Our Faith

 We Believe

Bethany CRC is a Theologically Reformed church. Meaning, we hold fast to the conviction that God's Word is the  final authority on all matters of faith and practice (Scripture alone). However important church tradition or personal experience might be, they are insufficient to communicate ultimate truth, and therefore must submit to and be reformed by the Scripture. This is no easy task. Thus Bethany CRC remains committed to a healthy balance of unity (Ephesians 4:4-6), liberty (Romans 14: 1, 4, 12), and above all – love (1 Corinthians 13:2). We strive for this by remembering who God is, what He did through His Son, Jesus Christ, and why He did it.  Which for us, looks like this.

GOD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. We believe that in the beginning God created out of nothing, the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.

HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. We believe that He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior and regenerates them. We believe that, at the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for ministry. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. We believe that His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.

THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible (in totality) is utterly and completely inspired by God, and as such, is unfailing in all its intended purposes. Therefore, we hold it as our supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and life.

SALVATION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; that He rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. We believe that all who come by grace through repentance and faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.


We Confess

Bethany CRC is a Confessionally Reformed church. At the heart of our community is the truth of God’s Word that we believe, cherish, and proclaim together. While the Bible is our only infallible rule of faith and practice, we are also committed—and accountable—to a number of specific statements of faith that represent a summary of the teachings of Holy Scripture on key points of doctrine essential to the beliefs, conduct, and witness of our church.

CREEDS
The Apostles' Creed
The Athanasian Creed
The Nicene Creed

CONFESSIONS
The New City Catechism
The Three Reformed Standards


We Belong

Bethany CRC is a Denominationally Reformed church that has been bringing the Gospel to Southeast L.A. for over 80 years.  We are passionate about introducing people to Jesus on local, regional, and international levels.  We celebrate God’s gifts of intergenerational community, discipleship, and missional outreach  as we seek Jesus together. Furthermore, Bethany CRC is not a community all its own. We are a member church within The Christian Reformed Church (CRC); a denomination of nearly 300,000 members in approximately 1,000 congregations across the United States and Canada. For more information, click the link below.

 The Christian Reformed Church in America