Introduction

The Bible really contains our "doctrinal statement" and what we believe. So this section only represents some of the central beliefs of Calvary Baptist Church and our approach to theology. We hold to the whole Bible narrative as literal truth and all within it as what we believe and desire to practice, not simply what you will see highlighted here. We do not hold to a particular creed, which is a summary of a church's beliefs. As evidenced today, churches tend to divide over whose creed is more accurate. This serves more as a distraction from the mission than an earnest contending for the faith. Rather than become preoccupied with the wording and phrasing of a particular creed, we choose to allow the entire compendium of the Bible to speak for itself and we encourage Christians to search the Scriptures to strengthen their faith. 

Our goal is to equip God’s people to become devoted disciples who are involved in the work of ministering to others and in the edifying of the body of Christ in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.

Knowing doctrine is good, but it isn't good enough

Jesus criticized the religious leaders of his day for being hypocrites and legalists. They were very familiar with the Bible and knew a lot of doctrine, but they didn't let that doctrine seep into their hearts and impact their lives. We can know doctrine intellectually, but if it doesn't impact us on a deeper level, the Bible says it is useless. In fact, the Bible says that knowledge without works puffs up, while knowledge in action builds up. What Jesus cares most about is whether or not our lives are being changed by the Spirit as we put saving faith in Him (Romans 10:9) and whether the doctrine we learn expands our love for God and for people (Matthew 22:36-40).  That kind of transformation produces in us the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning.

The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

(1) We believe the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. 

(2) We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. 

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. 

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the free gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Because of this, Salvation is not earned nor sustained by the believer. Salvation is 100% God's doing and not our own. 

The Eternal Security & Assurance of Believers

(1) We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. 

(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.

Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations–the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the kingdom–are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. 

The Person & Work of Christ

(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. 

(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. 

(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. 

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God: and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. 

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations as commanded of God. 

The Church

We believe the local church, which is the body of Christ, is solely made up of born-again Christians and the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught a defined in the New Testament Scriptures.  We believe in the autonomy of the church free from any external authority or control. We believe God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. 

Learn More: Full Statement of Faith, Core Values, Guiding Principles, and Membership Commitment