Calvary Baptist Church - What We Believe

Concerning the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible (consisting of 66 books) is the supernaturally inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original manuscripts, and is perfectly preserved (II Timothy 3:16,17); that it has God as its author, salvation as its end (II Timothy 3:15), and truth without any mixture of error in its content (Proverbs 30:5, 6); that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us (Romans 2:12); and therefore is for all eternity, the true basis of Christian unity (Philippians 3:16), and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (I John 4:1). By inspired, we mean that the books of the bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired, and preserved only in the King James Bible.

Concerning the True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent, perfect Spirit and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver and Supreme Ruler of the Universe (John 4:24), inexpressibly glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11) and all other perfections, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love (Mark 12:30); that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19); and that these three are equal in every Divine perfection (John 10:30), and executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Ephesians 2:18).

Concerning the Fall of Man
We believe that man was created by the special act of God (Genesis 2:7). We believe that man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his Maker (Genesis 1:27), but through the temptation of Satan, he voluntarily transgressed and fell from this holy state (Genesis 3:6-24) by which all mankind are now sinners (Romans 5:19), not by constraint, but by choice (Isaiah 53:6), being, by nature, utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, and drawn to evil, and therefore under condemnation (Ephesians 2:13) without defense or excuse (Ezekiel 18:19-20).

Concerning the Way of Salvation
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. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8), and 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. (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5) We believe that salvation is the 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 (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel (Isaiah 55:1; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept Jesus Christ by repentance, and obedient faith (Romans 16:25, 26); and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth (John 5:41) but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection (John 3:19). Once saved, we believe that the sinner is justified or declared not guilty before God, and we believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:4-5), and 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 (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

Concerning Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).

Concerning the Return of The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in that "blessed hope," the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel (Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6).