Calvary Baptist Church Core Beliefs

The ultimate authority in all matters of faith, conduct, order, and morality is, and must always be, the Holy Bible. The Bible is God's infallible, written word; uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was written without error in the original manuscripts. (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:21; I Corinthians 2:13; Acts 1:16)

The following fundamental doctrines briefly express what we believe:

A. There is one God - the divine triunity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; eternally coexisting and equal in essence and attributes, yet distinct in office and activity. ( I Peter 1:2 )

God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of men. He hears and answers prayer and he saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:24)

Jesus Christ is the only begotten, eternal Son of God, who, in his incarnation, was born to a virgin. He lived a sinless life, performed many miracles. His shed blood on the cross of Calvary is of infinite value and although it is sufficient for all, it is effective for those who will believe; the elect. Jesus Christ died on the cross as their substitute. By this, He satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for them. His body was resurrected from the grave, and he ascended into heaven where he now continues his high priestly work. His personal and visible return to earth could happen at any moment. Jesus Christ remains forever undiminished deity, which he has had from eternity past; he also possesses true, sinless humanity in one person. ( John 1:1-14; 3:16; 4:2; 8:46; 10:11, 15, 28-29; 14:11; 17:2,6; Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:20-23; Mark 13:20; Acts 20:28 Romans 5:6-10; 9:6-13; 11:7; I Corinthians 15:3-8; II Thessalonians 4:13, 14; II Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 1:11; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 4:15; 7:24; 8:32-35; Romans 5:8-10; I John 3:5; Revelation 21:1-5)

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead, who has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to mankind. He is the Spirit of Truth. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, teaches and assures them, and indwells them continually until the day of Christ's return. (John 3:5,6; 14:16,17,26;16:7 14; Romans 8:1-16; I Corinthians 1:2,30; 2:10-16; 6:19; Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30 )

B. Although mankind was made in the image of God and was originally sinless and pure, we have sinned through Adam, the natural head of the human race. Mankind is sinful by nature and by choice and is in need of salvation. (Genesis 1:26,27; Genesis 3:1 24; Romans 3:23; 5:12 21; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1 3; John 3:19)

C. Our redemption has been accomplished through Christ's death and by the shedding of his blood; salvation is appropriated by faith in Christ. By this faith we are justified from all sin and given the gift of eternal life. This salvation is apart from human works, human descent or ceremonies. ( Hebrews
9:12,22; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:1,6 9; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 1:12,13)

D. The believer should live a life consecrated to Christ, bearing the fruits of a Spirit-filled life to the glory of God. Even so, believers will always be in conflict with the desires of the flesh, which are with them to the end of their earthly life. Therefore, believers must keep their entire being in submission to Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (John 15:1 15; Romans 8:12 14; Galatians 5:16 25; Ephesians 5:15 21; I John 2:3 6,15; Colossians 3:1 10; Ephesians 4:17 32; I John 3:5 9; John 17:11 19)

E. The universal Church of Jesus Christ is a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all regenerated persons are members. Calvary Baptist Church is a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ whose members have been baptized by immersion in water upon a credible confession of faith. This is a voluntary association for the purpose of worship, fellowship, and service, utilizing our gifts as given by the Spirit. The Church is responsible for the observance of two ordinances: ( Romans 12:4-8;I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 4:15,16; Hebrews 12:23; Acts 2:41 47; Hebrews 10:24,25 )

1. The act of baptism is the public confession of the believer's previous experience of regeneration through faith in Jesus Christ. Immersion in water pictorially shows what has happened to the believer; he has been crucified with Christ and is therefore dead to sin. Likewise he has also been raised with Christ to newness of life. Romans 6:3 11; Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 28:19,20)

2. The Lord's Supper must be celebrated regularly by believers. The bread and the cup of the Supper are and remain only symbols of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus. It is done in remembrance of Christ, according to His command, as a memorial of his atoning death. (I Corinthians 11:23-34)