What we believe

At Bethany Gospel Chapel we realize that believers will often have differing perspectives. However, we do believe that Scripture provides sufficient clarity on the essential teachings of our faith. It is in these core convictions that we find our unity, and we joyfully seek to worship and serve our Savior together.

Here are the core principles that we believe to be true and foundational to our joy, our faith, and our worship:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible word of God, without error in the original writings, and the final authority for faith and practice.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. We believe that men and women are created in the image of God, that by sin have fallen short of the glory of God, and are therefore in need of regeneration by the Holy Spirit solely through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; Romans 8:9–11; Romans 5:1–2; Ephesians 2:8–10

4. We believe in the deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of the world, that He arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven as our high priest and advocate, and will return with power and glory.

Matthew 1:18–23; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; Hebrews 4:4–16; Acts 1:19–11

5. We believe in life after death and the bodily resurrection of the just to everlasting life and the unjust to everlasting punishment.

1 Corinthians 15:15–23, 51–58; Matthew 25:45,46; John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15

6. We believe that God calls all believers to be a corporate spiritual unity, which is the church indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The chief function of the church is to glorify God and to witness for Christ until His return.

7. We believe that the local church is composed of a group of believers who are a witness in a specific locality, baptized by immersion as a symbol of our identification with Christ; and who gather in Christ’s name for breaking of bread, prayer, fellowship, and teaching. Priesthood is shared by all believers and spiritual gifts are given for the building up of one another in Christ.

1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 5:25–27; Acts 2:41,42; Ephesians 4:10–16