THE DOCTRINES OF THE SALVATION ARMY
(See below for Swahili version)
The Salvation Army follows mainstream, evangelical doctrines. Our history is influenced by a Wesleyan tradition. So our doctrines capture a sense of our desire to live holy lives.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.
We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
ELIMU ZA DINI YA JESHI LA WOKOVU
Twaamini ya kuwa
1. Maandiko matakatifu ya Agano la Kale na Agano Jipya yalitolewa kwa maongozi ya Mungu na hizo tu ndizo kanuni za Mungu za ibaada ya Kikristo.
2. Kuna Mungu Mmoja tu ambaye ni Mkamilifu hasa, kisha Muumba, Mtunzi na Mtawala wa vitu vyote ambaye ndiye Astahiliye kuabudiwa.
3. Kuna utatu katika Uungu, Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu, ambao asili yao ni umoja kisha wenye kushiriki uwezo na utukufu wote.
4. Katika Kristo tabia za Mungu na tabia za kibinadamu huunganika hata Yu Mungu wa kweli pia Yu-bin-adamu wa kweli.
5. Wazazi wetu wa kwanza waliumbwa katika hali ya kutokuwa na hatia wala lawama, lakini kwa uhalifu wao wakajipotezea usafi na furaha yao tena kwa jinsi walivyoanguka hivi watu wote hutiwa dhambini ndio wapotovu kabisa na kwa hiyo wanastahili kufikiliwa na gadhabu ya Mungu.
6. Bwana Yesu Kristo kwa kuteswa na kufa kwake amefanya upatanisho kwa ajili ya ulimwengu wote ili kila atakaye aokoke.
7. Kumtubia Mungu, kumwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, na kuzaliwa tena na Roho Mtakatifu huitajiwa kwa wokovu.
8. Tumepewa haki kwa neema kwa njia ya imani yake Bwana Yesu Kristo, tena ya kuwa mwenye kuamini huwa na ushuhuda ndani yake.
9. Kudumu katika hali hiyo ya wokovu huhitaji kudumu katika utii na imani kwake Kristo, yaani twaamini ya kuwa maandiko Matakatifu yutufundisha kwamba kujikalisha katika Upendo wa Mungu hutaka imani na utii unaodumu kwake Yesu Kristo, tena kwamba yawezekana kwa wale walio okoka kwa kweli kuanguka dhambini na kupotelea mbali.
10. Neno liwahusialo waaminio wote ni kutakaswa kabisa, na ya kuwa ‘nafsi zao, roho zao, na miili yao, yaweza kuhifadhiwa bila lawama mpaka kuja kwake Bwana Yesu Kristo.’
11. Roho za watu huishi milele: wafu watafufuliwa: wote watahukumiwa siku ya kiyama na wenye haki watakuwa na furaha ya milele, waovu watapata adhabu isiyo na mwisho.