A. The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible which consists of the Old and New Testament was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of Heavenly instruction; that It has God for its Author, salvation for Its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that It reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore, is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The (1611) King James Version of the bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church for its preaching and teaching. (Luke 16:29-31; II Tim. 3:15-17; Eph. 2:20; Heb. 1:1; Ps 19:7-11; II Pet. 1:20-21)

B. The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons – He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each co-eternal and co-identical and co-equal, but without division of nature, essence, or being. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being; the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe; infinite in holiness and all other perfections; to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Gen 1:1; I Cor. 8:4-6; John 15:26; I Tim. 1:17; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10,26; II Cor. 13:14)

C. The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross at Calvary, as a representative, vicarious, Substitutional sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; I John 2:1-2)

D. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling them and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)

We believe that He is the divine teacher who assists the believer to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 1:17-18; Eph. 5:18; I John 2:20,27)

E. The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in His own image in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them; and Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

We believe that Adam, the first man, was created in a state of holiness under the law of his Maker: but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity (or his descendants) inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, are under condemnation, and, as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. We believe that man is totally depraved and of himself is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; 7:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

F. The Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is totally of grace, through the mediatory office of the Son of God. He, by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin. He honored the Divine law by His personal obedience, and made atonement for our sins by His death. He rose from the dead, and is now enthroned in Heaven. He united in His person the most tender sympathies with Divine perfections, and is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior. (John 1:12; Col. 1:21; Eph. 1:7-10; 2:8-10; Gal. 2:19-20; 3:13; I Pet. 1:18-19)

G. Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces. They are wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, whereby we, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Luke 22:31-34; Mark 1:15; Rom. 3:25,27,31; John 16:8-11)

H. Regeneration

We believe that Regeneration, or the new birth, is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby we become partakers of the Divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of God’s free grace conditioned upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit, which we bring forth to the glory of God. (John 3:1-8; Rom. 8:2,5-6; Titus 3:5)

I. Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel. It is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Teacher, Savior, and Lord. (Eph. 1:5; 2:4-10; I Cor. 1:30, 31)

J. Justification

We believe that Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness, which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ. It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other needed blessing. (Rom. 3:24; 4:2; 5:1-2; Gal. 2:16)

K. Sanctification

We believe that Sanctification is the process by which the regenerate gradually attains to moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. It continues through the earthly life, and is accomplished by the use of all the ordinary means of grace, particularly by the Word of God. (Acts 20:32; John 17:17; Rom. 6:5-6; Eph 3:16)

L. The Believer’s Security

We believe all real believers endure to the end. We believe that their continuance in well doing is the mark, which distinguishes them from mere progresses. And we believe that a special Providence cares for them, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; II Tim. 2:19; I John 2:19; I Cor. 1:4-8; 11:32; Rom. 8:1,30; 9:11,16; I Pet. 1:4-5)

We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion of the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

M. A Gospel Church

We believe in the Local Church. And that the church is a congregation solely made up of baptized born-again believers, associated by covenant in the faith of fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, being governed by His laws and by His Word, and exercising the gifts, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth. (Matt. 16:18, 18:15-18; Rom 1:7)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church being free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom 16:1,4; I Cor. 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; I Pet. 5:1-4)

N. Baptisms and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The act is a symbol of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. A new believer is to be baptized after accepting and professing Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. It is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the use of bread and drink, commemorate the dying love of Christ. (Acts 8:38; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 4:1; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Mark 1:4; Matt. 3:16; John 3:22-23; Mat. 26:16-30; I Cor. 11:24-26)

O. The Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution of regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead; and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, works of necessity and mercy only accepted. (Ex. 20:3-6; Matt. 4:10; 28:19; I Tim. 4:13)

P. The Resurrection

We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach that Jesus rose from the dead. His grave was emptied of its contents. He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations. He now exists in His glorified body at God’s right hand. (I Cor. 15:1-58; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Thess. 4:17; Phil. 3:21; John 5:19-28; Acts 24:15; John 20:9; Matt. 28:6)

Q. The Return of the Lord

We believe that the New Testament teaches in many places the visible and personal return of Jesus to this earth. Acts 1:11 – …this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven. The time of His coming is not revealed. Matthew 24:36 – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only. It is the duty of all believers to live in readiness for His coming, and by diligence in good works to make manifest to all men the reality and power of their hope in Christ. (Matt. 24:42-47; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:27-28; Acts 1:9-11)

R. Evangelism and Missions

We believe that it is the duty of every Christian man and woman and the duty of every church to seek to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity or the regenerate life. It is also expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teaching of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods sanctioned by the Gospel of Christ. (Matt. 10:5; 13:18-23; 22:9-10: Mark 16:15-16,19-20)

S. Stewardship

We believe that God is the Source of all blessing, both temporal and spiritual. All that we have and are we owe to Him. We have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the Gospel, and a binding stewardship in our possessions. We are, therefore, under obligation to serve Him with our time, talents, and material possessions; and we should recognize all these are entrusted to us to use for the glory of God, and helping others. Christians should cheerfully, systematically, proportionately, and liberally contribute of their means to advance the Redeemer’s cause on earth. (Luke 12:42; 16:1-8; Titus 1:7; I Pet. 4:10; II Cor. 8:1-7; 8:11-19)

T. Creation

We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)

U. Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged outside of a marriage between on man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of any attempt to alter ones gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

V. Lawsuit Between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

W. Marriage

We, the people of Bethel Baptist Church, by Biblical convictions, do agree, that because of the educational training of our children and the stand our church has taken on the traditional  family, we will never unite in marriage two people of the same sex or anyone who had had surgical alteration of his or her sexual gender.

We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarried is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor and deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:3; I Tim. 3:2,12; Titus 1:6)