2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6630

11. Justification, Regeneration and Adoption

6630. We believe that when one repents of personal sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, that at the same moment that person is justified, regenerated, adopted into the family of God, and assured of personal salvation through the witness of the Spirit.

We believe that we are accounted righteous before God only on the basis of the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, being justified by faith alone, and not on the basis of our own works.

We believe that regeneration is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the pardoned sinner becomes a child of God. This new life is received through faith in Jesus Christ, and by it the regenerate are delivered from the power of sin which reigns over all the unregenerate, so that they love God and through grace serve Him with the will and affections of the heart, receiving the Spirit of Adoption.

Justification: Hab. 2:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Acts 13:38-39; 15:11; 16:31; Rom. 1:17; 3:28; 4:2–5; 5:1–2; Gal. 3:6–14; Eph. 2:8–9; Phil 3:9; Heb. 10:38.

Regeneration: 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:John 1:12-13; 3:3, 5–8; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:5, 10, 19; 4:24; Col. 3:10; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Titus 3:5; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:James 1:18; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1 Peter 1:3-4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2 Peter 1:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1 John 3:1.

Adoption: Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5, 7; Eph. 1:5.

Witness of the Spirit: Rom. 8:16–17; Gal. 4:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1 John 2:3; 3:14, 18–19.