Statement of Faith
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and is, therefore, inerrant, infallible, and the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit is the infallible interpreter of the Bible. (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Luke 24:25-28; John 16:12-26) While the Holy Spirit is the infallible interpreter of the Bible, inevitably, fallible human beings taught by the Spirit of God interpret the Bible for the Church. We believe the Elder Board of Calvary Bible Church is the interpreter of Scripture for this church. While the membership of Calvary Bible Church approves the Statement of Faith through congregational vote, the pulpit ministry of the church interprets and communicates the Scripture. The pastors are authorized by the Elder Board to state the church’s beliefs and practices on all matters of theology and the Christian life. (Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Timothy 4:14-16; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Hebrews 13:7, 17)
THE GODHEAD
We believe in the Triune Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God eternally existing, manifesting Himself in three personages. (Genesis 1:1; John 4:24; John 10:30; Acts 5:29-32; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Matthew 13:16-17; Hebrews 9:14)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and that He is the only begotten of the Father, true God and true man for whom and by whom all things were created. (John 1:1-14; John 14:9; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; 2 John 7)
We believe in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, that by the grace of God He tasted death for every man. We believe that through His death on the cross, a complete and perfect sacrifice was made for sin. (Hebrews 2:9; John 6:44-69; John 3:1-18; Romans 3:25)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He ascended bodily into heaven, and is now at the right hand of God as our mediator, priest, and advocate. (Acts 2:32-33; 1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 3:12-16; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28)
We believe in the imminent, personal return in the air of the Lord Jesus Christ for His blood-bought children (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18) and that the Church will not pass through the Great Tribulation of Revelation 6-19. (Luke 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Revelation 3:10). At this momentous event, the resurrection of the saints will occur (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to be followed by the judgment Seat of Christ (Revelation 22:12; 1Corinthians 3:11-15), the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-10) and the return of the Church with Christ to put down earthly rebellion and reign with Him during the Millennium. (Revelation 19:11-20:15)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, enlightens, and empowers the saved. (John 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
SATAN
We believe in the personality of Satan who "...deceiveth the whole world and in whose lap the world lieth." He is the god of this age. (Revelation 12:9-10; Matthew 4:2-11; Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8:44; 1 John 5:19)
MAN
We believe that God created human beings as stated in Genesis 1 and 2. Because all human beings are created in the image of God, we believe all human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139). We believe that any attempts to end someone else’s or one’s own life is an affront to God. We believe that God immutably created and creates human beings as male and female and that both genders reflect His image and glory (Genesis 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 11:7). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the specific way in which God designed that person to reflect glory. We also believe that God designed marriage as the union of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union (Genesis 2:18-25) and that this union reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). We believe that any proposed marriage between same-sex couples is an offense to God. We believe in the total depravity and lost condition of man by nature. (Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 5:12-14)
SALVATION
We believe that through the shed blood of Christ, all who by faith in that sacrifice believe and trust in Christ are born again into the Family of God. They are God's children, joint heirs with Christ, and shall never perish. (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Romans 10:9-10), being eternally secure in the hands of the Son and the Father (John 10:27-30).
BELIEVERS' TESTIMONY
We believe that all who are saved are called to a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices (James 4:4; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:16; 2 Corinthians 6:14; and 1 Thessalonians 4:7) and will show their faith by their works (James 2:14-26).
We believe that the obligation of the saved is to proclaim by life and word the Gospel to the whole world, to Jew and Gentile alike; for all are equally under sin. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 3:9; Romans 10:12)
BELIEVERS' POSITION
We believe that those who are born again possess two natures and that they may be victorious over the old through the power of the new. We believe the eradication of the old nature is unscriptural. (Romans 6:13; Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16 and 1 John 3:5-9)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the saved of this dispensation are members of the Body of Christ, which is His Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
GIFTS
We believe that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the Church today. (Ephesians 4:7-12) Sign gifts, including tongues, passed away gradually as the canon of Scripture was completed and the authority of the Bible generally recognized. But God, being sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, hears the prayer of faith and answers according to His own will for the sick and afflicted. (James 5:13-15)
COMMUNION
We believe that communion is one of the two ordinances of the Church. We believe that the celebration of the Lord's Supper is for saved people only. This ordinance was given by God and instituted by Christ as a memorial to the sufferings of Christ. Its practice bears continual witness until the Lord's return. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) No believer should partake in the fellowship of this communion until he has examined himself and put away by confession to his Lord anything that would mar or hinder his fellowship. (1 Corinthians 11:27-34)
BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is one of the two ordinances of the Church. We believe that Christian baptism is in obedience to Christ's command, is a witness to a salvation possessed, and is not a means of securing salvation. Therefore, only those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ shall be considered for baptism. (John 3:16; Acts 8:36-37; Acts 13:29-33)
ETERNITY
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and the unsaved (Job 19:25-26; John 5:29), the everlasting blessedness of the saved in the new heaven and new earth (1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-55; Revelation 21:1-4), and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved in hell. (Luke 16:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)