At Calvary, we believe the Bible is the Word of God and our final authority for everything we believe and practice. Central to the Bible is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again to reconcile us to God. Watch the short video below to learn more!
Our Statement of Faith
Our Statement of Faith highlights and summarizes beliefs we deem as essential to membership of this local body and faithfulness to our Lord.
Section 1. Of the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions, shall be tried. 11 Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21.
Section 2. Of the true God.
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great
work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11.
Section 3. Of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, that lie is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. Gen. 1:1-3; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Luke 24:49; John 3:5-6; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:3032; Acts 11:16; Rom. 6:14; Rom. 8:16, 26-27; Eph. 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14.
Section 4. Of the Devil, or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the power of darkness, and is destined to the judgement of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10.
Section 5. Of Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came as a direct creation of God and not by evolution. Gen. 1 & 2; John 1:3; Col. 1:6-17.
Section 6. Of the Fall of Man.
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 5: 10-19; Rom. 1:18.
Section 7. Of the Virgin Birth.
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can
ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4.
Section 8. Of the Atonement for sin.
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all sufficient Savior. Isa. 53:4-7; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; rom. 3:2-25; 1 Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; I John 4:10.
Section 9. Of grace in the new creation.
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again, that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3,6-8; Acts 16:30-33; rom. 6:23; II Cor. 5:17 & 19; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13;1i Pet. 1:4; 1 John 5:1.
Section 10. Of Justification.
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification:
a. That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness;
b. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1 & 9; Rom. 8:1.
Section 11. Of faith and salvation.
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16:31.
Section 12. Of the local church.
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each Church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local Church is final. Acts 2:41-42; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Core 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:17.
Section 13. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12.
Section 14. Of the righteous and the wicked.
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked: that such only as through faith are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, arc truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Gen. 18:23; Mal. 3:18; Mat. 25:34;,41; Luke 6;25; John 8:21; Rom. 6:17; Rom. 7:5; Rom. 6:23; 1 John 5:19.
Section 15. Of civil government.
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth. Ex. 18:21-22; 11 Sam. 23:3; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:20; Acts 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7.
Section 16. Of the resurrection, personal, visible, pre-millennial return of Christ, and related events.
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection. Matt 28:6-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4.
b. The ascension. Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21.
c. The high Priesthood. I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; Heb., 8:6; I John 2:1.
d. The second coming. John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Heb. 9:28; James 5:8.
e. The resurrection of the righteous dead. I Cor. 15:42-44; 1 Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:13-18.
f. The change of the Living in Christ. I Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
g. The Throne of David. Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30.
h. The millenial reign. Isa. 11:4; Isa. 32:1; Psalms 72:8; I Cor. 15:25; Rev. 20:6; Rev. 20:14.
Section 17. Of marriage.
We believe the institution of marriage was ordained by God in the garden of Eden after the special creation of Eve by God as recorded in Genesis 2:18-25. Marriage was intended to be between one man and one woman for life. Malachi 2:14-16 and Matthew 19:3-9 both support the union of one man with one woman for a lifetime. In II Corinthians 6:14, the Bible further teaches that believers should only marry other believers. While the Bible allows for divorce on the grounds of unfaithfulness,
the ideal would be for the couple to forgive each other and continue in their marriage as Christ forgives us as His bride, Ephesians 5:21-33. Since people come to know Christ from all different backgrounds and situations, whether or not a couple (meaning a man and a woman) would be allowed to be married at Calvary Baptist would depend on the individual situation. However, unions between the same gender are decidedly unbiblical (Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9-10) and will not be allowed at Calvary Baptist Church for any reason or circumstance.
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore, has truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions, shall be tried. 11 Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21.
Section 2. Of the true God.
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great
work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11.
Section 3. Of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, that lie is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. Gen. 1:1-3; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Luke 24:49; John 3:5-6; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:3032; Acts 11:16; Rom. 6:14; Rom. 8:16, 26-27; Eph. 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14.
Section 4. Of the Devil, or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the power of darkness, and is destined to the judgement of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10.
Section 5. Of Creation
We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came as a direct creation of God and not by evolution. Gen. 1 & 2; John 1:3; Col. 1:6-17.
Section 6. Of the Fall of Man.
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 5: 10-19; Rom. 1:18.
Section 7. Of the Virgin Birth.
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can
ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4.
Section 8. Of the Atonement for sin.
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all sufficient Savior. Isa. 53:4-7; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; rom. 3:2-25; 1 Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; I John 4:10.
Section 9. Of grace in the new creation.
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again, that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3,6-8; Acts 16:30-33; rom. 6:23; II Cor. 5:17 & 19; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13;1i Pet. 1:4; 1 John 5:1.
Section 10. Of Justification.
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification:
a. That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness;
b. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1 & 9; Rom. 8:1.
Section 11. Of faith and salvation.
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16:31.
Section 12. Of the local church.
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each Church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local Church is final. Acts 2:41-42; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Core 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:17.
Section 13. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation. We believe that the Lord's supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 cor. 11:23-28; Col. 2:12.
Section 14. Of the righteous and the wicked.
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked: that such only as through faith are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, arc truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Gen. 18:23; Mal. 3:18; Mat. 25:34;,41; Luke 6;25; John 8:21; Rom. 6:17; Rom. 7:5; Rom. 6:23; 1 John 5:19.
Section 15. Of civil government.
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth. Ex. 18:21-22; 11 Sam. 23:3; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:20; Acts 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7.
Section 16. Of the resurrection, personal, visible, pre-millennial return of Christ, and related events.
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection. Matt 28:6-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4.
b. The ascension. Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21.
c. The high Priesthood. I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; Heb., 8:6; I John 2:1.
d. The second coming. John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Heb. 9:28; James 5:8.
e. The resurrection of the righteous dead. I Cor. 15:42-44; 1 Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:13-18.
f. The change of the Living in Christ. I Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
g. The Throne of David. Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30.
h. The millenial reign. Isa. 11:4; Isa. 32:1; Psalms 72:8; I Cor. 15:25; Rev. 20:6; Rev. 20:14.
Section 17. Of marriage.
We believe the institution of marriage was ordained by God in the garden of Eden after the special creation of Eve by God as recorded in Genesis 2:18-25. Marriage was intended to be between one man and one woman for life. Malachi 2:14-16 and Matthew 19:3-9 both support the union of one man with one woman for a lifetime. In II Corinthians 6:14, the Bible further teaches that believers should only marry other believers. While the Bible allows for divorce on the grounds of unfaithfulness,
the ideal would be for the couple to forgive each other and continue in their marriage as Christ forgives us as His bride, Ephesians 5:21-33. Since people come to know Christ from all different backgrounds and situations, whether or not a couple (meaning a man and a woman) would be allowed to be married at Calvary Baptist would depend on the individual situation. However, unions between the same gender are decidedly unbiblical (Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9-10) and will not be allowed at Calvary Baptist Church for any reason or circumstance.