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Calvary Baptist Church

Statement of Faith

1) The Bible

We believe the 66 books comprising the canon of scripture are the inspired Word of God and that men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) to pen those words. Consequently, the Bible is inerrant, absolutely trustworthy, and the final authority for life and godliness. It equips believers for the good works God has called us to do, through doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2) The Trinity

We believe in one eternal God who exists in three distinct but equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

  • We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity. He is all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful (Psalm 139). He is perfect, just, holy, and righteous, as well as loving and merciful (Psalm 7:11; Romans 5:7-8). He is the Creator and Sustainer (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 5:7-8). He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-14) and of all genuine believers in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13).

  • We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. He is the eternal Son of God, Who, at the appointed time, was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and birthed in human flesh by the virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-35), lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:21-23), died on the cross to atone for the sins of man, was buried, conquered death and the grave by bodily rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), ascended into Heaven in His glorified body (Acts 1:9-11), currently intercedes and mediates on behalf of believers before God the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5). He will come again to earth bodily, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to consummate God's eternal plan by ushering in the millennial kingdom and then the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 19:11, 16; 20:4; 21:1).

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is responsible for the conviction of sin (John 16:7-8), regeneration of the repentant sinner (Titus 3:4-6), and indwelling and sealing the believer (Ephesians 1:13-14). He directs the lives of believers who are submitted to Him (Galatians 5:16) and equips believers with spiritual gifts that edify the church and glorify God (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

3) Man

We believe that man was created directly by God in His own image in the beginning (Genesis 1:26-27). Although man was created in perfection and to glorify and have fellowship with God, he fell by disobeying God's command (Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 5:12-14). The result of his fall was physical and spiritual death and separation from God (Romans 6:23a). Man's nature, consequently, became sinful, and cannot be changed by his own efforts. Man is in desperate need of forgiveness and salvation that only God can provide (Romans 6:23b).

4) Satan

We believe Satan is the enemy of both God and man (Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 2:1-13). He is a real being, not an abstract concept of evil; he was an angel, created in the beginning by God, but who later fell because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). Satan is a deceiver, tempter, and destroyer. In God's sovereignty, Satan has been given temporary rulership on earth (1 John 5:19); however, he was defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Revelation 20:10). While powerful, he may be resisted by believers through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 4:4).

5) Salvation

We believe that salvation -- forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God -- comes only through Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood and gave His life as our substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. Salvation cannot be worked for; it may be received through God's grace. The mechanism by which grace brings salvation is faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). The repentant sinner who puts his faith in Jesus has the very righteousness of Jesus imputed (credited) to him and becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ (Romans 4:20-25; 2 Corinthians 5:17)!

See Salvation Page

6) Life

We believe that Christ-followers have a responsibility to live in such a manner that honors God and makes plain to the observer that they have been rebirthed in Jesus Christ. This responsibility can be met by submitting to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25). We believe that Christ-followers have a responsibility to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This growth is facilitated by being students of the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15), by continual prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and by faithful attendance and participation in the local church (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

We believe that Christ-followers have a responsibility to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ (the gospel) to the world, for "it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

7) The Church

We believe the church is composed of those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. These believers are the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head (Colossians 1:18).

We believe all believers are to be obedient in following their conversion with baptism (believer's baptism) (Matthew 28:18-20).

We believe the local church is part of the greater body of Christ. We are to be "salt" and "light" (Matthew 5:13-16) in a decaying, dark world.

We believe that Christ-followers are to be unified on essential doctrines of the Christian faith and to show reasonable liberty on non-essential doctrines, with the Bible as our final authority.

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