DOCTRINE:

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:45)

Bethel is an evangelical, Bible-believing church. Our utmost desire is to correctly interpret and faithfully communicate God’s plan of salvation and His message of faith, hope and love. We continue to seek understanding, meaning and direction in life through the study and application of the Bible. We believe the writings of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God and the final authority in faith and life. The doctrinal beliefs of our congregation reflect the historical teachings of Christianity and our Baptist heritage.

GOD:

We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, infinite in holiness and all other perfections. By His providence He is working throughout history to fulfill His eternal plan and redemptive purposes. He deserves our highest love, reverence and obedience.

JESUS CHRIST:

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven. He is the only Mediator between God and man and He now dwells in all believers as the living and present Lord. He will come again to earth, personally and visibly, to judge the world and consummate history.

HOLY SPIRIT:

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer. He endows all believers with spiritual gifts and empowers them in worship, evangelism, service and godly living.

MAN:

We believe man is the special creation of God, made in His own image and designed for dignity. However, Adam’s transgression caused the race to fall and all mankind has inherited a sinful nature and is separated from God. The problems caused by sin are many and mankind is in need of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and salvation.

SALVATION:

We believe man can never make up for his sins by self-improvement or good works. Salvation is “the gift of God” (Romans 6:23) and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus. Eternal life begins the moment someone trusts Jesus and all those who genuinely put their trust in Him are kept eternally secure by the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercessory work of Jesus Christ.

CHURCH:

We believe the local church is a gathering of believers in Jesus Christ who voluntarily join themselves together for worship, evangelism, instruction, service and fellowship, and who observe the ordinances of baptism and communion.