Summary of Beliefs

What We Believe

What Do We believe at Bethel?

We believe in a Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – existing in three persons and these three persons are one God, equal in power and glory.

We believe the triune God  made the world in all of its beauty and grandeur. (Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-3)

We believe that God is sovereign over all His creation.  God is the main actor in creation and He is ultimately in control.

We believe in the Bible as the final authority for faith (what we believe) and life (how we live). The Bible is the inerrant, infallible and inspired Word of God through which God reveals Himself and speaks to us. We believe the Scriptures to be true, complete, reliable and sufficient in revealing to us everything we need to ascribe to Him the glory due His name, as well as enjoy eternal fellowship with Him.

We also believe that, as the Bible is the final authority and all creeds, confessions, church traditions and words of men are subordinate to its authority, it is incumbent upon us to “interpret Scripture with Scripture”.  This means that we interpret Scripture in light of what the rest of the Bible says on the topic or subject of the text we are studying.

Thus, It is not “Hath God Said?” but, “God hath Said.”  So, rightly interpreting God’s word is a vital part of who we are as God’s people.  The creeds (Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed) and the confessions (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort) help us in rightly interpreting and understanding the Bible.

Through a deeper understanding of God’s Word, we have a more sincere awareness and appreciation for who God really is and this relational knowledge is expressed through worship and service declaring God’s holiness and worth in worship and life.

We believe that mankind was originally created good as the crown of God’s creation and walked in fellowship with God.  Yet mankind turned from God through rebellion and the fellowship was severed by their sinful action. Through sin came death.  Hence, all people are born into this world under the power of the curse and the authority of death with sinful natures inclined to rebel against God.  Yet, God being full of grace, did not desire to leave all mankind in this miserable estate.

We believe that God redeemed and is redeeming the world.  To “redeem” is to buy or win back.  Hence, Jesus Christ saves us from the consequences of sin through the offering of His life as a sacrificial substitute taking our place in death so that we might have His place in life.

This is the “Good News” of the Gospel proclaiming the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. By Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and triumphant resurrection from the grave, He has  taken our place and finished the work required by God to save us from our sins.

We believe that salvation is “God directed”.  God seeks after us!  We see this in Scripture passages like Romans 5:8, which says "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us", and also in John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

God seeks to save the lost.  Jesus Christ is our Savior whom God the Father sent to this world to save us and He is our “High Priest” who intercedes for us in the presence of the Heavenly Father.  Yet, as His servants, all believers are priests of God, anointed in Christ to serve him in all that they do.

Hence, Bethel CRC is not only a body of believers in Christ who deeply care for one another seeking to serve and pray for one another, we are also committed to proclaiming this good news to others in word and deed within our community, nation, and world out of love for our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!

What we believe can be summarized in the Five Solas:

Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live to give God alone the glory.

Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our authority for faith and life.

Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone who seek to save the lost through His people and sometimes in spite of them).

Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.