We believe:
THE SCRIPTURES: are the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, as in the original manuscripts, as the Word of God. That It is authoritative and sufficient for our guidance in all matters of faith and practice (Psa. 19:7-11; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
CREATION: that God is the Creator of the universe, and that creation was by divine decree and not through evolutionary process (Gen. 1:1-13; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16).
TRINITY: that God is one, yet eternally a Triune God, with the distinction of three Persons, namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Isa. 45:5-6; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-2; 5:17, 22-23; 14:24, 26; 16:27-28; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 1:1-3, 8).
SIN: through Adam sin entered the world, and death by sin. From that time mankind has been ‘lost’ and at enmity with God, unable by any personal merit or works to fit himself for the presence of God and that man’s only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross (Psa. 53:2-3; Luke. 19:10; Rom. 3:19-23; 5:6, 18-19; Eph. 2:1-9).
SATAN: that Satan is a created being and the author of sin, who incurred God’s judgement by rebelling against God, his Creator. That he was defeated by Christ in His death and resurrection and is a usurper ruling within God’s limitations as the ‘god of this world’. At Christ’s coming to reign on the earth Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss for 1,000 years, at the end of which time he will be loosed for a season, and finally cast into the lake of fire for all eternity (Isa. 14:12-17; John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 5:19; Rev. 12:9; 20:2, 10).
INCARNATION: Jesus Christ was God manifest in flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, thus being perfect God and perfect man, sinless and incapable of sinning (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John. 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Col. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:22).
SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH: Christ died for our sins upon the cross at Calvary, a substitutionary sacrifice offered to God, by which believers are justified and reconciled to God (Rom. 3:24-26; 5:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:26; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:18).
RESURRECTION: our Lord Jesus Christ literally and physically rose from the dead, that He was seen by many over a period of forty days. Then He ascended bodily into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:3, 9; 1 Cor. 15:4-6; Heb. 1:3; 4:14).
THE BRIDGE TO LIFE: there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. That salvation is by grace through faith in Him alone and not by any good works (1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 2:8-9). Those who believe in Christ as the only Redeemer and Saviour are children of God. (Luke. 20:36; John 1:12; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 3:26).
THE HOLY SPIRIT: is a divine Person, the “other Comforter” who was sent at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) to indwell every born again believer (1 Cor. 6:19), and to baptise every believer into the one Body of Christ at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13), He bears witness to Jesus Christ and exalts Him (John 16:14). He also convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement (John 16:8-11, 14-15) and that regeneration and sanctification are also part of His work (John 3:5–8; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Titus 3:5-6). He fulfils the purpose of God that each believer be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18).
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: that gifts of the Holy Spirit were distributed at Pentecost according to God’s will, for the edification of the Church (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 14:12). That God gave special gifts to the Church of apostles and prophets, relating to the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20). These have ceased, together with the signs and wonders and gifts of tongues, prophecies and knowledge that accompanied them (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 1 Cor. 13:8-13; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4). Also that no particular gift was ever given to all believers, nor was any gift a sign of spirituality, nor can any particular gift be regarded as a proof of the baptism, indwelling, or fullness of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:30-31).
ASSURANCE: all true believers are assured of their salvation by the Word of God, through the finished work of Christ on the cross, and that once a believer is saved he can never be lost (Luke 10:20; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1, 31-39: 2 Tim. 1:12); and that, having been born again by the Spirit of God, he will manifest a changed life (Rom. 8:5; Gal. 5:16, 24-25), and acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in his life (John 13:13; Col. 2:6; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).
THE CHURCH: all believers of all races are members of the Church, the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. It consists of believers only (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:20-23), who are made priests to God (1 Pet. 2:9). The local church is the visible expression of this in a locality; that each local church is autonomous and functions apart from any central organisation, though in fellowship with each other. The Biblical form of government for the local church is that of elders who are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), and will give account to God (Phil. 1:1; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
HEADSHIP: that the Lord Jesus Christ, is one with the Father (John 10:30), and co-equal with the eternal God (John 1:1-3; Phil. 2:6), yet made Himself, by incarnation, subject to the Father (1 Cor. 11:3); that as God is the head of Christ, so Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman. Men and women are equal to each other in status and position but with differing responsibilities (1 Cor. 11:2-16; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; Gal. 3:28).
GOD’S ORDER IN THE CHURCHES: the New Testament records the apostles’ instructions for Church order that are obligatory for us today. This is supported by the statement, ‘these things are the commandments of the Lord’ (1 Cor. 11:16; 14: 34-37). The women are to maintain relative silence in the churches. It is not permitted for them to speak (1 Cor. 14:34-38). Women are not permitted to teach men or to have authority over men (1 Tim. 2: 9-15).
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER: there are only two ordinances commanded in Scripture for Christians to observe, namely baptism of believers only, by immersion in water, and the regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Rom. 6:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
THE GREAT COMMISSION: that the Church is bound by the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation, making disciples of all nations, and that as a consequence every Christian is called to be a witness for Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
THE SECOND COMING:
[a] The Rapture: our Lord will come again, firstly to take His own people out of the world, to be with Him forever (John 14:2-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-16). This “rapture” can take place at any moment and is the purifying hope of the Church (1 John: 3: 3).
[b] The Tribulation: There follows the tribulation period, 7 years of judgement on Israel, the Gentiles and the false Church (Matt. 24:21; 2 Thess. 2:3-8).
[c] The Return of Christ to Earth: At the end of the Great Tribulation, Christ will return in person, to complete His judgement and to establish:
[d] His Millennial Kingdom: When Christ returns to earth He will reign in righteousness and peace for 1,000 years (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 25:31-32; Rev. 19:11-20:6).
JUDGEMENT: all judgement is given to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:22). There will be a resurrection of the just and a resurrection of the unjust, the former to enjoy eternal life and rewards at the Judgement seat of Christ, and the latter to suffer eternal punishment at the Judgement of the Great White Throne (John 5:28-29; Acts 17:30-31; Rev. 20:5-6, 11-15).
Bethel Christian Fellowship 