What We Believe

God is a Person, eternally existing as a Trinity in unity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three persons and yet, but one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6)

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-essential with the Father and Son. He is a person who has personality and possesses all of the attributes of Deity. The Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. The ministry of the Holy Spirit includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit also regenerates, liberates, seals, indwells and assures those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

(John 3:5-6; Romans 8:2; 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:14-16)

Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God, who became a man totally apart from sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, and is the true God and true man. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-5; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15)

Man was created in the image of God but fell through sin, bringing not only physical death but also spiritual death, separation from God. Now all mankind is totally depraved, having inherited a sinful nature, bent toward sinning, and has become sinners by practice in thought, word and deed.

(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; 3:19; Romans 3:10-23, 6:23)

The Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, He arose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified; He ascended into Heaven in that glorified body where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father as Head of the Church, making intercession for the saints, as our High Priest. (Luke 24, Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:20-23; I Peter 3:18)

Man is lost and must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. Salvation is by grace alone through personal faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. The believer is thus eternally secure.

(John 1:12; 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe the church was founded by Christ during His personal ministry and the church has had a continuous existence unto this day. We believe that the church is a local, visible body of believers, scripturally baptized and united on the principles of God's word for the purpose of making, baptizing, and teaching disciples. (Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20; Ephesians 3:21)

Jesus started a church in 30 A.D. From this church that Jesus started in Jerusalem came other churches holding to the same tenants taught by Jesus Christ. These churches “not called Baptist”, as of yet went into the dark ages. During these days of the dark ages the Protestants gave us our names of Anabaptist which means re-baptizers. After the dark ages and protestant reformation the church that Jesus started is now called the Baptist church. Thus, today the church started by Jesus is an Independent Baptist Church that holds the truths of the King James Bible.

These above principles are the stand and teaching of Bethel Baptist Church, and we are committed to hold to these truths. The time has come as Baptist to re-teach and re-emphasize that Jesus started a church in his earthly ministry, and that church is not a Catholic or Protestant church but an Independent Baptist Church.

Furthermore, any teaching beyond the 6 points above would not be a belief that we would divide the brethren over, nor would it be a point of contention. The subject of the church is called a mystery in the Bible, and indeed anything beyond the 6 basic tenants would be an even greater mystery. Some have said only Baptist are going to heaven, but yet the truth is that ALL who put their faith in Jesus Christ, whether Baptist or not, are on their way to heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is coming again in the air at any moment to catch up his saints and reward their service; the unbelievers left will go through a period called the tribulation, after which Christ will return visibly to the earth to set up His millennial Kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule. After this, the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God for ever, while the believers spend eternity in the fullness of the joy in Heaven with the Lord. (Matthew 24:29-42; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 19:11; 20:15)