We believe the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, inerrant and infallible as originally given, were inspired by God and are the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith The Bible: What It Is What is the Bible? There are two ways to answer this. From a human standpoint, the Bible is a collection of 66 different books, letters, or writings (scriptures) written over a period of about 1500 years. But the Bible is also God’s word to man – He is the ultimate Author. We believe that the Bible is the only authority upon which Christian doctrines are …Continue reading →
God has many attributes (qualities) that define who He is and what He is like. Some attributes describe his deity (“god-ness”), and some His character. You will find that all of God’s attributes are infinite, they are without limit. There is nothing lacking in any quality of God. God is perfect. God’s attributes are infinite. There no limits to His power, understanding, etc. (1 Kings 8:27, Psalms 103:17). God: The Nature Of His Deity God is a Person, not a force (Exodus 3:14). God has a will (Exodus 6:6-8), understanding or wisdom (Exodus 3:7, Isaiah 1:18), emotions (1 Kings 11:9, Mark 1:11), and we can communicate with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God is the living God (Jeremiah 10:10). The Trinity …Continue reading →
Son of God We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, he arose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, where at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith How do we know Jesus is fully God? John 1:1-14 says that the Word, Jesus, was God. Jesus made many claims to be God during His ministry years on earth. His claims were not that He was another god, but that He was the God (John …Continue reading →
The Deity of The Holy Spirit We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men of sin, regenerate i.e., the rebirth of: the believing sinner, to indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith How do we know the Holy Spirit is God? The Holy Spirit is equated with God in Acts 5:3-4, 28:25, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 3:16-17, and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. He shares in the divine nature ( Psalms 139:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit of God is also Jesus’ Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) which shows the unity of the Three-In-One. The Holy Spirit …Continue reading →
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore spiritually lost, and only by rebirth through the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith Man: Created In God’s Image How do we know man was created directly by God? The account in Genesis 2:7 says God created man in His own image. The story of creation is not figurative but actually happened. Jesus considered this account as literally true (Mark 10:5-6). Man did not evolve. Of all that God created, what makes man unique? Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6). He was created to be like God. Man …Continue reading →
We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ for his church and that this “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith Jesus’ Second Coming What do we mean by “personal” return? Jesus’ return will be physical and visible (Job 19:25-26, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7), in the same way He ascended to heaven ( Acts 1:9-11). It will not be an invisible “spiritual” return as some cults teach, as Jesus has never left us spiritually. What do we mean by “imminent” return? Jesus’ second coming can happen at any time. He will come unexpectedly – like a thief in the night (Matthew …Continue reading →
We believe that the true church is composed of all such persons, who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been reborn through the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the head. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith What is the church? The church consists of all who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of the church? The church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21), edify believers (Ephesians 4:11-12), and evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), which signifies that Christ is manifested through us to each other and to the world (Ephesians 5:30). Jesus Christ …Continue reading →
We believe that water baptism soon after accepting Christ as personal Savior is a testimony of death to sin and resurrection to a new life. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith What is baptism? Basically, to baptize means to immerse in water. Water baptism is a ceremonial washing. Greeks used the word for dyeing cloth. What is its purpose or meaning? Water baptism symbolizes union and identification with Christ . It is a public testimony symbolizing our dying to self and sin and living for Christ (Romans 6:3-6). It is not a “sacrament” as there is no sacrament concept in the Bible. John the Baptist baptized to repentance, meaning it symbolized the repentance on the part of the one being …Continue reading →
We believe that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; that all true believers should share in it. – Beatty Community ChurchStatement of Faith What is communion? Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, was instituted by Jesus. It symbolizes His punishment and death for us. What is its purpose or meaning? Communion is a way of remembering what it cost Jesus to save us ( 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26). The bread symbolizes His body broken for us (Matthew 26:26) – the punishment we deserved. The wine (juice) symbolizes His blood shed (Matthew 26:27-28) which was required to be forgiven of sin. When we eat …Continue reading →
What is faith? Faith is more than just believing something is true. It is placing your trust in that something to the point where it affects your actions. It affects your world-view and therefore how you live. Everybody has faith in something. Faith is not wishful thinking. It is not convincing yourself that something is true just because you want it to be true. Faith is not blind. Faith in God is more than just believing that God exists, that He did certain things, or that He made certain promises to us. It is relying on God to fulfill those promises. As an example of faith, God told Abram (Abraham) that He would make a great nation out of him …Continue reading →
