Bethlehem
Baptist Church
More
Our Beliefs
The Bible
We believe the Scripture, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired by God. We Believe that the Bible is inerrant in the original writings, and it is the Christian's final authority in faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:13-15; Matthew 22:29-31; Psalms 19:7-11; Psalms 119:1-8
God
We believe that there is only one true, living, sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. God is infinitely perfect and He exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence, and obedience.
Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Jeremiah 10:10; Deuteronomy 5:7;
John 5:26; 1 Timothy 1:17; John 14:14-18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6; Genesis 1:31
Man
We believe that God created man in His image. But man sinned, incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death (separation from God, which all people inherit from Adam). We believe that man is subject to Satan's power; and that man, within himself, has no means of recovery or salvation.
Genesis 1:17, 31; Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Romans 5:12, 14, 19, 21; 7:23-25; Genesis 3:22-24; Colossians 1:21
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe, by the miracle of the virgin birth - that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe that He became man without ceasing to be God, to reveal God and to redeem mankind from sin. We believe that Christ died for the sins of all people as a substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that He arose bodily from the dead for our justification. Finally, we believe that He is now exalted at the right hand of God as Head of the Church. Christ is Lord of the individual believer, fulfilling His ministry as our Great High Priest and Advocate.
John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that He convicts the world of sin and regenerates the believing sinner, baptizing him into the Church (which is the body of Christ). We believe that He indwells, guides, instructs and empowers believers for godly living and service. We believe that God gives all believers at least one spiritual gift so we can use this gift for the strength and outreach of the Church.
John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9, 11,; Titus 3:5
Salvation
We believe that salvation is God's free gift. Salvation is neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any human virtue, work, ceremony, or effort. We receive God's gift only through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, all true believers have - as a present possession - eternal life, perfect righteousness, and sonship in God's family. Christians also enjoy every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and have the divine guarantee that they shall never perish. God has delivered Christians from all condemnation, and we have eternal security in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:7-10; Romans 1:4, 3:25; Ephesians 1:20-23; Matthew 1:21-25;Luke 1:35, 2:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 5:1-9; Revelations 22:17; John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 3:23-24
The Church
Regeneration is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, through saving faith in Jesus Christ. We also believe that those who are thus members of the true Church are eligible for membership in the local Church.
Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25; John 3:1-8; 1:17; Ephesians 2:5-10, 4:30-32; Titus 3:5-7
The Christian Walk
We believe that God calls us - with a holy calling - to walk not after flesh, but after the Spirit. God wants us to live in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, so we will not fulfill the lusts of our physical bodies. Therefore, keeping ourselves constantly in subjection to Christ, we must allow God's Holy Spirit to live through us in a daily "walk" of faith. Otherwise, the sinful nature will certainly demonstrate its presence in our lives, to the Lord's dishonor. It is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek and to make growing disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Mark 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:13; Romans 4:16-17
Sin
We believe that Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of all mankind. Therefore, all people have sinned and lost their ability to live for the glory of God. Mankind's fall has incurred both physical and spiritual death on all until there is forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God.
Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23
God's Grace
We believe that God's grace is a most glorious display of His sovereign goodness and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. It is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man.
Romans 8:28-32; Ephesians 1:10; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17-19; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:5, John 6:44-45, 65; Romans 10:12-13
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process of being set apart for the service of the Lord. It is the process by which regeneration gradually attains to moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. It continues throughout the earthly life, and is accomplished by the use of all the ordinary means of grace - particularly the Word of God.
Acts 20:32; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 4:14; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 7:1-25,
Galatians 5:16-18, 25-26.
Perseverance
We believe that all true believers endure to the end. Their continuance in well-doing is the mark which distinguishes them from those who merely profess. They are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 10:28-29; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Romans 8:30, 5:9-10;
Matthew 26:70-75
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Jesus instructed His followers to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the Church two visible symbols (called "ordinances") as reminders. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism by immersion is a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus as Lord. It serves as an outward sign of conscious confession of repentance and faith. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return. Each person must decide whether or not to be baptized or to participate in the Lord's Supper. Regardless, we do not regard anyone's participation in these practices as a means of salvation.
Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Lord's Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be set aside for worship and spiritual devotion. We also believe that we should refrain from worldly amusements and rest from secular employment, except works of necessity and mercy.
Exodus 20:3-6, Matthew 4:10, 28:19; 1 Timothy 4:13; Colossians 3:16; Exodus 20:8;
1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Matthew 12:1-13
Resurrection
The scriptures teach that Jesus arose from the dead. He appeared to the disciples after the resurrection with many convincing and infallible proofs. He is now seated at the right hand of God in His glorified body. There will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked. The bodies of the righteous will conform to the spiritual body of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; John 5:28-29, 20:9; Philippians 3:21; Acts 24:15; Matthew 28:6
The Blessed Hope
We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord. First, He will come to receive His own to Himself; later, He will set up His earthly kingdom and reign over redeemed Israel. At that time Christ will also reign over all nations, bringing peace and blessing to the world. We believe that this blessed hope has a vital bearing on our personal lives and service.
Titus 2:13; Matthew 24:36, 42-47; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:25-28; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Eternal State
We believe that the righteous are those who have faith in Christ and are living under His will. The wicked are those who continue in unbelief, rebelliousness, and rejection of the claims of Christ over their lives. We believe that the souls of those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation immediately pass into His presence at death. There we remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of our bodies at Christ's coming for His church. Then, with our souls reunited with our glorified bodies, we will live with Him forever in glory. We believe that God will punish unbelievers with everlasting separation from His presence, His glory, and His power.
John 3:16, 2:25; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 15:15-52; Revelation 22:20
Heaven
We firmly believe in the existence of a place that is described as Heaven. The scriptures teach this in many places. Jesus instructed in the 14th chapter of John, "I go to prepare a place for you." (V2) Heaven is a very large place to care for all of God's Saints. (Revelation 21:16). All of the redeemed of the earth shall be present to enjoy the benefits and the blessings of Heaven throughout all eternity.
Revelation 21:24, 18-21; Matthew 18:14; John 14:2; Hebrews 11:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12;
Romans 10:4; Ephesians 2:19, 21
Hell
Hell is spoken of in the Bible as a place of eternal torment for unbelievers - those who have rejected Jesus' invitation of forgiveness for their sins. All of the punishment inflicted on the unbeliever shall be righteous. The punishment of the unbelievers shall be everlasting for they die in their sins.
Luke 16:28, 12:5; Matthew 5:29-30, 10:28, 8:12, 11:22, 24, 25:46; Jude 13; Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 2:12; Hebrews 10:22, 29; Daniel 12:2; Mark 9:44, 46, 48
Satan
We believe hat Satan is a person, a fallen angel, the author of the fall of man, and the deceiver of the age. However, we also believe that he is the Christian's defeated enemy. His destiny is eternal punishment.
Job 1:6-12; Mark 8:27-33; Luke 10:18; Matthew 4:1-11
The Christian Home
We believe that the home was established by God in the Scriptures. According to God's instruction a home is made up of a man (male) and a woman (female) united in marriage. We also believe that God has given parents the responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:1-4; Proverbs 22:6
We believe that the Scripture teaches that sexual purity builds a strong home. It also teaches that homosexuality, adultery, premarital sex, pornography and sexual deviation is a sin.
Romans 1:24-31 (note verse 27); Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18; Luke 18:20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18