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January 1997 - Bethel Gospel Chapel, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

The Bible
We believe that scripture, as originally given in its entirety, is the Word of God, verbally inspired and wholly without error.  The Bible is the supreme and final authority of faith, life and assembly activity (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Matthew 5:18; 24:35).

God
We believe that One living true God eternally exists in three distinct persons; Father (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:15), Son (Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 1:1,2) and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9,10), and that these Three possess the same nature, attributes and glory (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18).

Jesus Christ
His Life: We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, and that through His virgin birth, both true humanity and undiminished deity were united in one person (John 1:1,14; Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:3).

His Death: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, and through the shedding of His own blood provided a full and perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all who repent and believe, and also for the sins of the whole world (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29).

His Resurrection: We believe in the death, burial and bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  His ascension into Heaven ensures the resurrection of all who have received God’s gift of eternal life through Him (Acts 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; John 11:25,26; Romans 6:5,8; 4:25; Hebrews 9:16-28).

His Return: We believe in the imminent physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the air, to take all who have received Jesus as Saviour to glory.  Following a period of Great Tribulation, when He will judge the Nations, He will return to earth and set up His Kingdom and rule in righteousness.  The duration of this reign on the earth will be one thousand years.  The blessing of Heaven is only for those who have trusted Him for salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15; Matthew 25:31-33; John 14:3,6).

Man
We believe that man was originally created (male and female) as a physical and spiritual being in the image of God for the purpose of relating meaningfully with Him.  By Adam’s disobedience to God, we all have inherited a sin nature; we live in willful defiance of, and opposition to God because of this nature which is common to every human being.  Each person is responsible for their own sin, but cannot save themselves.  As a result, each individual is destined for eternal punishment and separation from God.  However, every person has also been given a will, which is the soul’s power to choose between good and evil; between serving self and serving God; between everlasting life or separation from God.  Every person will be held accountable to God for the choice made, the consequence of which will be endured endlessly (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7,8,18-25; Matthew 10:28; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-12,20,23; 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Revelation 20:11-15).

Salvation
We believe that salvation from eternal punishment and separation from God, is secured only through faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He bore our sins in His Own Body on the cross.  By a willful act of receiving Christ into our inner being through the Holy Spirit we are saved and cannot lose our salvation.  As "new creatures" we are called to live lives of separation to God and moral holiness.  God’s purpose for each believer is to progressively develop in them the character of Christ by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:12; 3:16; 10:28,29; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 6:1-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 2:9-12; 3:1-4,10,12-17).

Holy Spirit
We believe that God the Holy Spirit has united every believer in the body of Christ by Spirit Baptism, and this takes place at the time of conversion and is not a second work of Grace.  The filling of the Holy Spirit is different and ongoing.  It relates to the Spirit’s control as He empowers and instructs the believer in godly living as he/she yields to Him.  The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers.  He is also active in the world convicting people of sin, righteousness and judgement (1 Corinthians 12:13; 6:19; John 14:16,17; 16:8-11,13,14; Galatians 5:16,22-25; Luke 3:16, Ephesians 5:18).

Church
We believe the Church is not a building but is composed of all who have personally received God’s gift of eternal life.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church which is made up of all true believers baptized by the Holy Spirit into one Body (Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 1 Corinthians 12:13,27).