); thus uniting perfect man and perfect God in one body (4). We believe also in His sinless life (5); in His vicarious death (6); and bodily resurrection from the dead (7); in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (8). We further believe in His present ministry of advocacy (9); and His coming again in power and glory (10).
        1. John 1:1; John 1:18; Isa. 9:6; John 5:18; John 8:58; John 6:51-52; John 17:5.
        2. Micah 5:2; John 1:18; John 3:16.
        3. Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16; Isa. 7:14.
        4. Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:14-18; I Cor. 8:6; I John 5:7; John 10:30.
        5. I Peter 3:18; II Cor. 5:21; Isaiah 53:6.
        6. I Peter 2:24; Rom. 5:8; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 5:6; II Cor. 5:15; I Timothy 2:6; Heb. 2:9.
        7. I Cor. 15:20; Luke 24:1-7; Matt. 28:1-10; Rom. 1:4; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 8:11.
        8. Heb. 1:3; Acts 1:9-10; Luke 24:51; Acts 7:56.
        9. John 17; I John 2:1-2; Heb. 4:15.
        10. I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; I Cor. 15:51-58; Titus 2:13; II Peter 1:16; Acts 1:11.

    115        THE DEITY AND PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

        We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third Person of the blessed Trinity. He is eternally God (1). His office work is to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (2). We believe the Holy Spirit to be a Person (3), Who regenerates (4), sanctifies (5), empowers (6), teaches (7), guides (8), and comforts (9). He is at work in the world as a witness to Christ (10), as the builder of the Church (11), and as the indweller of the brethren (12).
        1. Matt. 28:18-20; II Cor. 13:14; John 14:26; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 12:8-11; Matt. 10:20; Romans 8:9; I Cor. 2:13.
        2. John 16:7-11; John 15:26; Heb. 9:14.
        3. Acts 13:2; John 16:13-14.
        4. John 3:5; Titus 3:5.
        5. I Thess. 5:23; Acts 13:2.
        6. Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49.
        7. John 14:26; John 15:26.
        8. John 16:13; I John 2:20,24
        9. John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26.
        10. John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Matt. 3:16-17; Luke 3:22.
        11. Acts 2; Matthew 16:13-18; Eph. 2:19-22.
        12. Galatians 2:20; I Cor. 6:19-20.

    116        MAN:

        We believe that man was created by the direct act of God, in His image, possessing personality (1) and the right of choice. In his original state man enjoyed fellowship with God (2). We further believe that man chose not to remain in the happy state in which God created him; being tempted by Satan, he became disobedient (3), and incurred upon himself and his posterity the sentence that sin deserved (4). We further believe that man in his natural state cannot please God (5).
        1. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7.
        2. Genesis 3:9.
        3. Genesis 3:1-6.
        4. I Cor. 15:22; Rom. 6:23; Genesis 3:14-19; Ezekiel 18:4.
        5. John 3:6; John 3:36; I John 5:12; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 8:7-8.

    117        REDEMPTION:

        We believe that God has provided redemption for all men through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross (1). We further believe that since man cannot save himself, God has provided the perfect offering for sin in Christ (2).
        1. John 1:29,35-36; John 10:11,15; Heb. 9:28; Romans 5:8.
        2. I Peter 3:18; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; I Peter 1:23; Luke 19:8-10.

        We believe that man is justified in the sight of God by faith, and that true, genuine faith produces regeneration, also called the new birth (1).
        We further believe that Godly sorrow for sin (repentance) will produce reformation of character (2).
        1. Romans 3:24; Romans 5:1; John 3:3.
        2. Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30; Matthew 3:8.

    118        SANCTIFICATION:

        We believe that sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart (1), setting apart or consecrating for a task (2), producing holiness in the life (3).
        1. I Thess. 3:13; I Thess. 5:23; I Peter 1:2; II Thess. 2:13.
        2. Acts 15:8-9; I Thess. 5:23-24.
        3. John 17:17,19; Eph. 5:26; Acts 15:8-9; II Cor. 7:1.

    119        THE SECOND COMING:

        We believe that Jesus Christ will come again to the earth to reign (1). We believe that it will be pre-millenial, visible and redemptive (2). This is the great source of motivation for purification (3), and inspiration for Christian service (4).
        1. Matthew 24:44; II Timothy 4:1; Acts 1:11.
        2. Romans 8:18-23; I Timothy 6:14-16.
        3. I John 3:1-3.
        4. Romans 13:11-14.

    120        THE JUDGMENTS:

        We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of both the just and the unjust (1); the just first (2) to the seat of Christ for reward of works (3), and entrance into heaven, and the unbeliever to the Great White Throne for judgment of sin (4) and banishment from the presence of God forever (hell).
        1. John 5:28-29; II Timothy 4:1.
        2. Revelation 20:5-6.
        3. I Cor. 3:10-15; II John 8; Rev. 3:11; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10.
        4. Revelation 20:11-15.

    121        THE CHURCH:

        We believe the Church to be instituted of God (1). It is the body of which Christ is the head (2). It is composed of believers by faith in Christ as Savior (3), irrespective of race or color (4).

        The Primitive Methodist Church is a congregation of believers joined together for mutual fellowship (5), and the worship of God (6).
        1. Matthew 16:13-18; Eph. 2:18-22; I Cor. 3:11.
        2. Col. 1:18; I Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph 2:19-22.
        3. II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:6-8; John 3:3-5.
        4. Gal. 6:14-15; Acts 10:34; Acts 15:6-11; Romans 10:13.
        5. Acts 2:41-47; I John 1:7.
        6. John 4:24; Phil. 3:3; I Peter 2:9.

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