Bethel Friends Church Statement of Faith

What We Practice and Believe About . . .
  • THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to all people, written by human authors through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the only source of truth and authority for all Christian beliefs and living. It is inspired by God without error (Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 30:5, John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

  • GOD

God has always existed in three persons (the Trinity): God, the Father, God, the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. These three are equal and are one God (2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 1:9).

  • GOD THE FATHER

God the Father is the creator of the universe and is a personal God who desires a relationship with all people. He is a supernatural being who has always existed. He is the ruler of all creation who also hears and answers prayer. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 89:26, Isaiah 9:6, John 6:27, 45-46, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:20).

  • JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten son. We believe in his conception by the Holy Spirit, his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, and that he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven and will return again to earth to reign as King and Lord (Isaiah 9:6, 54:3-12, John 1:1-5, 5:20, Ephesians 4:18).

  • THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right (John 14:6-7, 26, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 5:18, 22-25).

 
THE NEW BIRTH

Because all people have sinned and fall short of God’s ideal, we believe in the absolute necessity of being born again by the Holy Spirit. We are made right with God through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  It is only by God’s grace through faith that we are saved (John 3:1-17, 5:24; Romans 3:23-24, 5:8-9, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7).

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29, Romans 6:23).


THE CHURCH

The true church is composed of all people who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Believers are united together in the “Body of Christ” of which Jesus Christ is the head. Bethel Friends Church is a group of believers in Christ who have organized themselves for doing the work of God’s ministry. Our church is responsible to provide opportunities for fellowship, growth, teaching, and to serve by using one’s spiritual gift (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, Ephesians 3:6, 4:11-16, 5:23).

  • OUR DAILY WALK

We feel that our continued walk with the Lord is best summed up by the words of Jesus in John 15:12-15 (NLT) – I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me.”

  • CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Christian liberty is to be granted in all areas not essential to one’s final salvation. Due to human imperfection, there are differences of faith and practice among God’s children, but they anticipate a time of greater unity in the faith. Until that time, there must be unity in non-essentials, with love in all things (John 17, Philippians 2:2, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1-4).

  • BAPTISM

At the moment we become Christians we are baptized into the body of Christ, and this spiritual baptism is totally sufficient for the believer (Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Romans 6:3-4, Ephesians 4:4-6, Colossians 2:11-12, 1 Peter 3:21).

The physical act of water baptism by immersion after accepting Christ as personal Savior is not needed for spiritual standing but it is a person’s testimony of death to sin and of resurrection to a new life in Christ (Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:38, 8:12, 16, 36-39, 10:46). 
  • COMMUNION

Our relationship to God as believers provides us with the privilege of moment by moment communion with God. It is this silent communion of our spirit with the Spirit of God that is essential to our continued walk with Him (John 6:33, 48, 51, 14:16, Romans 8:11, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 14, Ephesians 3:14-17a, Revelation 3:20).

The “Lord’s Supper” is a time of remembering the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and for examining one’s own life. The taking of the elements does not result in spiritual benefit, but provides the believer with a physical method of remembering in a scripturally approved manner (Luke 22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, 10:16-17).

 

Bethel Friends Church teaches the necessity of spiritual baptism and communion and provides for water baptism and the Lord’s Supper for those whose conscience would lead them to partake.