Doctrinal Statement

Bethany Chapel

Marion Center, PA

1. We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of both the Old and  the New Testaments. We believe the Bible to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God. It was given by God to man through inspiration and is the final authority in faith and life.  We believe that inerrancy is limited to the original manuscripts.  II Tim.  3:16, II Pet. 1:21

2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. They are eternal in being,  identical in nature and equal in power.   Deut. 6:4,  Jn. 14:26, Matt. 28:19

3. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; that He became man through the virgin birth and that in taking on flesh He never ceased to be God. His purpose in coming was to redeem sinful man through His vicarious substitutionary death, by the shedding of His blood for the remission of sins. He is now risen and seated at the right hand of God, the Father, making intercession for the saints as our High Priest, Advocate &  Intercessor.   Phil. 2:5-11,  Matt.  1:18,25;   I Pet. 2:22,  I Cor. 15:3,4; Acts 1:9-11

4. We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit; that He is now presently convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He is responsible for the ministry of regeneration; that He indwells the body of every born-again believer; He gives enlightenment, guidance, and power to the saints.  Jn.  16:7-14, I Cor.  12:11-14, Rom. 8:9, Eph. 1:13,14

5. We believe in Heaven and Hell. Heaven being the eternal abode of God. Hell (Gehenna) or the Lake of Fire is the place of eternal conscious punishment off those who reject Jesus Christ and die in their sin. We believe Heaven is the home for any who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have experienced the new birth.  It is a place of eternal joy. Rev. 4:1-11, Rev. 20:11-14

6. We believe that Angels are ministering spirits sent forth by God to minister to the saints. We believe that Satan was a created angel who sinned, was judged and took many angels with him.  The fallen angels are now in active opposition to God and His work in this world. Satan is the great enticer and deceiver, the accuser of the brethren, whose end, along with the other fallen angels, is the lake of fire. Col. 1:16,17;  Matt. 18:10, Heb. 1:14, Isa. 14:12-14, Eze.  28:14,15;   II Cor. 4:3,4; Rev. 20:7-10

7. We believe that man was created perfect and without sin or a sin nature. Man was created in the image of God. Man was given a spirit that was immortal.  He was able to have fellowship and perfect  communion with God. We believe that sin entered the human race through Adam and that sin has now passed on to all.   We believe that sin brought death, both physical and spiritual and that man is totally depraved and unable to save himself. Man's only hope is to be born again by the Spirit of God.  Jn. 3:1-21, Rom. 3:9-23, Eph. 2:1-3,12; Rom. 5:12

8. We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as our substitute; that salvation is received wholly by faith apart from works. We believe that upon receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior, that every believer is given a new nature that is separate and  distinct from the old nature; that both natures reside in the believer and that it is the believers responsibility to yield to the new nature. We believe that all who receive Jesus Christ by faith are eternally secure in  Christ. Rom. 5:8, Eph. 2:8,9 Titus 3:5, Jn.1:12,13; ICor.6:19,20, Eph.1:13,14; Eph. 4:30

9. We believe that the Church is comprised of all those who since Pentecost have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This called out assembly is made up of both Jew and Gentile (Invisible Church). We also believe in the ministry and importance  of the  Local Church (Visible Church); that God has established the authority of the local church; that it is to be independent and autonomous from outside authority. The purpose of the local church is for worship, baptizing, training and discipling, observing of the ordinances, reaching the lost with the gospel, and the sending of others to areas outside of our own influence with the gospel. Eph.  1:22,23; Eph. 5:25-27, Col. 1:18, I Cor. 1:2, Matt.  28:19, 20; Eph.4:11-15, Acts 1:8

10. We believe that there are only two ordinances for the local church.  Both baptism and the Lord's Supper are to be a part of the local church until Jesus Christ comes for His church. Baptism is for the  believer only, portraying the believer's union with our Lord's death, burial and resurrection. We believe that Christian baptism is immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord's Supper is for all born-again believers; that both the bread and the juice are symbols that are to remind us of His death. Rom. 6:3-11, Matt. 28:19,20; Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:11-13, I Cor. 11:23-26    

11. We  believe  in  the  bodily resurrection of the just, at the rapture, and the unjust following the 1,000 year  reign of Jesus Christ on the earth; that the just  will  be judged for their works at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat), the wicked (those who have rejected Jesus Christ as Savior) will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment seat. We believe in the personal, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air for His saints prior to the time of Jacob's Trouble. We also believe in His coming with His saints following the Tribulation to bring judgment upon the nations and to rule during His millennial reign. I  Thes. 4:13-18, I Thes. 1:9,10; Matt.  25:31-34, Isa. 34:2, II Thes. 1:7-10 & 2:1-3

12.  We believe that the Bible teaches both personal and ecclesiastical separation from the world; that we are to live in this world and yet not of the world. We believe that positional sanctification takes place at the moment of regeneration; that progressive sanctification is to be progressive in the life of the believer until death, or until Christ comes, at which time sanctification will be complete when we see Jesus Christ face to face.  Rom 12:1, I Jn. 2:15-17, II Cor. 6:14-17, Jude 3,4; II Jn. 9,10

13.  We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of His gifts, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles were used to authenticate the early church and gradually passed away as the New Testament was completed. We believe that God does hear and answer prayer, including prayer for the sick, and afflicted, according to His own will. I Cor. 12:4-11, II Cor 12:12, Eph 4:7-12, Rev. 22:17,18