Beliefs

An overview of our beliefs and information on our denominational affiliation.


The Trinity

We believe in one God – Triune in being, revealed as Father, Son and, Holy Spirit – all in nature God and equal in their eternal power. (Genesis 1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19-20; John 14:6-27)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God and that He has existed eternally, equal with God in every way. This is seen in the miracle of His virgin birth, His death on the Cross, His rising from the dead, and his ascension into heaven. (Matthew 1:20-25, 16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35; Romans 8:3, 8:32-34)

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Triune God. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in all followers of Jesus Christ beginning at salvation and that the working of the Holy Spirit in individual lives enables us to be conformed to the image of Christ.
(John 7:39, 14:15-18, 26, 16:7-15; Acts 2:33, 15:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)

The Bible

We believe the Bible is the fully inspired Word of God. We believe that the Bible is living and active and contains all the information necessary for salvation and living a truly Christian life.
(Luke 24:44-47; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12)

Salvation

We believe that human beings are born with a fallen sinful nature, and therefore, are inclined toward evil. We believe that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross covers our sin. All who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are saved from the dominion of sin and receive eternal life. We believe that this salvation is offered by God’s grace, as a gift and that it cannot be earned through any human endeavor. (Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; John 1:29, 3:14-17; Romans 3:21-26, 4:17-25, 5:6-21)

The Return of Jesus Christ

We believe that in the future Jesus Christ will return and the final judgment will take place. Here all evil will be brought to justice and those found innocent because of their trust in Jesus Christ will live in an entirely new creation, free from sorrow, death, disease, and hunger. (Matthew 25:31-46; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:26-28)

Holiness

We want to live as Jesus lived. We believe that living as a holy people is of utmost importance in following Jesus. God calls us to holiness: “...be holy for, I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This is challenging in the culture of our day, but the way of life for the committed disciples of Jesus. This holy life is only possible by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit gives us a new nature created after the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). As we agree, the Holy Spirit moves holiness into all aspects of our lives. Subsequent to salvation, the Holy Spirit calls us to give ourselves wholly to God. “I appeal to you...by the mercies of God present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable God, which is your spiritual act of worship.”(Romans 12:1). This entire devotement to God is actualized by the work of the Holy Spirit. Holy is wholly His! (1 Peter 1:15-16, 1Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Romans 12:1).

Denominational Affiliation: The Church of the Nazarene

Westchester Chapel is a part of the Church of the Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene is a global denomination in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, founded on the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and the truth of scripture. The denomination has more than 2 million members worshipping in more than 30,000 congregations in 164 areas of the world. Our denomination has its early foundations in the Methodist revivals of the 1700s and the Church of the Nazarene officially began its mission in 1908. The Nazarene Church has grown because of its focus on Jesus Christ, the Bible as the word of God, and an international mission to bring the Gospel and its offer of wholeness to the world.


Metro New York Church of the Nazarene

Within the New York City area, there are more than 100 Nazarene churches sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in many languages including Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Urdu, and Chinese.