United Methodists Believe (English and Chinese)

We believe that God is understood in three distinct forms. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God. Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.

我们相信上帝是三个不同的位格 -- 圣父，圣子和圣灵是上帝的本质。我们也称上帝为创造者，救赎者和供应者。

We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe. We believe that God is loving. We can experience God’s love and grace.

我们相信上帝是独一真神, 是创造天地与万物的。我们相信上帝是有至高权能, 掌管宇宙的主。上 帝就是爱，我们能够经历祂的爱与恩典。

We believe that Jesus was human. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified. We believe that Jesus is divine. He is the Son of God. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today. We believe that Jesus is our Savior. In Christ, we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. We believe that Jesus is Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his.

我们相信耶稣基督道成肉身，成为了人。祂曾经活在世上，并且为我们被钉十字架。耶稣是上帝 的独生子，是完全的神。我们相信上帝使耶稣从死里复活，而且基督至今仍活着。耶稣是我们的 救主。在基督里我们的罪被赦免，且获得丰盛的生命。耶稣基督是主，我们应当效法他，为主而 活。

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God. We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God’s will and empowers us to live obediently.

我们相信圣灵是上帝，并且祂是与我们同在的。圣灵是保惠师，祂教导和安慰我们，并且使我们 明白神的旨意，给我们力量，过顺服上帝的生活。

We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.

我们相信上帝按照自己的形象创造了人。人可以选择接受或拒绝与上帝的关系。所有的人只能通 过与上帝建立关系才可以恢复完整的人性。

We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

我们相信教会是基督的身体，是基督的生命与事工在现今世界上的延伸。教会的使命是让人们成 为耶稣基督的门徒，并更新这个世界。

We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

教会是“圣徒相通”，是由过去，现在和未来的耶稣基督的门徒组成。教会是被分别为圣来敬拜上 帝，帮助信徒的信心成长，并且活出信仰。

We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.

我们相信圣经是上帝的话语，圣经是我们信仰与生活的首要权威指引。

We believe that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures).

我们相信基督徒需要认识并研读旧约和新约圣经。

— Adapted from “What Every Teacher Needs to Know about Theology,” copyright 2002, Discipleship Resources.

--节选自《每个主日学老师都需要懂神学》, 2002年版本,门徒训练资料。

-- 節選自《每個主日學老師都需要懂神學》, 2002年版本, 門徒訓練資料。