What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Bates Hill Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe the Holy Bible — both Old and New Testaments — is the verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. We accept it as our ultimate authority in all matters of faith and life, the final standard for doctrine and conduct.

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who are coequal in nature, glory, and perfection. In their unity and distinction, they eternally share the same divine essence, worthy of worship, reverence, and obedience.

We believe humanity was created in the image of God, for fellowship with Him — but through disobedience, mankind fell, and through Adam we inherited a lost, depraved nature. All people are born spiritually lost and desperately in need of redemption.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, yet retained His deity — truly God and truly man. Through His atoning death on the cross He provided the only sacrifice for sin, and by His literal, bodily resurrection He conquered death and now stands at the right hand of the Father, our High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate.

We believe salvation is a free gift from God — by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is received by personal faith in Jesus, and not by human merit or works. This faith transforms the believer’s heart and life, producing genuine repentance, spiritual birth, and fruit that pleases God.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father, the Comforter, who indwells every believer at conversion — placing them into the Body of Christ — and empowers them for living, service, and ministry. We affirm that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite endowment of power for service, distinct from conversion, and that He bestows spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church and for God’s glory.

We believe the Church universal consists of all true believers, and the local church is a community of born-again believers — gathered to worship God, preach His Word, encourage one another, live in spiritual fellowship, and obey Christ’s commands. We observe two ordinances instituted by the Lord:
Water Baptism  — for all who have personally trusted Christ.
The Lord’s Supper — as a remembrance of Christ’s death and a celebration of our unity in Him.

The Christian Life & Sanctification:
We believe a genuine faith produces transformation — a life of increasing holiness, obedience, and love. Through the Spirit’s work, believers are called to live in righteousness, to walk in God’s will, and to serve as His ambassadors in the world.

Eternity & the Return of Christ:
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, His ascension, and His ongoing priestly intercession for believers. We look for His personal, visible, and glorious return — the blessed hope of the Church. We believe in eternal salvation for believers and eternal separation from God for those who remain unrepentant.

Our Mission & Vision:
We believe God has called Bates Hill Church to proclaim the unchanging gospel, to disciple believers, to reach the lost, and to serve the hurting — living out the love and power of Christ, so that in everything God might be glorified.