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Our Beliefs

ROOTED IN FAITH

Wesley Church at Frederica is a Christ-centered and Bible based community of faith with deep roots in the Methodist tradition of theology, worship, and discipleship. Grounded in the historic practices of Wesleyan liturgy and guided by Scripture, we are committed to Jesus’s Great Commission — to make disciples of Christ who go on to transform the world (Matthew 28).


Through a variety of vibrant ministries and spiritual formation opportunities, we’re here to help you take your next faithful step toward Christ. In Him alone will you find life purpose, grow in grace, service, and maturity in the Christian life!

OUR MISSION

We exist to worship God passionately, teach the Bible practically, and serve others generously with love and hospitality.

OUR VISION

To build God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

OUR CORE VALUES

These seven core values will direct how we live and act as we work to accomplish the mission and vision of Wesley

GENEROSITY

HUMILITY

EXCELLENCE

Love

RELATIONSHIP

TRUTH

WELCOMING

Statement of Faith and Practice

We believe that life transformation happens when we respond to God’s call for all people to have eternal
meaning and significance in and through Jesus Christ. We are committed to seeing this happen
now—seeing His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We stand on the holy Word of God, entrusted to us by God, for our good, through those who came before
us. We stand shoulder to shoulder to partner with God in the renewal of all things to bring glory to Christ
in the world, our communities, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and our families.

Doctrinal Standards

We believe in one God, Father, all sovereign, maker of heaven and earth, of all things seen and unseen.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who was begotten from the Father before all the ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things came into existence. Who because of us men and an our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnated by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made man, was crucified on our behalf by Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and arose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right of the Father, and is coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose kingdom there will be no end.

 

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, who makes us alive, who proceeds from the Father (and from the Son), who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who has spoken through the prophets. In one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

 

We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the coming age. Amen.

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.

Confession of Faith

We believe in the one true1, holy, and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love2, and rules with gracious reward for the well-being and salvation of humanity, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as a Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct but co-equal, inseparable and eternally one in essence and power3.
1 Deut. 6:4, Jeremiah 10:10, John 17:3, 1 Cor 8:4-6
2 Ps 24:8; Matt 19:26, Ps 90:2; Rev 1:8
3 John 6:27; Titus 1:4, Col 2:9, Heb 9:14; 1 Cor 3:16; Acts 5:3-4
We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united4. He is the eternal Word made flesh5, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit6. As ministering Servant he lived a perfect life, suffered, and died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for all the world. He was buried, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return7. He is only eternal Savior8 and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all humanity will be judged.
4 John 1:14
5 John 1:1
6 Hebrews 1:3
7 Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-18; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
8 Acts 4:12
We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father9  and the Son10. He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He manifests God’s active presence in the world and leads humanity through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church11. He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.
9 Proverbs 1:23; Isa 42:1; Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 1 Cor 2:10-12; Gal 3:5; 1 John 3:24
10 John 5:21; 6:63; 15:26; 16:7, 13-15; Acts 2:17-18, 33; Rom 8:9-11; Gal 4:6; 1 Pet 1:11
11 Romans 8:11
We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and foundation for faith and practice12. God has revealed himself through creation in ways plain to all people, leaving no one without a testimony of himself13. However, whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.
12  2 Tim 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4
13  Gen 3:8-9; Ps 19:1-6; Hos 2:20; John 10:14-15; Acts 14:17; Rom 1:19-21
We believe the Christian Church is the worshipping community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic, and universal14. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men and women divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s own appointment. Under the discipline and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the Church exists for the maintaining of worship, the mutual edification of believers and the central vehicle through which the Gospel spreads and God establishes His kingdom and recreates the world.
14  Eph 4:4-6; 1 Cor 12:12-27.
15  Acts 2:1-4
16  Romans 8:18-19, 2 Timothy 4:1-2
We believe the Sacraments, ordained by Christ, are graces of God’s love toward us and symbols of the Christian’s profession. They are means of grace by which God dwells invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
  • We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship17.
  • We believe the Lord’s Supper is a mysterious fellowship with God and representation of our redemption, a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and one another18. Those who rightly and in good faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of the body and blood of Christ until he returns19.
17 Romans 6:3-4
18 1 Cor 10:16-20
19 Matt 26:26-29

We believe humanity is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and under the curse of sinful nature. God originally created man innocent and righteous, without stain or corruption20. In this state, Adam and Eve enjoyed a fullness of life in communion with God, delighting in him and his righteous will yet capable of transgressing. Despite these privileges, they were led astray by Satan and willfully sinned against their Creator by doing what he had forbidden21. In their rebellion they doubted his character, rejected his authority, and disobeyed his word. Man’s trespass of God’s command brought enmity with God and the curse of death22. Because God had established Adam as the representative head of the human race, his sin was imputed to all his descendants, bringing guilt, condemnation, and death to humanity. Therefore, we are all by nature corrupt and inclined to evil from conception. Except a person be born again23, they cannot see the Kingdom of God. In their own strength, without divine grace, a person cannot earn salvation or please God through good works. We believe, however, a person empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise their will for good as a fruit of their faith and trust in Christ.

20 Genesis 1:27
21 Genesis 3:6-7, 13
22 Romans 5:12
23 John 3:16

We believe that salvation comes from conversion, which is the recognition and repentance of sin, with the acceptance of Jesus Christ’s substitutional sacrifice on our behalf. This conversion and submission to Christ’s lordship results in the transformation (regeneration) into a new person under the power of the Spirit24. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming humanity and creation from the curse of sin, so that no other satisfaction is required25.

  • In their union with Christ, believers freely receive all the benefits of the gospel and privileges of adoption into the family of God. Those who claim the Lordship of Jesus are justified in Christ, forgiven of all their sins and declared righteous and acceptable in God’s sight. This declaration is judicial, addressing not our nature but our status with regard to God’s law,27 definitive and free through faith. The sole ground of our justification is the righteousness of Christ, whose life of perfect obedience is imputed to us and whose substitutionary death on our behalf completely satisfies the demands of God’s justice toward our sins.
  • We believe regeneration is the renewal of a person in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life28. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections.
  • We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness.

We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow salvation29, but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.

24 John 3:5-6; 6:63
25 Romans 8
26 Ephesians 1:3, Romans 8:15, 23
27 Romans 3:26
28 2 Peter 1:3-4
29 James 2:14-26
We believe sanctification is the work of God’s grace through the Word and the Spirit. Sanctification is both a definitive act of God and a progressive work of the Spirit30  by which those who have been born again are cleansed from sin in their thoughts, words and acts, and are enabled to live in accordance with God’s will. The ultimate goal of sanctification is our full conformity to Christ’s image.
  • Entire sanctification is a state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every believer may obtain by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Through faith in Jesus Christ this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously and should be sought earnestly by every child of God.
We believe this experience does not deliver us from the infirmities, ignorance, and mistakes common to man, nor from the possibilities of further sin. The Christian must continue on guard against spiritual pride and seek to gain victory over every temptation to sin31. The Christian must respond wholly to the will of God so that sin will lose its power; and the world, the flesh, and the devil are put under his feet. Thus, the Christian rules over these enemies with watchfulness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
30 Heb 10:10, 14, 2 Cor 7:1; Phil 2:12
31 Ephesians 6

At the appointed time known only to God32, Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power and glory as Judge and King to whom every knee will bow33 . Christ’s personal, physical, and visible return is the blessed hope of all who trust in him34 . We believe all people will stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day. We believe in the resurrection of the dead: the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation.

Christ as king will set all of creation free from its bondage to corruption35 , making new the heavens and the earth and establishing his eternal rule in His consummated kingdom. Surrounded by unimaginable beauty and glory, we will enjoy unhindered communion with our triune God,36   beholding him, serving him, worshipping him, and reigning with him forever and ever.37 Amen.

32 Luke 16:23-24; Rev 20:13
33 Revelation 19:11-16
34 Acts 1:9-11, Titus 2:13
35 Romans 8:20-22
36 Revelation 21:3
37 Revelation 22:3-5

We gather together as a community set apart to worship together. We tell God’s truth as we proclaim the Word through Scripture and preaching. We respond to God’s Word through prayer, singing, affirming our faith, and communion. We are sent forth to love and serve God in the world.

 

Our worship follows a pattern of revelation and response: we learn of God and His message to us, and we respond through worship and discipleship. In this way, worship is a two-part dialogue with God.