Bethel Baptist Church - Macclesfield

Articles of faith

We believe...

1.  With all our hearts in the only true and living God, the creator and sustainer of all things, visible and invisible; and that in the unity of this Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Matt 28 v 19, 2 Cor 13 v 14

2.  In the full inspiration of the Bible, accepting it as the Word of God, and regarding its teaching as of supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

2 Tim 3 v 16,17, 2 Pet 1 v 21, John 17 v 17

3.  In the Bible doctrine of the fall of man, and in his consequent redemption through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and of regeneration through the Holy Spirit. That God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance, for which course Christ commanded that the gospel be preached to everyone.

2 Pet 3 v 9, Rom 5 v 12, Rom 5 v 8, John 3 v 6,7

4.  That by His grace and through the merits of Jesus Christ, God has made full provision for the salvation of all men, but that only those who repent pf their sins and accept Christ by faith as their Saviour will be saved.

John 3 v 16, 1 John 2 v 2, John 3 v 18

5.  That those who truly repent and believe the gospel should be baptised by immersion.

Matt 28 v 19, Acts 2 v 38, Rom 6 v 4

6.  That those who are baptised should receive the laying on of hands from the elders.

Acts 8 v 17, Heb 6 v 1,2, 1 Tim 4 v 4

7.  In the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, His deity and absolute sinlessness.

Luke 1 v 35, Heb 1 v 1-3, Heb 1 v 8, 1 Pet 2 v 22

8.  In Christ's death uponb the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sin. In His bodilyu resurrection. In His ascension into heaven and in His personal coming again to receive His people to Himself

1 Pet 1 v 18,19, 1 Cor 15 v 3,4, Heb 9 v 28, 1Thes 4 v 16

9.  In the infallibility of Christ as a teacher

Matt 7 v 29, John 12 v 48, John 17 v 14

10.  In the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, and in His continued presence in the church, that His gifts may still be claimed and exercised subject to His will.

John 15 v 26, 2 Cor 13 v 14, Acts 5 v 3,4, 1 Cor 12 v 4, Rom 11 v 29

11.  In the existence of a personal devil, the arch enemy of God and man, that although his power is still great on the earth, he is a defeated foe, doomed to final destruction.

Matt 4 v 11, 1 Pet 5 v 8,9 Rev 20 v 10

12.  That man is a being consisting of body, soul and spirit. That the spirit can exist independently of the body and that it continues in a state of consciousness between death and resurrection.

1 Thes 5 v 23, Eccl 12 v 7, Rev 6 v 9,10, Acts 7 v 59

13.  In the present day possibility and privilege of Divine Healing, but without being extremists.

1 Cor 12 v 9, James 5 v 14,15

14.  That we should observe the ordinance of the Lord's Supper

1 Cor 11 v 23-26

15.  In the resurrection of the body, in the final glorification of the redeemed and that the finally impenitent will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of God

John 5 v 28,29, 1 Cor 15 v 49,53, Matt 13 v 41-43, Rev 20 v 15

16.  In the need of obedience to everything Christ has commanded and that the way of obedience is the way of sanctification, power and blessing.

Matt 4 v 4, 1 Thes 4 v 3, 1 Pet 1 v 22, Rom 6 v 16, John 14 v 21