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WHAT WE BELIEVE

As  principles of faith, the BETANIA Church accepts the Holy Scripture - the Bible,  the revealed and inspired Word of God's will as a self-sufficient norm of faith and practice, adopting, as fundamental , the following principles of faith:

 

1. THE ONE TRUE GOD

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I Am", Creator of Heaven and Earth and Redeemer of mankind. Moreover, He revealed Himself as the embodiment of the principles of relationship and union of three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-substantial and co-eternal, equal in justice, wisdom, power, goodness and holiness . (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22)

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2. THE DIVINITY AND HUMANITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Scripture declares: 

a. The eternity of the Lord Jesus (John 1:1, Micah 5:2).

b. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35).

c.    The Humanity of the Lord Jesus (John 4). 

d. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

e. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).

f.    His work of substitution on the Cross (1 Cor.15:3; 2 Cor.5:21).

  1. His resurrection from the dead, in the body (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor.15:4).

  2. His ascension to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

  3. Return as Judge (Acts 17:31)

Christ became Man through the Holy Virgin, uniting both natures, God and man in one person, never divided, being one Christ, true God and perfect Man, he suffered, was crucified, died, was buried, resurrected and was exalted, to reconcile us with the Father and made atonement both for the original sin and for the sins committed.

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​3. THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 The Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son and is eternal and true God.

 

4. HOLY  SCRIPTURE

The writings of Scripture, both the Old and the New Testament, (66 books) are inspired by God and represent God's revelation to man, infallible, authoritative and trustworthy norms of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

 

5. THE MAN

Man was created an innocent creature, in the image and likeness of God.  Through disobedience and voluntary violation of God's commandment, man fell, bringing with him physical death and death_cc781905-5cde-3194- spiritual bb3b-136bad5cf58d_, which means separation  from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19), without being able to restore fellowship with God through own efforts.

 

6. THE SALVATION OF MAN

The only way to save and redeem man is through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Romans 3:25).

a.     CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Salvation is received through repentance before God and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the washing of being born again and through the renewal done by the Spirit Saint. Being justified by grace, by faith, man becomes an heir of the Kingdom of God and eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5 -7).

b.    EVIDENCE OF SALVATION: The inner evidence of salvation is the direct testimony of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence is a life of righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

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7. SANCTIFICATION 

Sanctification begins with the renewal done by the Holy Spirit and is completed in glorification. This is the instantaneous work of grace, but also  a continuous attitude of separation from all that is bad and dedication to God, reflected in living a pure life (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessal 5:22;  Hebrews 13:12). Scripture teaches us to live a life of "sanctification, without which no one will see God" (Hebrews 12:14). Through the power of the Holy Spirit we  obey God's command: "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15,16 Romans 6:1-13; 8:1,2,13 -14; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 2 Peter 1:5).

 

8. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

a. General considerations. All believers must fervently desire and seek with complete sincerity  and conviction the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The purposes of the Baptism in the Spirit Holy are: the empowerment for work, the giving of gifts and their use in the work of service (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31), as well as an increased consecration to God, a special dedication to His work (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28) and an active love for Christ, His Word, and the lost (Mark 16:20).

The baptism in the Holy Spirit  is a distinct and subsequent experience  of being born again (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:15,16; 15 :7-9). 

b. Initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives. (Acts 2:4) . Speaking in tongues is the manifestation of the gift of speaking in various languages (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28).

 

9. THE CHURCH

The Church is the Body of Christ, made up of all people born again, where God lives through the Holy Spirit. 

The local church is the visible expression  of the universal church.

The triple purpose of the church is worship, edification and multiplication.

 

10. OFFICES OF THE CHURCH

  1. WATER BAPTISM:  Water baptism by immersion is commanded by Scripture. All those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord and have experienced the new birth are to be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thus, they publicly confess that they have been raised with Christ to a new life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).

Water baptism is the visible manifestation of entering the Church.

  1. HOLY COMMUNION: The Lord's Supper, composed of two elements - bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol that depicts our communion with the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4) and a reminder of His sufferings and death (1 Corinthians 11 :26), being commanded to all believers "until He comes!"

Participating in the Lord's Supper brings by faith the real blessing of the symbolized act.

 

11. DIVINE HEALING

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Liberation from illness is possible as an effect of atonement, being accessible to all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).  

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12. FOLLOWING THINGS

a. THE BLESSED HOPE

The resurrection from the dead of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their displacement together with those who will still be alive at the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2 :13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).  The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, followed by the visible return of Christ to reign with all His saints (Zechariah 14: 5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).  

b. FINAL JUDGMENT

There will be a final judgment by which the wicked will be judged. All those who will not be found written in the Book 

The living will be committed to eternal punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, this being the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9 :43-48; 

Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

 

13. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

Eternal life with God is part of the final reward of the redeemed.

"But we, according to His promise, are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness will dwell" (2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21, 22). 

 

14. THE GREAT SENDING

It is the responsibility of every believer to dedicate his life to the fulfillment of the Great Commission that the Lord Jesus gave to His Church. (Matthew 28.18-20, Mark 16.15-20, Acts 1.8)  

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