What We Believe
At Bethany Baptist Church, we believe what a church believes matters. Our faith and practice are not built upon changing culture, popular opinion, or religious tradition. They are built upon the Word of God. We are an old fashioned, Independent Fundamental Baptist church, and we desire to stand faithfully upon the truths of Scripture and pass them on to the next generation.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. From Genesis to Revelation, it is true, trustworthy, and without error. We believe God has not only inspired His Word but has preserved it for us.
We use and stand upon the Authorized King James Bible as the Word of God and our final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV
God
We believe there is one true and living God, eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is holy, eternal, all powerful, all knowing, and worthy of all worship, honor, and glory.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe in His virgin birth, His absolute deity, His sinless life, His miracles, and His substitutionary death upon the cross for our sins.
We believe He shed His blood for the redemption of mankind, was buried, bodily arose from the grave on the third day, ascended into Heaven, and is coming again.
Jesus Christ is not simply one way to God. He is the only way.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 KJV
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God and the third Person of the Trinity. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. At the moment of salvation, He indwells every believer.
He comforts, teaches, guides, and empowers Christians to live for Christ and serve Him faithfully. We believe the Holy Spirit always works in agreement with the Word of God and never contrary to it.
Man and Sin
We believe God created man in His own image. Through Adam's disobedience, sin entered into the world, and all mankind became sinners by nature and by choice.
Every person stands guilty before a holy God and is unable to save himself through good works, religion, baptism, church membership, or personal merit.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 KJV
Salvation
We believe salvation is by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be earned by good works or religious deeds. Jesus Christ paid the full price for our sins when He died upon the cross and arose from the grave.
We believe a sinner must come to God in repentance and place his faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. When a person is saved, he is born again and becomes a new creature in Christ.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV
Eternal Security
We believe that a person who has truly received Jesus Christ as Saviour is eternally secure. Salvation is not kept by our goodness or our ability to remain faithful. Our security rests in Jesus Christ and His finished work.
We believe a Christian can know that he has eternal life.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 KJV
The Local Church
We believe the local New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined together to carry out the work Christ gave His church.
The local church is to preach the Word of God, reach the lost, baptize believers, teach Christians, observe the Lord's Supper, support missions, and provide a place for believers to worship, fellowship, grow, and serve.
We believe each local church is autonomous and accountable to Jesus Christ as its Head. We are an independent Baptist church and are not governed by a denomination, convention, or outside religious organization.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe Christ gave the local church two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe Scriptural baptism is for those who have already trusted Christ as Saviour and is performed by immersion. Baptism does not save a person. It is an act of obedience and a public identification with Jesus Christ.
We believe the Lord's Supper is a solemn remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ and is to be observed according to the teaching of Scripture.
Heaven and Hell
We believe Heaven and Hell are real, literal, and eternal.
Those who die having trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour will spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven. Those who die without Christ will face eternal punishment in Hell.
Because eternity is real, we believe sharing the Gospel with others is one of the most important responsibilities God has given His church.
Christian Living and Biblical Separation
We believe salvation should make a difference in the way a Christian lives. Christians are called to live holy, separated lives that honor Jesus Christ and reflect the truth of God's Word.
We believe Christians should separate themselves from sinful practices and worldly influences that dishonor the Lord. Biblical separation is not about believing we are better than others. It is about belonging to Christ and desiring to please Him.
Through prayer, Bible reading, faithful church attendance, obedience, giving, witnessing, and Christian service, believers should continually grow in grace and in their walk with the Lord.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Peter 1:15 KJV
The Great Commission
We believe the Gospel is for everyone.
Jesus Christ commanded His church to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. We believe strongly in personal soul winning, evangelism, missions, and supporting missionaries who faithfully carry the Gospel at home and around the world.
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 KJV
The Return of Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is coming again.
We believe in His personal, visible, imminent, pretribulational and premillennial return. This blessed hope should encourage Christians to remain faithful, live for Christ, and be busy reaching others with the Gospel while there is still time.
Our Baptist Distinctives
As an old fashioned Independent Fundamental Baptist church, we continue to stand for:
We do not believe God's Word needs to be changed to fit each generation. We believe each generation needs the unchanging truth of God's Word.