THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s written revelation to man. It is a perfect treasure of Divine instruction. The Scriptures are verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16), inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed. We teach that the Bible is the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. It is sufficient as our only rule of faith and practice. (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; Hebrews 4:12)
GOD
There is only one living and true God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7). He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. The eternal, triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14), with distinct attributes, without division of nature, essence, or being. All equally deserving worship and obedience.
- GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creation, and the flow of human history according to His divine purposes of grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. (Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 103:19)
- GOD THE SON
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Christ perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature, yet without sin. In His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead, His body was glorified, and He appeared to His disciples and many others. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator between God and man. Christ will return in power and glory to judge the world and the complete His redemptive mission. (John 1:1-5; Luke 1:35; Romans 5:8-9; John 5:26-29; Revelation 20)
- GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination, He enables man to understand the truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The Holy Spirit calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration. He comforts believers and bestows spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. The Holy Spirit also seals the believer unto the day of redemption. (2 Peter 1:20-21; John 3:5-7; Acts 1:8)
MANKIND
Man was created by God in His own image. Man disobeyed God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence whereby all men inherited a sin nature. Only the grace of God can bring a man into His holy fellowship and enable man to be born again. Mankind was created in the image of God and therefore each man possesses dignity and is worthy of Christian love and respect. (Genesis 2:7,15-25; Isaiah 43:7; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Psalm 14:1-3)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Individuals are counted righteous before God only through the shed blood of Christ. In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, repentance, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Apart from personal faith in the perfect and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ there is no salvation for man.(John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
THE CHURCH
A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. The church is governed by the Scriptures and operates under the Lordship of Christ. Each member of the local church is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. While both men and women are gifted for service in the local church, the offices of pastor and elder are limited to men as qualified in Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of the ages, believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5)
CHURCH ORDINANCES
- BAPTISM
Baptism is the immersion of a believer, in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This ordinance is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Christian baptism is a public testimony of faith and a pledge of allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord. (Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27)
- THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is a symbolic act of obedience where the members of the local church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, remember the death of Jesus and look expectantly for His second coming. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
ETERNITY
Scripture teaches that people will exist either eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is to spend eternity in Hell. To be eternally with God is to be in union with Him in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are literal places of eternal existence. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM
The new birth of an individual by God’s Holy Spirit means a new love for the souls of others. Therefore, missionary efforts on the part of all believers are founded in a regenerate life. This is expressed by obeying the repeated commands and teachings of Christ by making effort and sacrifices to reach those far from God and in need of assistance. It is the duty and honor of every follower of our Lord and every church to make disciples of all nations. The Lord Jesus has commanded the preaching of the Gospel to all nations. It is our duty as believers to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness in accompaniment with a Christian lifestyle, and other methods which are in keeping with the Gospel of Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:15)
FAMILY AND SEXUALITY
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. We recognize, according to the Scriptures, that the family consists of one man and one woman in covenant to one another and God for a lifetime. Because both the husband and wife are created in the image of God, they are of equal worth before God. The marriage relationship is the model of the way God relates to His people. God has commanded that a husband love his wife as Christ loved the church. A husband has the God-given responsibility to provide for, protect, and lead his family. God has commanded that a wife submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband just as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. The wife, being in the image of God also, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing their children. (Genesis 2:24; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:22-33)
Children are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them with consistent love, discipline, and exemplary behavior to make decisions based on Biblical truths. Children are commanded to honor and obey their parents. (Ephesians 6:4; Psalm 127:3-5; Exodus 20:12)
In accordance with Scripture, we do not recognize or endorse homosexual marriages or lifestyles, nor will we officiate or allow these ceremonies at Calvary Bible Church. We also do not recognize or endorse any other individual or expression of the LGBTQ+ community. In keeping with the teaching of Scripture and the Constitution and ByLaws of Calvary Bible Church we do not allow those who unrepentantly live an LGBTQ+ lifestyle to become a member of the church. (Hebrews 13:4; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)