International Wesleyan Holiness Association
Our Beliefs
I. God the Father
1. We believe there is but one living and true YHVH (God), everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity‑‑the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
II. God the Son
2. We believe in Yeshua (Jesus Christ), the only begotten Son of God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead, that He was eternally one with the Father, that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, was born of the Virgin Mary and became incarnate so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and manhood, are thus united in one person, very God and very man, the God‑man.
We believe that Yeshua (Jesus Christ) died for our sins, and not only for actual sins but also for original sin, that He might reconcile us to God. He arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us (Luke 1:27‑35; John 1:14, 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:10; Hebrews 7:25).
III. God the Holy Ghost
3. We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Triune Godhead, that He proceeds from the Father and the Son as the true and eternal God, of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:32; Romans 8:9‑11). He is ever present and efficiently active in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers and guiding into all truth as it is in Jesus (John 3:5‑8, 16:8, 13; Acts 15:8‑9).
IV. The Holy Scriptures
4. We believe that the sixty‑six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments were given by divine inspiration (II Timothy 3:16) and are the Word of God. We believe the Holy Scriptures inerrantly reveal the will of God concerning all things necessary to our salvation so that whatever is not contained therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be enjoined as an article of faith (II Peter 1:20‑21).
V. Original Sin, or Depravity
5. We believe that original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God, without spiritual life and inclined to evil and that continually (Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:12, 5:12‑18; I Corinthians 15:22). In the Scriptures, it is spoken of as the carnal mind, the old man and the flesh (Romans 6:6, 7:14, 8:5‑8). We further believe that original sin continues to exist after regeneration, though suppressed, until crucified (eradicated) and destroyed by the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 15:8‑9; I John 3:8).
VI. The Atonement
6. We believe that Yeshua (Jesus Christ) by His suffering (Acts 3:18), by the shedding of His own blood (Romans 5:8‑10; Hebrews 9:12) and by His meritorious death on the cross (Ephesians 2:13‑16) made full atonement (Romans 5:11) for all sin and that this atonement is the only ground for salvation (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7), its being sufficient for every individual of Adam's race (John 3:16; I John 2:2). The atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible, the righteous who have become irresponsible (Romans 4:5) and children in innocency (Mark 10:14) but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe (Luke 24:47; Acts 16:30‑31, 17:30).
VII. Free Will
7. We believe that man was created with ability to choose between right and wrong and thus was made morally responsible. The condition of man since the fall is such that he cannot prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God. But the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all men, 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."...whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17) (John 4:14). 8. We further believe that man, though in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless he repents of his sin, be hopelessly and eternally lost.
VIII. Faith
9. We believe that living faith is the gift of God and without it, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith becomes effective as it is exercised by man with the aid of the Spirit, which aid is assured when the heart has met the divine condition (Hebrews 5:9).
IX. Repentance
10. We believe that genuine repentance toward God consists in a knowledge of, a godly sorrow for and a voluntary confession and forsaking of sin. This is brought about by the knowledge of the goodness and severity of God through the medium of the truth and the convincing power of the Holy Spirit. It is demanded of all who have, by act or purpose, become sinners against God. 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 (Matthew 3:2; Luke 13:5; John 16:7-11; Romans 3:23; II Corinthians 7:10).
X. Justification, Regeneration and Adoption
11. We believe that justification is that 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 accepts as righteous all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour (Romans 3:23‑25, 5:1).
12. 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 distinctly spiritual life capable of faith, love and obedience (II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:23).
13. We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God.
14. We believe that justification, regeneration and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith in the merits of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, preceded by repentance, and that to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
XI. Entire Sanctification
15. We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God and the holy obedience of love made perfect.
16. It is wrought by the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost, empowering the believer for life and service.
17. Entire sanctification is provided through the blood of Yeshua (Jesus), is wrought instantaneously by faith preceded by entire consecration, and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness (Romans 6:6, 11, 13, 22; 12:1, 15:16; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 10:14-15, 13:12‑13).
18. This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as "Christian Perfection," "Perfect Love," "Heart Purity," "the Baptism with the Holy Ghost," "the Fullness of the Blessing" and "Christian Holiness."
XII. The Witness of the Spirit
19. The witness of the Spirit is that inward impression wrought on the soul whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly assures our spirit that Bible conditions are met for salvation and the work of grace is complete in the soul (Romans 8:16). Therefore, the Spirit bears witness to both the salvation of the sinner and the sanctification of the believer (Hebrews 10:14‑15; I John 5:10).
XIII. Growth in Grace
20. We believe that growth in grace is possible and necessary to maintain a right relationship with God both before and after sanctification (Ephesians 4:15‑16; II Peter 3:18).
XIV. The Second Coming of Christ
21. We believe that Yeshua (the Lord Jesus Christ) will come again. We believe that His coming will be literal and bodily, and we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them who are asleep in Christ Jesus; but if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air so that we shall ever be with the Lord. We believe that the coming of Christ will be premillennial, and we should distinguish between His coming for His saints (I Thessalonians 4:13‑18) and with His saints (Jude 14). The latter will not occur until after the manifestation of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation (II Thessalonians 2:7‑11; Revelation 19:20). The one hope of the church is the premillennial coming of Jesus (Acts 15:13‑17; Titus 2:13).
XV. Resurrection, Judgment and Destiny
22. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the bodies both of the just and of the unjust shall be raised to live and unite with their spirits. "...they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29) (I Corinthians 15:52; II Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:15-16).
We believe in future judgment in which every man shall appear before God to be judged according to his deeds in this life.
We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured to all who savingly believe in and obediently follow Yeshua (Jesus Christ) our Lord and that the finally impenitent shall suffer eternally in hell (Matthew 5:29, 6:20, 10:28, 23:33, 25:41; Luke 16:23; John 6:39).
XVI. Baptism
23. We believe that Christian Baptism is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is to be administered to believers as declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness.
Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant.
XVII. The Lord's Supper
24. We believe that the Memorial and Communion Supper instituted by our Lord and Saviour Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is essentially a New Testament sacrament declarative of His sacrificial death through the merits of which believers have life and salvation and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ. It is distinctively for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it they show forth the Lord's death till He comes again. Being the Communion feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for the saints should be called to participate therein (Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:19‑20; I Corinthians 11:23‑29).
XVIII. Divine Healing
27. We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and urge our people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for healing of the sick. Providential means and agencies, when deemed necessary, should not be refused (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:2; James 5:16).
XIX. The Church
28. The invisible church of God is composed of all spiritually regenerated persons whose names are written in heaven.
29. The churches severally are to be composed of such regenerate persons as by providential permission, and by the leadings of the Spirit, become associated together for holy fellowship and ministries.
30. We seek holy Christian fellowship, the conversion of sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, and their upbuilding in holiness, together with the preaching of the Gospel to every creature. We also seek the simplicity and Pentecostal power manifest in the early New Testament Church.
Anyone seeking affiliation must submit a statement of faith that is consistent with the above. There will be no exceptions. Our Association believes in Second Blessing Holiness and all those affiliated with us stand in agreement with these principles.