Our beliefs

At Bethany, we appreciate our heritage as Free Will Baptists. But our first allegiance is to Christ and His worldwide Kingdom.

Our members may come from diverse backgrounds, but we do anticipate basic agreement with the following “Articles of Faith,” printed in A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the Original Free Will Baptists, published by the Executive Office of the National Association of Free Will Baptists:

1.

The Bible

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are our infallible rule of faith and practice.

2.

God

There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and Righteous governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore and obey.

3.

Christ

Christ is God manifest in the flesh; in His divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. The mediator between God and man, once crucified, He is now risen and glorified, and is our ever present Savior and Lord.

4.

The Holy Spirit

The Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God.

5.

The Government of God

God exercises a wide and benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining the constitution and laws of nature. He also performs special acts, not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires.

6.

The Sinfulness of Man

Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, therefore, inherits a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to years of accountability sin and become guilty before God.

7.

The Works of Christ

The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection effected for all a redemption from sin that is full and free, and is the ground of salvation by faith.

8.

The Terms of Salvation

The conditions of salvation are: (1) Repentance of sin or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of it. (2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one’s self to Christ as Savior and Lord with purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit, freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. (3) Continuance in faith and obedience unto death.

9.

Election

God determined from the beginning to save all who should comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in Christ men become His elect.

10.

Freedom of the Will

The human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish.

11.

Salvation Free

God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely.

12.

Perseverance

All believers in Christ, who through grace persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation.

13.

Gospel Ordinances

BAPTISM, or the immersion of believers in water, and the LORD’S SUPPER, are ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. FEET WASHING, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all true believers.

14.

Tithing

God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old Testament:
Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel (Matt. 23:23), and the apostle Paul said, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2a).

15.

The Christian Day of Rest

The divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements, for rest, worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal communion with God.