08/30/2026
Tomorrow - What We Believe Week 4; Atonement and a Theology of Salvation
The Relevant Articles of Faith for the Church of the Nazarene for tomorrow's message
VI. Atonement
We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of His own blood,
and by His death on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this
Atonement is the only ground of salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of
Adam’s race. The Atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of those incapable
of moral responsibility and for the children in innocency but is efficacious for the salvation
of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe.
(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; 1Timothy
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)
VII. Prevenient Grace
We believe that the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all
people, enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for
pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His
sight. We also believe that the human race’s creation in Godlikeness included the ability to
choose between right and wrong, and that thus human beings were made morally
responsible; that through the fall of Adam they became depraved so that they cannot now
turn and prepare themselves by their own natural strength and works to faith and calling
upon God.
(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)
VIII. Repentance
We believe the Spirit of God gives to all who will repent the gracious help of
penitence of heart and hope of mercy, that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual
life. Repentance, which is a sincere and thorough change of the mind in regard to sin,
involving a sense of personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from sin, is demanded
of all who have by act or purpose become sinners against God.
We believe that all persons may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless they repent
of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost. We believe that regenerate persons need not
return to sin but may live in unbroken fellowship with God through the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit who bears witness with our spirits that we are 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)
IX. Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption
9. We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial act of God by which He grants
full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and
acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and
Savior.
9.1 We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious work of God whereby
the moral nature of the repentant believer is spiritually quickened and given a
distinctively spiritual life, capable of faith, love, and obedience.
9.2 We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and
regenerated believer is constituted a child of God.
9.3 We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption are simultaneous in the
experience of seekers after God and are received by faith, preceded by repentance;
and that to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
(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)
