Tenets of Our Faith




What do we believe?
 All believers need to know:

   1. Who we believe

   2. What we believe

   3. Why we believe

The Who, What, and Why we believe determine:

   1. Our Character - what we are

   2. Our Behavior - what we do

   3.  Our Destiny - where we go

Strong character is determined by strong belief and clearly defined doctrine make for clear-cut convictions. What you and I believe is molded either by the vain ideas of man or the inspired Word of God. Hence, our belief must be founded on the Word of God and the Doctrine of Christ.

The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This statement of beliefs is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing,

  • 1 Corinthians 1: 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. (NAS);
  • Acts 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NAS)
The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all Biblical truth; only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.

1. The Scripture Inspired

The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

  • 2 Tim 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (NAS)
  • 1 Thes 2:13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted {it} not {as} the word of men, but {for} what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (NAS)
  • 2 Pet 1 :21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (NAS)
2. The One True God

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, "Trinity"

Deut 6:4 "Hear, a Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! (NAS)
  • Isa 43:10-11 "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, and there will be none after me. "I, even I, am the LORD; and there is no savior besides me. (NAS)
  • Matt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (NAS)
  • Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased." (NAS)
  • I Jn 5:6-13 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness concerning HIS Son. The one who believes m the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son.  And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. (NAS)
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus 

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare his:


 a. Virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35)

 b. Sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)

 c. Miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)

 d. Substitutionary work on the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4);

Exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1 :9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9, 11; Hebrews 1 :3) 
 
His imminent return (John 14:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). 

4. The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

5. The Salvation of Man

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

a. Conditions of Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:47; John 3:1-16; Romans 10 & 11; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 2:11,3:4-7).

b. The Evidences of Salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2: 12).

6. The Ordinances or Sacraments of the Church
  • Baptism in Water
  • The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. Water baptism is an outward expression of an inward work. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).
         Holy Communion

7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
  • All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church.

    With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16;    15:7-9).

    With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to his work (Acts 2:42), and more active love for Christ, for his Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
  • The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4)
  • The fullness of the Spirit is demonstrated in the life of the believer by a Christ-like life and ministry.
9. Sanctification
  • Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of complete dedication unto God and His will. This represents the normal Christian life (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15.16) (Romans 6:1-11,13; Romans 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12.13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. The Church and Its Mission 

  • The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of the Spirit, and the local church is the concrete expression of the General Assembly with each believer being an integral part (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
  • Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of his Son, the priority reason-for-being of Bethel World Outreach Ministries as part of the Church is to be:
  1. An agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16);
  2. A corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13); and
  3. A channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of his Son (Ephesians 4:11, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:12).
  4. Therefore each believer should, as soon as possible, become an active and integral part of a local church, contributing to its mission by offering his time, talents, tithes and other resources.
  • Bethel World Outreach Church exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:

    1. Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4);
    2. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 12,13 and 14); and
    3. Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit, gifts, and ministries as in New Testament times for edifying the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1 :29).
 11. The Ministry
  • A divinely-called and scripturally-ordained ministry, consisting in the offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher, has been provided by our Lord for a threefold purpose of equipping the Church in:
    1. evangelizing the world (Mark 16: 15-20),
    2. worshipping God (John 4:23,23), and
    3. building a body of saints being perfected in the image of his Son (Ephesians 4: 11- 16).
12. Divine Healing
  • Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers and available through the prayer of faith. (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16, 17; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope
  • The bodily resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51.52).
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ
  • The second coming of Christ, which is our blessed hope, with his saints to reign on the earth for one thousand 'years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1- 6). This millennial reign will bring the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
15. The Final Judgment
  • There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the Devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
  • We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22).
How Does a Person Become a Member?
  • Experience salvation
  • Be baptized in water
  • Attend Discovering Church Membership Class
  • Sign the “Membership Covenant”
  • Meet with the Pastor or his representative
  • Be received into membership by the Church and issued a certificate of membership
  • Be introduced to the congregation

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