Our beliefs

The Salvation Army stems from a Wesleyan tradition and our beliefs align with other mainstream denominations of Protestant Christianity. These beliefs are written as 11 faith-based statements called ‘Doctrines’ or ‘Articles of Faith’ (see below). These have been the basis of The Salvation Army’s expression of Christianity since 1878.

You can read more about our Wesleyan theology on our Eva Burrows College website.

What we believe about...

The Bible

The Bible is inspired by God. It is the foundation and authority of our faith and life.

God

There is only one God who created everything, and who continues to creatively sustain and guide creation towards its ultimate purpose. God is a Trinity of three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who are the same in essence but remain distinct as different expressions of God.

What it means to be human

When human beings were created in the image of God they were in a perfect relationship with God, but they rebelled. As a result, this relationship was spoiled for every generation.

Sin

God, who is loving and holy, cannot simply accept this rebellion (which is called sin), and therefore all people open to judgement by God.

Jesus 

Jesus is fully God (divine) and fully human. He came to earth to restore the relationship between God and humanity. Jesus was obedient to what the Father asked him to do. He suffered, died and was brought back to life. His obedience has made the way for us obey God and walk in relationship with him.

Restoring our relationship with God

When we turn away from disobeying God and believe in the saving power of Jesus, we can enjoy a restored relationship with God. We experience a knowing that the Holy Spirit has brought us new life.

How being a Christian changes our life

Because of God's grace towards us our relationship with God has been repaired. We are changed for the better on the inside - in our spirits. This helps us in every part of our lives. 

Growing and developing as Christians

In order for this new life to be maintained, in obedience to God we need to make continual conscious choices to live in the way God intends. We demonstrate this in the way we love and serve others. All Christians, through their cooperation with God’s grace, can become and be kept holy (Christ-like) until Jesus comes again. 

What happens when we die

The choices we make in this life will have eternal consequences. If we choose our own way, we will face the pain of having separated ourselves from God. However, choosing God’s way leads to the joy of an eternal relationship with God.

The Doctrines of The Salvation Army

When someone becomes a member in The Salvation Army , they sign a covenant agreeing to these 11 Doctrines.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocence, 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.
6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whoever believes in him will be saved.
7. We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary for salvation.
8. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believes has the witness in himself.
9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. 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.
11. We believe in the immortality of the soul, 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.

Explore our beliefs further in The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine

Is The Salvation Army a religion or a mix of denominations?

The Salvation Army is not a religion nor is it a mix of denominations. The Salvation Army stands independently as a denomination of the Christian Church alongside other churches, for example, the Anglican, Baptist and Uniting Church.

It started in the 1860s when Methodist minister, William Booth, and his wife Catherine, began reaching out to those living in abject poverty in London. 

Read more about our history

They preached that there was a God who could transform their lives and show them a new way. They fed the poor and needy, prayed with them, and thousands of people's lives were changed.

Booth tried to introduce his converts to local Methodist churches, but the wider church at the time had lost much of its vision for what was then considered the "underclasses" and would not accept them.

In less than 20 years, while it had not been his initial goal, William Booth established a new denomination of the Christian Church — The Salvation Army. Today, The Salvation Army upholds the cross of Christ and serves communities worldwide.

A good word to describe a denomination of the church is 'community'. The ‘Salvos’, like other churches, is a community of people that meet together in local neighbourhoods, regions or centres.

The Salvation Army is dedicated to sharing the love of God by caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities and working for justice.

Read more about our mission and vision for The Salvation Army Australia

Practices and sacraments

Unlike most other Christian denominations, The Salvation Army does not observe the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion/the Lord’s Supper.

Many Christians engage with these sacraments (also called practices or rituals) as a symbolic, outward expression of their faith. The Salvation Army respects fellow believers who cherish these ceremonies, however, does not believe sacraments are essential for salvation.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine explains, “We do identify with the historic Church through its confession of one faith, one Lord, one baptism of the Holy Spirit, one salvation and one Church universal. We confess one sacramental meal, not administered ritually, but presided over by Christ himself at any table where he is received and honoured.”

We believe the Bible says the life we live as a reflection of our belief in Jesus is more important than the rituals we observe. That is, “all of life is sacramental” (The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine). “The ceremony itself is not the encounter [with Christ] and should not be confused with the act of becoming a Christian.”