Bethel Church is a community of Christ followers that embrace long-held Biblically orthodox beliefs, steeped in the Wesleyan tradition of faith. In line with those foundations we make it that our beliefs are according to the following doctrines:
A. The Trinity (GENESIS 1:1,26,27, 3:22; PSALM 90:2; MATTHEW 28:19; 1 PETER 1:2; 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14):
We believe in and worship one God that exists eternally of one substance and power in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead is distinct, yet all exist as one God.
B. God the Father (EXODUS 3:14; NUMBERS 23:19; LEVITICUS 11:44-45; 19:2; PSALM 11:4- 6; MALACHI 3:6; JOHN 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; ACTS 17:28; ROMANS 3:3-4; ISAIAH 57:15; JER. 32: 17,27; PS 139:7-12; 1 JOHN 3:20; ISAIAH 40:12, 22, 26; 1 JOHN 4:8, 16; JOHN 1:5; PSALM 117:2):
We believe that by nature, God is Eternal, all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing. He is the Creator and sustainer of all things. He is unchanging in His nature and character and is the fullness of all that is good and holy. He is Love, He is Light, and He is Truth and thus is completely trustworthy in all things.
C. God the Son (MATTHEW 1:22, 23; ISAIAH 9:6; JOHN 1:1-5; 14:10-30; HEBREWS 4:14,15; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3,4; ROMANS 1:3,4; ACTS 1:9-11; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11; I TIMOTHY 6:14,15; TITUS 2:13; JOHN 1:14; HEBREWS 1:3; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20):
We believe in the Son, eternally begotten but not made, born of a virgin, who in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation. He is fully God and fully man. He is the Word become flesh. Through Him, all things came into being and were created. He was before all things, and in Him, all things hold together by the word of His power. He lived a holy and sinless life. He suffered, died by crucifixion, was buried, physically resurrected in three days, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father until He returns for the final judgment and consummation of the Kingdom. He is the one and only reconciler and mediator between God and man.
D. God the Holy Spirit (2 CORINTHIANS 3:17; JOHN 16:7-13, 14:16,17; ACTS 1:8; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12, 3:16; EPHESIANS 1:13; GALATIANS 5:25; EPHESIANS 5:18):
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, eternally existing, proceeding from the Father and the Son and is sent to live in those who have professed faith and trust in Jesus Christ as savior, thus abiding us with God. The Spirit is necessary in calling those in sin to new life in Christ and for guidance in spiritual growth in that new life. He gifts and empowers every believer for their place in the body of Christ, the church, and as such, guides, teaches, and convicts the hearts and minds of believers so that they can walk in obedience and bear fruit to the glory of God.
E. The Bible (2 TIMOTHY 3:16; 2 PETER 1:20,21; 2 TIMOTHY 1:13; PSALM 119:105,160, 12:6; ISAIAH 40:6-8; ROMANS 10:14-17):
We believe that the Bible is the direct revelation of God to mankind about Himself. It is wholly inspired by Him given through human writers into 66 books between Old and New Testaments and therefore is without error in its original writings. The Bible is sufficient for all that God requires for us to believe and do as it carries the full authority of God. It is thus necessary to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it teaches. We are to obey it, as God’s command, in all that it requires. It is thus fully trustworthy, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises. Through its authority, sufficiency, and clarity believers who hear and obey its teaching find the equipping to become the disciples of Christ to which they’ve been called and the witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they’ve been commanded.
F. Man (GENESIS 1:27; PSALM 8:3-6; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31):
We believe that Man was created in the spiritual image of God to be like him in character and represent Him as the pinnacle of His creation. As image bearers, man is thus set apart from the rest of creation. As such, all persons are to be considered of sacred worth and possess intrinsic dignity, which comes solely from God as creator and not by works. Life is thus ultimately a gift from God, and we believe that life begins at conception. Man was created as male and female and created to complement and support one-another in a one-flesh union of marriage, thus setting the standard pattern for sexual relations between man and woman. God has declared very good His creation and has given men and women agency to care for, manage, and govern over it to His glory.
G. Free Will, Sin, Grace, and Salvation (ISAIAH 53:6; ROMANS 3:23; JOHN 3:5-8; HEBREWS 10:19-25; GALATIANS 2:20):
Man was originally created in righteousness and holiness to commune with God. As a part of that relationship, God offered man the free will to choose to submit to a life of obedience. Through the temptation of Satan, man chose to rebel and disobey the commands of God thus submitting the human race to the power of sin. The human race has since and now inherited a corrupt and sinfully depraved nature placing all of mankind under condemnation. That sinful nature has put man at odds with God, possessing no ability in himself to retain righteousness and holiness. Man is lost in his sin and transgressions and in complete need of God’s intervention to be freed from sin’s hold on life. God offers salvation and redemption by the free gift of grace through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ’s blood shed on the cross. Just as man possesses the free will to reject God’s commandments, he also possesses the free will to choose to accept God’s free gift of grace. God pursues man by means of prevenient grace, allowing man to accept and surrender to the grace that justifies him, imparting a new nature, becoming a new creation in Christ. Then begins the work of grace that sanctifies him from all unrighteousness through spiritual growth in the Christian life on earth into life eternal.
H. The Church (ACTS 2:40-47, EPHESIANS 4:11-16; ACTS 1:8; MATTHEW 28:18-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31):
We believe that the church is the body of believers, with Christ at its head, that has been placed in the world to be a shining light and testament to the glory of God. It is the gathering of followers of Jesus, joining together in worship and mission, by which God promises to spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and to bring transformation of the world for holiness and faith in God. It is the task of the church to be witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth to ultimately accomplish its mission to make disciples of all the nations. Bethel Church accomplishes its mission through worship, evangelism, teaching of the Bible, fellowship, prayer, Christian living, observing the Sacraments, exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and compassionate service to those in need. We believe that Christ instituted two practices of sacrament that we are to observe regularly as the church: Baptism by water and the Holy Communion. Baptism is an outward sign of God’s grace at work in our lives. It is a sign of the cleansing power of God’s grace for all who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Baptism is a marker of initiation in the body of Christ, and it is a public affirmation of faith to the community by the one being Baptized. We practice believer Baptism by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. We accept all modes of Christian Baptism from other Christian churches and denominations as a requirement for membership at Bethel Church. We gladly celebrate infant dedications with parents who wish to take that step for their child. Holy Communion was initiated by Christ at the last supper. In Holy Communion we remember the sacrifice of Jesus in giving of his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
I. Eternity (JOHN 3:16; 14:17; ROMANS 6:23; ROMANS 8:17-18; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:7-9; REVELATION 20:15):
We believe that man was created to exist for eternity after passing from life on earth. That eternity exists in one of two places, Heaven and Hell. Heaven waits for all who trust in Jesus for Salvation. Hell was created for Satan and his demons, but it is also the place of eternal suffering for all who reject the gift of salvation given through Jesus Christ. We also know that Jesus Christ will return to earth again one day, bringing final judgment and a new creation. God will create a new Heaven and a new earth, and all that has been wronged by the power of sin will be right forever more.