Statement of Faith
Bethel Christian
Fellowship
Preface To Our
Statement of Faith
We believe that it is crucial to the spiritual health and
public witness of our fellowship that we articulate the essential truths of the
Christian faith that God has graciously revealed to us in the Scriptures. These
doctrinal truths bring stability to the church in the midst of widespread
confusion and equip the people of God to confront both the false religions and
secularism of our society. That is why we have undertaken to define as clearly
as possible what we believe to be the foundational principles of Scripture.
We do not believe that every article in this statement of
faith must be believed in order for someone to be saved. Nor do we believe that
a person’s disagreement with any particular statement disqualifies him/her from
being actively involved in the fellowship and ministries of this local body of
believers. We welcome and embrace all who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus
Christ, whether or not they can affirm every article of faith in this
statement.
We also recognize that differences of opinion and
interpretation may exist among the people of this local church, and that
discussion and debate on these matters are spiritually healthy. However, these
are the Biblical truths and theological boundaries that will be honored by all
who teach and preach in our fellowship. Nothing contrary to this statement of
faith will be either publicly or privately promoted.
We do not claim perfection for this statement of faith.
God’s Word is alone inerrant and infallible, not our interpretation of it.
Thus, we will always be open to correction from Scripture and will refine this
statement as the Spirit teaches and guides us.
Our hope and prayer is that we will know how “to contend
(without being contentious) for the faith that was once for all delivered to the
saints” (Jude 3), and that by faithfully and humbly holding fast to the word of
truth we will both honor the Lord Jesus Christ and be a rich and encouraging
blessing to His Bride, the Church.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. We believe
that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God,
without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for
the salvation of mankind, and the final authority for all Christian faith and
life (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Cf.
1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Peter 3:15-16).
2. We believe
that the one true God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We
believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains,
governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that He will bring all
things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name
(Isaiah 40-48; Psalm 104; Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2
Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3;
Revelation 1:4-6).
3. We believe
that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that He was
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and
offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His
cross He satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the
forgiveness of sin, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting,
and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and
ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the
saints (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1
Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7;
Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23, 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1
Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:8).
4. We believe
that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and the Son. The
primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts
spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies,
leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who
come to faith in Christ. We believe that at the point of conversion the Lord
Jesus Christ baptizes all believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom also we are
sealed for the day of redemption. Subsequent to conversion the Spirit desires
to fill and empower all believers for ministry and witness (Matthew 3:11; John
1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2
Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).
5. We believe
that the Gospel is the good news of what God has accomplished for sinners
through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Church is responsible for the declaration of this good news and the defense
of it against all who would seek to distort or re-define its core truths. The
Gospel is the foundation for the life of the Church and our only hope for
eternal life. The Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but
also the means by which people are sanctified. The truth of the Gospel enables
us to genuinely and joyfully do that which is pleasing to God and to grow in
progressive conformity to the image of Christ (Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John
3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians
4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; Jude 3-4).
6. We believe
that Adam was created in the image of God, righteous and without sin. In
consequence of his disobedience, Adam’s posterity are born in sin and subject
to moral corruption, and are therefore by nature and choice the children of
wrath, justly condemned in the sight of God, wholly unable to save themselves
or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God (Genesis 1-3; Psalm
51:5; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3).
7. We believe
that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and will,
through the work of the Holy Spirit, draw the elect to faith in His Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ. We are therefore justified by grace alone, through faith
alone, in Christ alone. No ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on
the part of man is required in order to be saved. This saving grace of God,
through the power of the Holy Spirit, also sanctifies us by enabling us to do
what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might be progressively
conformed to the image of Christ (John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48;
16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17, 31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10;
Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7, 9).
8. We believe
that the Church is the Bride of Christ and is comprised of all believers in
every age. The Church is also God’s primary instrument through which He is
fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth. We believe that God has called
the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations, and especially to remember the
poor and to minister to their needs through sacrificial giving and practical
service. We also affirm the priesthood of all believers and the importance of
every Christian being joined with and actively involved in a local community of
the saints (Isaiah 58:6-12; 61:1; Matthew 16:17-19; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18;
21:1-4; Acts 2:17-18, 42; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:11-16; 1 Timothy
6:8; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10).
9. We believe
that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the Church
to be observed until the time of Christ’s return. Baptism symbolizes our union
with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper exhibits
our communion with Christ and each other, as members of His Body. Only those
who have personally and consciously placed their faith in Christ as Lord and
Savior are qualified to participate in these ordinances (Matthew 26:26-29;
28:19; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; 1 Peter 3:21).
10. We believe
that both men and women are together created in the divine image and are
therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and
value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ. We also believe
that men and women are together recipients of spiritual gifts designed to equip
and empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. We also believe
that God has ordained the principle of male headship in both the home and in
the local church and the ministry of elders and deacons is restricted to men
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians
5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-13; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
11. We believe that when Christians die they pass immediately into the blessed presence of Christ, there to enjoy the conscious fellowship with the Savior until the day of the resurrection and glorious transformation of the body. The saved will then forever dwell in blissful fellowship with their great Triune God. We also believe that when unbelievers die they are consigned to the place of the unrighteous dead, there to await the Day of Judgment when they shall be punished with eternal separation from the presence of God (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:19-26; 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-22:15).
12. We believe
that the Kingdom of God came in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, that it
continues to expand by the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and
that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing
of Christ when He returns to the earth as King. We believe that when Christ
returns, He will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the resurrection of
the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At
that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heaven
and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will be
worshipped forever
(1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 50-58; Philippians 3:20-21; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation 19:1-21).