What We Believe

	What We Believe
	These twelve statements are the main doctrines that the Partners, leaders and teachers of Calvary Community Church hold in common. While we may charitably disagree on other issues we have agreed to hold these truths in common that we may unite in the mission of helping disinterested people become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. 1. WE BELIEVE the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35, 20:31; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1;19-20)
2. WE BELIEVE in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 1:18, 17:3; Genesis 1 & 2; Revelation 10:6; ) 3. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on high, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (Isaiah 50; Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 1:26-35; John 3;13-14, 20:25-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1-2; I John 2:2) 4. WE BELIEVE that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and eempower the believer for godly living and service. (John 15:5-15, 20:21-22; Romans 8:1-17) 5. WE BELIEVE that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost; only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can his salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Isaiah 59:2) 6. WE BELIEVE that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. (Revelations 5:9; Acts 16:31; Romans 8:16). 7. WE BELIEVE that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. Neither, however, is to be regarded as a means of salvation. (Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 11:24-26). 8. WE BELIEVE that the true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Matthew 26:18; Ephesians 5:24-25; Hebrews 12:23). 9. WE BELIEVE that only those who are members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. (Acts 2:47). 10. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs. (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). 11. WE BELIEVE that the hope of the believer is the imminent Pre-Millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to gather His saints unto Himself. His coming again should have a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Titus 2:11-13; I John 3:1-3; Romans 5:2). 12. WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection of the dead: of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (John 3:16. John 5:24,29, 18-56; Romans 5;9-11, Romans 6:23; I Thessalonians 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:28-31; Revelation 20:14,15) Statement on Marriage, Sexuality and the Sanctity of Human Life WE BELIEVE that marriage was and is ordained by God and is a sacred union between one man and one woman. All sexual relations are reserved for that union. We believe that homosexuality, bisexual conduct or any attempt to change one’s gender is sin and is offensive to God. WE BELIEVE that all human life is sacred as man is made in the image of God. We believe that God creates and sustains all life. We believe that life begins at conception and because of this that all life is worthy of protection. (Psalm 139:13-16)