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We Beleive At Bethel
One God is the creator of the heavens and the earth and of all mankind. This first of all the commandments
is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord (Mark 12:29). The revelation of this God, who is spirit (John 4:24) is described
for us in I Timothy 3:16, which reads,
and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
That salvation is obtained, according to the direct teaching of Jesus, by being "born again." Note John 3:5, the words
of our Lord: except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. This prescription was
repeated by Peter and the rest of the Apostles in Acts 2:38, repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Simply "living right" and doing good does
not constitute salvation. Jesus warns us, marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again, John 3:7.
The example of water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:36-41; 10:47-48;19:5) and being filled with God's
Spirit with the external evidence of speaking in other tongues (languages) (Acts 2:1-4, 16-18; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6) is clearly
the doctrine and salvation that Jesus instructed the Apostles to institute and is that which they consistently followed as
recorded in the book of Acts, which records for our understanding the history of God's church at its inception. We see no
reason and have no evidence from God that He has changed this process.
Just as the Spirit of God was the creative power that caused our world to be born into existence, the new birth in Christ
Jesus, being filled with His Spirit, creates in us a new life (II Corinthians 5:17), one that as we walk in the Spirit, God
molds, shapes, and fashions us in a manner that transforms us into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
This promise of abundant, eternal life, is one that the Lord has provided for YOU. Come and receive Christ Jesus TODAY!
Passage of the month
08/01/2008 -08/31/2008
"In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech,
be true. In ruling, be just. In daily life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season."
- Lao Tzu
Commentary:
I
often find myself obsessing on things which don't really matter. This passage, taken from "Tao Te Ching," reminds me that
the basic principles of life can and should be simple.
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