What We Believe

I. God and His Nature

The Trinity
We believe there is one true God, eternal and all-powerful, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. We believe Jesus is the only Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, He rose from the dead to reconcile humanity with God.

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us.”
1 Timothy 3:16 – “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son, being of one substance, majesty, and glory with them.

John 15:26 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
Acts 5:3-4 – “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.'”

II. The Authority of Scripture & Historic Christian Faith

Scripture
We believe that the Holy Bible contains everything necessary for salvation. Only canonical books are accepted, with the Old and New Testaments being authoritative.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through the endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Authority of Scripture
We believe Scripture is the ultimate authority for faith and practice, inerrant and inspired by God.

2 Peter 1:21 – “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 5:18 – “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Creeds
We affirm the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds as true expressions of the Christian faith.

Matthew 16:16 – “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”
Romans 10:9 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

III. Humanity and the Problem of Sin

Original Sin
We believe that all humans inherit a sinful nature due to Adam’s fall and are naturally inclined to evil.

Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Free Will & Grace
We believe that humans cannot come to God without divine grace, which enables faith and good works.

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

IV. Salvation Through Christ Alone

Salvation in Christ Alone
We believe salvation is a gift from God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. No other faith or law can save.

John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Justification by Faith
We believe that humans are justified before God solely by faith in Christ, not by works.

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith and not by works of the law.”

Good Works as Evidence of Faith
We believe that while good works follow justification, they do not earn salvation but reflect a living faith.

James 2:18 – “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ongoing Repentance (Sin After Justification)
We believe that even after justification, believers will sin, but forgiveness and repentance are always available through God’s grace.

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 7:24-25 – “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

V. The Church and the Christian Life

The Church
We believe the Church is a community of believers where God’s Word is preached and the sacraments are administered.

Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Acts 2:42 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Sacraments
We believe baptism and the Lord’s Supper are key sacraments that confer grace. Baptism signifies regeneration, and the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of Christ’s redemption.

Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 22:19-20 – “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'”

Sanctification & Christian Living
We believe sanctification is the process by which believers are renewed by the Holy Spirit. Through faith in Christ, they are delivered from sin’s guilt, washed from its pollution, and empowered to love God and live according to His commandments. Christians are called to live holy lives, reflecting the virtues of Christ and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This requires daily commitment to God through practices such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and service.

Romans 6:6 – “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.”

VI. Moral and Social Issues

Christian Marriage
We believe that Christian marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, as per biblical teachings. It is the only legitimate form of marriage, and the church will only perform ceremonies between a man and a woman.

Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Matthew 19:4-6 – “He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.'”

Marriage and Sexuality
We believe that only the union of one man and one woman in a biblical marriage is sanctioned by God. Sexual activity is reserved for marriage, and any other form is contrary to God’s design.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

Gender Identity
We believe that the only genders are the biological genders given by God at birth.

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Matthew 19:4 – “He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?'”

Sanctity of Life
We believe that life begins at conception, and abortion is considered murder. Christians are called to protect life from conception to natural death. Euthanasia is not acceptable, but discontinuing life-prolonging measures is not seen as euthanasia.

Psalm 139:13-14 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”

Love and Conflict Resolution
We believe that Christians are called to love others, including those who oppose them. They should avoid conflict, revenge, or violence and instead show love, grace, and patience when dealing with others.

Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Romans 12:17-19 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.”

Protection of Children
We believe that children are a gift from God and must be protected from abuse within the church. Beulah Methodist Church maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child abuse.

Matthew 18:6 – “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Psalm 127:3 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”