Betts Ministries

This Ministry holds the following Statement of Faith as being a summary of fundamental full-Gospel Christian doctrine whose authority consists in its agreement with the Word of God.

THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED

The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians. 2:13, II Peter 1:21; I Peter 2:2).

THE ONE TRUE GOD

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM"', the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and the Redeemer of Mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; Mark 12:29).

THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

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

(a) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35)

(b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22)

(d) His substitutionary work on the cross (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21)

(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4)

(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9,11 and 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:1-3)

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 physical death but spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

THE SALVATION OF MAN

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

(a) Conditions to Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing, regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7).

(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, holiness, and manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12; Galatians 5:22).

CHURCH ORDINANCES

(a) Baptism in Water

Baptism by immersion is commanded in scriptures. 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).

(b) Holy Communion

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - bread and the fruit of the vine - is the symbol of expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Corinthians 11:26); and prophecy of His second coming (I Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father for the baptism of 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 endowment 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; I Corinthians 12:1-31). Evidences of the fullness of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer include the following generalities (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8):

(a) A deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28)

(b) An intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Matthew 6:33; Acts 2:42)

(d) As evidenced by the speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4, Mark 16:17)

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is two-fold.

Sanctification is the same Greek word as holiness, "hagios", meaning a separation. Scripture teaches that by Christ's redemptive sacrifice on the cross, all who believe on Him are deemed holy in the sight of God. God sees believers as set apart and separated from our carnality and the sinful nature (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12; Ephesians 1:4).

The Holy Spirit does work within to change believers more and more to reflect Christ's likeness. Becoming Christ-like is a progressive experience which is evident in the life of believers who strive to know and follow Christ through whole-hearted dedication to Him via prayer, fellowship with like-minded believers, regular study of the Scriptures, and obvious application of God’s Word (Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 3:21; I John 3:2).

THE CHRISTIAN MISSION

Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Church of Christ, their name being written in the Book of Life (Ephesians 1:22-23 and 2:22; Hebrews 12:23). Our calling includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Praise and Worship (Psalm 95:1-6 and 150)

(b) Make Disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

(i) Sacred Marriage and Sexuality

Marriage is ordained by God to be between one genetic male and one geneti female, and is for life (Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:18-25); and that God intends for sexual intimacy to occur only between one man and one woman who are married to each other (I Corinthians 6:18). (Matthew 19:4-6)

(ii) Sanctity of Life

All human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from the moment of conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139).

(d) Serve Others (Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:14-17)

DIVINE HEALING AND DELIVERANCE

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Healing is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16). Deliverance from demonic oppression and possession is also a sign that follows believers (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 8:36, 9:1).

THE BLESSED HOPE-THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

The 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 (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51-52).

THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST

The Second Coming of Christ is the visual return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelations 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6).

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

There will be a final judgment in which the dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever 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 burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelations 19:20, 20:10-15, 21:8).

THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

"We, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and a new earth where the righteous dwell'' (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22).