Statement of Faith
The foundational beliefs that guide our church community
Our Spiritual Declaration
At the heart of the Berea Evangelical Church of New England, we are driven by a singular, sacred calling: to glorify God by making disciples who worship passionately, love unconditionally, and serve sacrificially. Rooted firmly in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, we declare the following foundational truths as the anchor of our faith, the guide for our living, and the hope of our salvation.
I. The Majesty of the Triune God
We believe in one eternal, holy, and sovereign God—the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He exists beautifully and perfectly in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is a God of infinite love, justice, and mercy, worthy of our highest praise and deepest devotion.
II. The Living Word of God
We believe the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired, infallible Word of God. The Scriptures are the ultimate authority and contain all truth necessary for faith, salvation, and righteous Christian living. They are a lamp to our feet and the foundation upon which our community is built.
III. The Human Condition and the Need for Grace
We recognize that humanity is born with a fallen nature, inherently broken and inclined toward sin. Because of this spiritual fracture, humanity is hopelessly lost and faces eternal separation from God without divine intervention. We acknowledge our desperate need for a Savior.
IV. Salvation Through Jesus Christ
We joyfully proclaim that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is sufficient for the entire human race. We believe that anyone who repents of their sin and places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is forgiven, justified, regenerated, and completely delivered from the dominion of sin.
V. The Call to Entire Sanctification
We believe God calls His children to a life of true holiness. We teach that subsequent to the new birth, believers are to be sanctified wholly through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the purifying work of the Holy Spirit, cleansing our hearts from original sin and empowering us to love God and our neighbors perfectly. We believe the Holy Spirit bears continuous, inward witness to both our salvation and our sanctification.
VI. The Church and Compassionate Action
We believe the Church is the living body of Christ on earth, called to be a sanctuary of grace where every person can find belonging, purpose, and hope. Furthermore, we believe that true faith demands action. We are called to humble service, ministering to the whole individual. We express the love of Christ not only through spiritual discipleship but by actively combating hunger, educational gaps, and health disparities, fulfilling Christ's command to care for the least of these.
VII. The Blessed Hope and Final Restoration
We live with expectant hope in the triumphant, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe the dead will be raised, the final judgment will be enacted with perfect justice and mercy, and God will establish His eternal kingdom.