Statement of Faith

Olivet Nazarene University recognizes that there is a body of knowledge with which the humanities, the natural sciences, the social sciences, theology, and professional studies are to be differently but compatibly concerned. As an educational enterprise of the Church of the Nazarene, we pursue truth in order to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: praying for the coming of the Spirit; remembering the promise of Scripture and tradition; keeping our hearts faithfully attuned to the voice of God; and being thoughtfully, acutely, and critically engaged.

We endeavor to foster the disciplines of scholarship and Christian spirituality. We seek in all of our intellectual labors to be true to the academic and theological traditions of which we are a part. We weave together the various strands of our educational labors on a vision of the Church as a corporate holy life, a life of loving devotion to God and of loving mission to the world that God so loves.

We emphasize the Arminian-Wesleyan tradition, which both acknowledges the devastation of sin and depravity on every aspect of human life and history and hopes in the transforming work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to sanctify the human heart, soul, mind, and strength to open history to the promise of the coming of Jesus Christ. As an indication of the commitment of Olivet Nazarene University to the historic Christian position, the University affirms a statement of faith that defines its doctrinal convictions as follows:

1. That there is one God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
2. That the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living;
3. That humanity is born with a fallen nature and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually;
4. That the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost;
5. That the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race, and that whosoever repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin;
6. That believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
7. That the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers; and
8. That our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.