Summary Statements of the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith
1. We believe in one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Matthew 22:37; John 1:18; 3:16; Romans 8:1-17; II Corinthians 13:14; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 11:6.
* Scriptures cited after each article are representative, but not exhaustive.
2. We believe that God has revealed himself in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inspired Word of God, and supremely in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 19; Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:1-16; 20:31; Romans 1:19, 20; II Timothy 3:15, 16; Hebrews 1:1, 2; 8:6, 7; I John 1:1-5.
3. We believe that in the beginning God created all things by His Son. He made man in the divine image, with free will, moral character, and a spiritual nature.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Psalm 139:7-12; Matthew 10:29; John 1:3; Romans 8:28; Colossians 1:16, 17; James 5:16.
4. We believe that man fell into sin, bringing depravity and death upon the race; that as sinner, man is self-centered and self-willed, unwilling and unable to break with sin.
Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:1-19; Matthew 18:1-14; Luke 18:16; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Timothy 4:10.
5. We believe that there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who died to redeem us from sin and arose for our justification.
Luke 19:10; John 1:1; Acts 2:33; Romans 5:11; II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:15; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 4:15; 7:11.
6. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, a free gift bestowed by God on those who repent and believe.
John 3:16; 10:27-29; Romans 4; Ephesians 2:8-10; I Peter 1:2; I John 1:8-10; 5:13; Jude 24.
7. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, effects the new birth, gives guidance in life, empowers for service, and enables perseverance in faith and holiness.
John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 2:1-21; I Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19; 12:11-13; chapters 12 to 14; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 5:30.
8. We believe that the church is the body of Christ, the brotherhood of the redeemed, a disciplined people obedient to the Word of God, and a fellowship of love, intercession, and healing.
Exodus 2:24; 24:8; Matthew 5:13, 14, 23, 24; 18:15-18; 28:19, 20; Acts 15; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 5:11-13; II Corinthians 2:6-11; 3:2; 12:9; Galatians 3:6-9; 6:1; Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:13; I Timothy 5:20; James 2:14-17; 5:14-16; I Peter 2:9.
9. We believe that Christ commissioned the church to go into all the world, making disciples of all the nations, and ministering to every human need.
Amos 5:21-24; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 6:56; Romans 1:16; 8:23.
10. We believe it is the will of God that there should be ministers to teach the Word, to serve as leaders, to administer the ordinances, to lead the church in the exercise of discipline, and to serve as pastors and teachers.
Matthew 23:8; 28:19; Acts 15:6; 20:28; I Corinthians 5:4, 5; 9:14; Ephesians 4:11, 12; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-13; 4:14; II Timothy 4:12; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:2, 3.
11. We believe that those who repent and believe should be baptized with water as a symbol of baptism with the Spirit, cleansing from sin, and commitment to Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:16-21; 22:16; Romans 6:4-6; I Corinthians 12:13; I Peter 3:21
12. We believe that the church should observe the communion of the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of his broken body and shed blood, and of the fellowship of his church, until his return.
Luke 22:19, 20; I Corinthians 5:13; 10:16, 17; 11:24, 26.
13. We believe in the washing of the saints’ feet as a symbol of brotherhood, cleansing, and service, and in giving the right hand of fellowship and the holy kiss as symbols of Christian love.
Luke 22:24; John 13:1-17; Romans 16:16; Galatians 2:9; 1 Timothy 5:10.
14. We believe that God has established unique roles for man and woman, symbolized by man’s bared head in praying and prophesying, and by woman’s veiled head.
Genesis 2:18-25; I Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28.
15. We believe that Christian marriage is intended by God to be the union of one man and one woman for life, and that Christians shall marry only in the Lord.
Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:24; Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Ephesians 6:1, 4.
16. We believe that Christians are not to be conformed to the world, but should seek to conform to Christ in every area of life.
Matthew 7:13, 14; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 12:1, 2; I Corinthians 6:12, 19; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 4:20-32; Colossians 1:13; I Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
17. We believe that Christians are to be open and transparent in life, ever speaking the truth, and employing no oaths.
Matthew 5:33-37; 23:7-10, 16:22; John 18:20; Acts 4:12; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; James 5:12.
18. We believe that it is the will of God for Christians to refrain from force and violence in human relations and to show Christian love to all men.
Matthew 5:38-48; John 18:36; Romans 5:5; 12:18-21; I Corinthians 6:1-8; II Corinthians 10:3, 4; James 2:8; I Peter 2:23; 4:1.
19. We believe that the state is ordained of God to maintain order in society, and that Christians should honor rulers, be subject to authorities, witness to the state, and pray for governments.
Acts 4:19; 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 1:20-22; 5:23; I Timothy 2:1, 2.
20. We believe that at death the unsaved enter into everlasting punishment and the saved into conscious bliss with Christ, who is coming again, and will raise the dead, sit in judgment, and bring in God’s everlasting kingdom.
Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:34, 41; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22,23; John 5:22; l Corinthians 15:24, 35-58; II Corinthians 5:1-4; Philippians 1:23; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:4; I Peter 1:4; II Peter 3:3-13; Revelation 15:3; 21:4; 22:3.
You may also want to read the Full 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.