Who We Are

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is without error as originally written. The author of the Bible was God the Holy Spirit who guided the human authors so that the writings they produced were inspired (God-breathed) in every word and as a whole. Because Scripture is a product of God, who cannot lie, the Bible is entirely without error (inerrant) and is actually incapable of error in all that it affirms, not only in the realm of religion but in every matter upon which it speaks. We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice, the only sufficient and necessary source to establish the doctrine and practice of both the individual believer and of the church as a whole. The foundation of our unity is God’s Word.

2. Concerning Our Triune God

We believe that there is only one living and true God who is infinite, eternal, self-existing, unchanging, perfect Spirit. He is a personal Being and the Creator, Upholder, and supreme Ruler of the universe. He is indescribably glorious in holiness, and worthy of all our worship, trust, and love. Though one God, He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is – neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is – eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit is – proceeding from the Father and the Son. These Persons are equal in essence and in every divine perfection, but each has His own distinct work to perform.

3. Concerning God the Father

We believe that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, is – neither begotten nor proceeding. He is the Creator of all things by His Word and through His Son. As Creator He is also Owner, the only absolute and all-powerful Ruler in the universe. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men, but He is spiritual Father only to believers. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin, nor does His sovereignty diminish the accountability of mankind. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own. He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, Whom He graciously sent into the world to save sinners and Whom He raised from the dead. He adopts as His own all those who come to Him and thus becomes their Father, keeping them for Jesus Christ. He has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ.

4. Concerning God the Son

We believe that God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, is – eternally begotten of the Father. It was through Him and for Him that all things were created. He is both fully God and fully man. His literal human body was miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and He was born of a human mother who was a virgin. As our Lord Jesus Christ, He lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as our substitute and bore the judgment of our sins, and was raised bodily from the tomb as a testimony to the sufficiency of His sacrifice and as a guarantee of our future resurrection. As the Head of His Body, the Church, He builds, directs, and sustains it. He is now in heaven as the great High Priest interceding for us and will return one day in glory to judge the living and the dead.

5. Concerning God the Holy Spirit

We believe that God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is – proceeding from the Father and the Son. He is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in creation, convicts men of sin, and indwells each believer. He also bears witness to the truth of the Scriptures, for it is ultimately the work of the Spirit in our hearts that fully persuades and assures us of its infallible truth and divine authority. He performs various ministries such as regenerating, sealing, guiding, teaching, sanctifying, strengthening, and interceding. The Holy Spirit gives varieties of gifts to believers, which are special abilities for service to the body. He also enables the believer to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires, and He produces fruit in the Christian’s life. It is the believer’s privilege to be filled with the Spirit and thereby to produce fruit unto God’s glory and live in joyful obedience.

6. Concerning Angels

We believe in the existence of angels who are mighty, spiritual beings that were created by God. They serve Him in various ways and are specially appointed to watch over and minister to God’s people. We believe that at some time in the past a large number of angels, under the leadership of Satan, rebelled against God and were removed from His presence. They oppose God and His purposes and rule over the spiritual darkness of this world. Satan is the enemy of God’s people. Although he is very powerful, he is not equal to God and must give account for his actions. He and the other fallen angels are destined to be judged by Christ at His return and ultimately to be eternally imprisoned in the Lake of Fire.

7. Concerning Creation

We believe that in the beginning it pleased God to display the glory of His eternal power and divine nature by creating the world and all things, both visible and invisible. He did so in six days, and all things were very good as originally created. We believe the Biblical account of creation is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God; that Adam was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all people are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, who were created in God’s image and likeness, and are first parents of the entire human race.

Created in God’s Image
All human life is created in God’s image and is therefore sacred. This includes pre-born babies, the elderly, the physically or mentally challenged, from conception through natural death. Because humanity is created in God’s image, life should be treasured and preserved in all stages and conditions.

God’s Design for Gender
Our Creator established human gender in biologically fixed male and female categories. Seeking to confuse or change this God-given distinction violates God’s creative design and revealed will.

God’s Design for Marriage
God’s created order for marriage is the joining of one man and one woman: both created in the image of God and thus equal in essence and value, though they serve different roles within the marriage. Sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bonds of a biblically defined marriage. Any other form of marriage or sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gracious will.

8. Concerning the Fall of Man

We believe that man was originally created a sinless being. By voluntary transgression he fell from that sinless state, and, as a result, all are now sinners by nature and conduct and are justly under divine condemnation.

9. Concerning Salvation

We believe that an individual’s personal guilt and depravity make reconciliation to God essential to escape God’s eternal wrath and gain eternal life. Mankind is helpless to provide reconciliation for himself. The good news of the Gospel is that salvation is made free to all by the death and resurrection of Christ. It is initiated by God and is accomplished by grace apart from any human works. The sovereignty of God in salvation does not diminish the responsibility of each individual to accept it by personal faith in Christ, which is the only condition of salvation. Repentance toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit is an integral part of saving faith. All who thus believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are forgiven, regenerated, and justified, and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to them. They are given spiritual life which is manifested in their growth in grace. Each believer has been sanctified positionally in Christ, is being sanctified by the continuing work of the Spirit, and ultimately at Christ’s coming will be completely sanctified. True believers are saved forever and can never be lost.

10. Concerning the Church

We believe that the universal Church, the Body of Christ, is made up of all true believers who are placed into this Body by the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of baptized believers associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel. Its officers are biblically qualified men referred to in Scripture as elders (pastors) and deacons. God has given the local church authority on matters such as membership, leadership, discipline, ministry, and finances as directed in His Word. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by proclaiming and obeying His Word (see “Purpose of the Church” statement).

11. Concerning the Ordinances

We believe the local church is to observe the two ordinances of Baptism and Communion as instructed by our Lord in His Word. They are both a remembrance and proclamation of Christ’s work until He returns. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an outward sign of identification with Christ. A fruit of salvation is obedience in baptism. During communion, the church commemorates together the death of Christ on our behalf by the use of the bread and cup. This commemoration should always be preceded by careful self-examination.

12. Concerning Future Events

We believe in the imminence of Christ’s return. At the end of the age, He will separate the just into His eternal presence and the unjust to endless punishment in the Lake of Fire based on the gift of salvation through faith in Christ or the rejection of this gift.

Click here for a PDF version with Scripture References.

Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a religion or church. Being a Christian means you have come to God His way. You believe what He says about himself, your sin, and His way of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

God Is Sovereign Creator

The Bible says we were created by God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament teaches us it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Therefore, as creator He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). Whether we accept this or not, He is Lord. This means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.

God Is Holy

God is holy (Isaiah 6:3); therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, “you shall be holy, for I am holy”.

We are Sinful

God requires holiness of us, yet we are completely incapable of this standard on our own. God’s Word tells us that everyone is guilty of sin: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It’s not merely the fact that I have sinned, our identity before God is that we are sinners (Ephesians 2:1-5). We are utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12).

Sin Demands a Penalty

God’s holiness demands that the just payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.

Jesus Is Lord and Savior

Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved”. Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who was our substitute and paid the penalty for sin and died for us (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Christ (Romans 3:26).

Saving Faith

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that salvation can never be earned by man, rather it is received as a free gift through simply believing/trusting (Ephesians 2:8-9) in what Jesus has accomplished on your behalf in His sinless life, death on the cross, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

We believe that baptism is a believer’s way of publicly declaring the belief that Christ died, was buried, and rose again in his or her place. It is an outward sign of identification with Christ.

We usually celebrate Communion together on the first Sunday of the month. This is a way of remembering Christ’s death in our place, and of proclaiming this death. We do so with both joy and careful reflection.

Membership is commitment, it’s a recognition of our spiritual bond with each other in Christ, and accountability for how we live, serve, grow, and deal with sin. Membership is an indication of our alignment in doctrine and matters of faith and belief, and presents the opportunity for increased levels of service and participation in church functions and leadership.

As a member, we are also encouraged to participate in quarterly and other special business meetings related to the core functions of the church, including voting on important matters and holding office. As members we also together commit to supporting the local ministry of BBC and other ministries / missions we’re aligned with through finances, individual talents, time, and prayer.

Here are a few common questions and answers related to church membership:

Q: How long do I need to attend Bethany Baptist Church before seeking membership?
A: There is no minimum time required. Pick up an application the first Sunday you’re here if this seems to the local Body that God has called you to join.

Q: Are there age limitations for membership at BBC?
A: Young individuals will need to clearly communicate their testimony of faith in Christ. And we don’t have an upper limit. All members must be baptized as a believer, and be ready to commit to our church covenant. Members over 18 are allowed to vote and hold elected offices.

Q: Will my family go through the process together?
A: Family members may go through the process at the same time, but testimony is evaluated on an individual basis and individuals are voted into membership. If you have a son or daughter interested in membership, you are welcome to come along when they meet with pastors or deacons.

Q: Is there a membership term – how do I maintain my membership?
A: You may remain a member as long as you are actively attending and in good standing.

Q: Can I remain a member at another church?
A: Typically, we do not allow for dual membership. However, it may be suitable for students or those who travel seasonally.

If you have an interest in membership, the process is simple. Just indicate your desire to know more to one of the pastors or deacons and they will assist you in obtaining a questionnaire that asks a few basic questions about any previous church involvement, baptism, and your testimony of faith in Jesus. Prospective new members are affirmed by a recommendation of the leadership for vote by the membership.