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Our faith embraces a single, eternal, and boundless God, the Supreme Creator and Upholder of the universe, who stands alone as the one true God, possessing absol
ute holiness in His nature, attributes, and divine plan. This Triune God, characterized by holy love and illuminating light, reveals Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1–7; 40:18–31; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19–20; John 14:6–27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4–6; Ephesians 2:13–18; 1 John 1:5; 4:8)
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Our belief centers on Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. He has been eternally united with the Father and, through the workings of the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary as a fully divine and fully human being, thus combining the Godhead and manhood in one remarkable Person—the God-man. We firmly hold that Jesus Christ sacrificially died for our sins and, in a profound demonstration of His power, triumphantly rose from the dead. Subsequently, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He presently intercedes on our behalf. (Matthew 1:20–25; 16:15–16; Luke 1:26–35; John 1:1–18; Acts 2:22–36; Romans 8:3, 32–34; Galatians 4:4–5; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:12–22; 1 Timothy 6:14–16; Hebrews 1:1–5; 7:22–28; 9:24–28; 1 John 1:1–3; 4:2–3, 15)
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Our faith recognizes the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Triune Godhead. We acknowledge His constant presence and effective involvement within the Church of Christ. His divine work includes convicting the world of sin, renewing the hearts of those who repent and believe, sanctifying the faithful, and leading them into the fullness of truth found in Jesus. (John 7:39; 14:15–18, 26; 16:7–15; Acts 2:33; 15:8–9; Romans 8:1–27; Galatians 3:1–14; 4:6; Ephesians 3:14–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:7–8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:24; 4:13)
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Our belief acknowledges the complete inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, encompassing the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. These books, bestowed through divine revelation, flawlessly express God's will for us in all matters vital to our salvation. Therefore, any doctrine not included within these scriptures should not be imposed as a requirement of faith. (Luke 24:44–47; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Peter 1:10–12; 2 Peter 1:20–21)
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Our conviction is that sin entered the world due to the disobedience of our initial ancestors, and it brought forth death. Sin, as we comprehend it, exists in two forms: original sin or depravity, and actual or personal sin. We believe that original sin is different from actual sin. Original sin is like an inborn tendency to do wrong things, but we are not held responsible for it until we neglect or reject the remedy that God has given to deal with it. We believe that actual or personal sin occurs when someone knowingly chooses to break one of God's laws and is responsible for their actions. However, it is essential to distinguish it from involuntary mistakes or weaknesses that are a result of the original sin's impact. These innocent effects don't include attitudes or responses that go against Christ's teachings, which can still be considered as sins of the spirit. Personal sin is essentially a failure to love others as God intends, and in relation to Christ, sin can be defined as unbelief. (Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9–10; Mark 7:21–23; Romans 1:18–25; 5:12–14; 7:1–8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1–4; Galatians 5:16–25; 1 John 1:7–8
Personal sin: Matthew 22:36–40 {with 1 John 3:4}; John 8:34–36; 16:8–9; Romans 3:23; 6:15–23; 8:18–24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9–2:4; 3:7–10)
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We believe that Jesus Christ, through His sufferings, shedding His own blood, and dying on the Cross, completely paid for all human sin. This Atonement is the only basis for our salvation and is enough for everyone, from all generations. The Atonement works graciously to save those who cannot understand right from wrong, like young children, and those who have not yet reached the age of responsibility. However, for those who can make these choices, the Atonement becomes effective for their salvation when they turn away from sin and believe in Jesus. (Isaiah 53:5–6, 11; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:46–48; John 1:29; 3:14–17; Acts 4:10–12; Romans 3:21–26; 4:17–25; 5:6–21; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14–21; Galatians 1:3–4; 3:13–14; Colossians 1:19–23; 1 Timothy 2:3–6; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 2:9; 9:11–14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:18–21; 2:19–25; 1 John 2:1–2)
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We believe that God's grace, given through Jesus Christ, is available to everyone. This grace empowers anyone who wants to change their ways and do what is right, to believe in Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing from sin, and to live in a way that pleases God. When God created humanity, He gave us the ability to make choices, including choosing between right and wrong. However, because of Adam's fall, our nature became corrupted, and we cannot, by our own efforts, change or prepare ourselves to have faith in God or call upon Him. We need His grace to help us do that. Godlikeness and moral responsibility: Genesis 1:26–27; 2:16–17; Deuteronomy 28:1–2; 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3–5; Isaiah 1:8–10; Jeremiah 31:29–30; Ezekiel 18:1–4; Micah 6:8; Romans 1:19–20; 2:1–16; 14:7–12; Galatians 6:7–8
Natural inability: Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms 14:1–4; 51:5; John 3:6a; Romans 3:10–12; 5:12–14, 20a; 7:14–25
Free grace and works of faith: Ezekiel 18:25–26; John 1:12–13; 3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans 5:6–8, 18; 6:15–16, 23; 10:6–8; 11:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9–14; 10:1–12; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8–10; Philippians 2:12–13; Colossians 1:21–23; 2 Timothy 4:10a; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 2:1–3; 3:12–15; 6:4–6; 10:26–31; James 2:18–22; 2 Peter 1:10–11; 2:20–22)
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We believe that the Spirit of God helps those who repent, granting them hope and belief in forgiveness and spiritual renewal. Repentance involves sincerely changing one's mind about sin, understanding what it is, and willingly turning away from it. Repentance is essential for all who have sinned against God. We also believe that people can choose to turn away from God's grace, leading to eternal loss. Those who have been transformed by God's grace can live in unbroken fellowship with Him through the indwelling Holy Spirit, confirming their status as children of God. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 32:5–6; 51:1–17; Isaiah 55:6–7; Jeremiah 3:12–14; Ezekiel 18:30–32; 33:14–16; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 3:1–14; 13:1–5; 18:9–14; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30–31; 26:16–18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8–11; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9)
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We believe that justification is God's generous act of forgiving all our sins and setting us free from their consequences when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Regeneration, or the new birth, is when God spiritually revives and changes the nature of a repentant believer, giving them a new spiritual life capable of faith, love, and obedience. Adoption is God's gracious act of making justified and regenerated believers His children. All three—justification, regeneration, and adoption—happen at the same time when seekers turn to God in faith after repentance. The Holy Spirit confirms this work of grace in their lives. (Luke 18:14; John 1:12–13; 3:3–8; 5:24; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 3:21–26, 28; 4:5–9, 17–25; 5:1, 16–19; 6:4; 7:6; 8:1, 15–17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Galatians 2:16–21; 3:1–14, 26; 4:4–7; Ephesians 1:6–7; 2:1, 4–5; Philippians 3:3–9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4–7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 1:9; 3:1–2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9–13, 18)
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We believe that sanctification is God's work of transforming believers to be like Christ. Entire sanctification is when God frees believers from their sinful nature and fills them with love and devotion to God. This happens through the Holy Spirit's baptism or filling, cleansing the heart from sin, and empowering the believer for life and service. It is a work of grace through faith, preceded by consecration, and the Holy Spirit confirms this experience. This experience has different names like "Christian perfection," "perfect love," and "Christian holiness." We also believe that having a pure heart (entire sanctification) is different from having a mature character, which comes from growing in grace as a Christlike disciple. To grow in grace, believers need to actively nurture their spiritual development, engage in fellowship with each other, practice spiritual disciplines, and participate in sacraments. (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Malachi 3:2–3; Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:16–17; John 7:37–39; 14:15–23; 17:6–20; Acts 1:5; 2:1–4; 15:8–9; Romans 6:11–13, 19; 8:1–4, 8–14; 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Galatians 2:20; 5:16–25; Ephesians 3:14–21; 5:17–18, 25–27; Philippians 3:10–15; Colossians 3:1–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; Hebrews 4:9–11; 10:10–17; 12:1–2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9)
(“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43–48; 22:37–40; Romans 12:9–21; 13:8–10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10–15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17–18
“Heart purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8–9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3
“Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Malachi 3:2–3; Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:16–17; Acts 1:5; 2:1–4; 15:8–9
“Fullness of the blessing”: Romans 15:29
“Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1–7:29; John 15:1–11; Romans 12:1–15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17–5:20; Philippians 1:9–11; 3:12–15; Colossians 2:20–3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7–8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19–22; Hebrews 10:19–25; 12:14; 13:20–21; 1 Peter 1:15–16; 2 Peter 1:1–11; 3:18; Jude 20–21)
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We believe in the Church, a community of people that follows Jesus Christ as Lord, formed anew in Him by God. The Church is brought together by the Holy Spirit through God's Word. God calls the Church to live in unity, sharing the Spirit's fellowship. The Church worships through preaching, sacraments, and serving in Jesus' name. Obedience to Christ, holy living, and mutual accountability are essential. The Church's mission is to continue Christ's work of redemption and reconciliation, empowered by the Spirit. This involves making disciples through evangelism, education, compassion, seeking justice, and bearing witness to God's kingdom. The Church takes different forms in different cultures, existing as local congregations and a universal body. It appoints individuals called by God for specific ministries. As a historical reality, the Church lives under God's rule, anticipating the final fulfillment when Jesus returns. (Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13–19, 24; 18:15–20; 28:19–20; John 17:14–26; 20:21–23; Acts 1:7–8; 2:32–47; 6:1–2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28–29; 4:16; 10:9–15; 11:13–32; 12:1–8; 15:1–3; 1 Corinthians 3:5–9; 7:17; 11:1, 17–33; 12:3, 12–31; 14:26–40; 2 Corinthians 5:11–6:1; Galatians 5:6, 13–14; 6:1–5, 15; Ephesians 4:1–17; 5:25–27; Philippians 2:1–16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19–25; 1 Peter 1:1–2, 13; 2:4–12, 21; 4:1–2, 10–11; 1 John 4:17; Jude 24; Revelation 5:9–10)
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We believe that Christian baptism, as instructed by Jesus, is a sacred act symbolizing acceptance of the atonement's blessings and becoming part of the Body of Christ. It is a means of grace, publicly declaring faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Baptism is for believers, expressing their commitment to live in holiness and righteousness, but even young children and morally innocent individuals can be baptized at the request of their parents or guardians. The church is responsible to ensure Christian training, and a baptism can be performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. (Matthew 3:1–7; 28:16–20; Acts 2:37–41; 8:35–39; 10:44–48; 16:29–34; 19:1–6; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:26–28; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18–22)
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We believe that the Communion Supper, established by Jesus Christ, is a sacrament that proclaims His life, suffering, sacrificial death, resurrection, and the hope of His return. It is a means of grace where Christ is present through the Spirit. All believers are invited to partake in faith, experiencing renewal in life, salvation, and unity as the Church. We should approach it with reverence, remembering its significance and commemorating the Lord's death until He comes again. Christ invites those who have faith in Him and love for fellow believers to participate as often as possible. (Exodus 12:1–14; Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:17–20; John 6:28–58; 1 Corinthians 10:14–21; 11:23–32)
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We believe in the biblical teaching of divine healing and encourage our people to pray in faith for the sick to be healed. We also believe that God can work through medical science for healing. (2 Kings 5:1–19; Psalm 103:1–5; Matthew 4:23–24; 9:18–35; John 4:46–54; Acts 5:12–16; 9:32–42; 14:8–15; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; James 5:13–16)
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We believe that Jesus Christ will come back one day. If we are still alive when He returns, we will be taken up together with those who have been raised from the dead to meet the Lord in the air. From that moment on, we will always be with the Lord. (Matthew 25:31–46; John 14:1–3; Acts 1:9–11; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 9:26–28; 2 Peter 3:3–15; Revelation 1:7–8; 22:7–20)
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We believe in the physical resurrection of all humanity after death, where our bodies will be joined with our spirits. Those who did good will have life, and those who did evil will face damnation. In the future, everyone will stand before God for judgment based on what they chose to do with Jesus and the salvation he offers. Those who truly believe on him for the forgiveness of their sins and the righteousness he provides will spend eternity with him in Heaven. However, those who reject him will spend eternity without him - this place is called hell. (Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 50:6; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2–3; Matthew 25:31–46; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 16:19–31; 20:27–38; John 3:16–18; 5:25–29; 11:21–27; Acts 17:30–31; Romans 2:1–16; 14:7–12; 1 Corinthians 15:12–58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10; Revelation 20:11–15; 22:1–15)
Articles of Faith
Okeechobee Church of the Nazarene
