Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the threefold process by which we, according to the will of God, are made partakers of his holiness: first of all, positionally, meaning that we are complete in Christ the moment we believe, having a perfect standing before God (I Cor. 6:11
; Heb. 10:10, 14); secondly, experientially, meaning that we are progressively being conformed to the likeness of Christ (II Cor. 3:18; Heb. 2:11) through the appointed means of praying (Mark 14:38), Bible study (John 17:17; I Pet. 2:2), the pursuit of holiness (Heb. 12:14; I Pet. 1:13-16), self-examination (II Tim. 2:21), fellowship (Acts 2:42-44), and witnessing (Matt. 28:18-20); thirdly, completely, meaning that we shall be transformed into the very image of Christ at his appearing, and only then (Eph. 5:27; I John 3:2-3), thus taking hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us (Phil. 3:12).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all his spiritual gifts, collectively and individually (Rom. 12:6; I Cor. 12:11, 18; Eph. 4:7-8), and that all believers are given at least one spiritual gift at the time of salvation (I Cor. 12:7) and this gift(s) is determined by God’s sovereign choice (I Cor. 12:11). We further believe that all spiritual gifts are to be used “for the common good” (I Cor. 12:7) and believers are to value and appreciate the gifts and gifted persons that Jesus has placed into His body (I Cor. 12:12-27). Some spiritual gifts served the purpose of attesting the authority and ministry of the original Apostles (Heb. 2:4) who formed the foundation of the Christian Church (Eph. 2:20) and as such are known as “sign gifts” that authenticated their commission and mission as Apostles. Believing God still does miracles today, all believers are encouraged to daily pray and expect Jesus to be supernaturally involved in their lives, both personally and corporately. Because the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowment of all His spiritual gifts, it is God’s prerogative to make use of any of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament (Rom. 12, I Cor. 12-14, Eph. 4, I Pet. 4) at any time according to His good pleasure. However, the ministries of Calvary Bible Church will not practice the so-called “sign gifts” (such as speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc.) nor activities (such as public healing services, slaying in the Spirit, etc.), commonly associated with some Christian and/or religious movements.
Satan
We believe in the reality of Satan as a distinct person (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7), who, having been perfectly created (Ezek. 28:12-19), fell from his exalted state through pride, which prompted his rebellion against God (Isa. 14:13-14; Ezek. 28:17; I Tim. 3:6), leading a multitude of the angelic host in his revolt (Ezek. 28:16, 18; Rev. 12:7-9); that he is the archenemy of God committed to thwarting the divine councils (Matt. 4:1-11; II Cor. 11:13-15); that he is the prince of this world (John 12:31) and the god of this age (II Cor. 4:3-4); that he is the king over the realm as indicated by the name of Beelzebub (Matt. 12:22-30); that he is the adversary of believers and the accuser of the brethren (I Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:10); and that he is to be cast forever into the lake of fire as execution of his sentence of judgment at Calvary (John 16:11; Rev. 20:10).
The Church
We believe that the church, as set forth in the New Testament, has a twofold aspect: universal and local. We believe that the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 1:18), is composed of all elect in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-29), and that it is essentially an organism rather than an organization (Eph. 2:11-22). We believe a local church to be an organized body of immersed believers (Acts 2:41, 47) who meet regularly for the purposes of worship (John 4:23-24; Phil. 3:3), fellowship (Acts 2:42), observance of the ordinances (Acts 2:41), proclamation of the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-47), and the edification of the saints (Eph. 4:11-12); that each local church is to be autonomous (I Cor. 5:1-6), although churches may voluntarily cooperate with each other (Acts 15:2, 4-5, 23-25); that a local church has as its Biblical officers, at minimum elders (Acts 20:17, 28; Tit. 1:5-7; I Tim. 3:1-7), and deacons (Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:8-13); that other officers may be added as needed by the Elders of the church provided such officers are not contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture; and that the ordinances of the church are Baptism (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41, 10:46-48) and the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 10:16-22, 11:17-34).
Baptism
We believe that baptism is the public confession of Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a symbol of one’s union, by faith, with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, and therefore is to be administered by immersion to only those who have given evidence of faith in Christ as their personal Savior (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41, 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12). We believe that baptism is the official entrance into local church membership.
The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers in obedience to the command, “Do this in remembrance of me” (I Cor. 11:24-25). It consists in the partaking of the consecrated emblems of bread and wine, and symbolizes the broken body and shed blood of Christ which was given for the remission of our sins, and our continual dependence upon him for our sustenance (John 6:25-59). The Lord’s Table should be open to all immersed believers who are in a right relationship with God (Matt. 26:26-30; Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 10:16-22; 11:23-26).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the personal, visible, and future return of Christ to the earth (Phil. 3:20-21; Titus 2:11-13; I John 3:2-3); and that the world will not be converted during the present time period, (II Tim 3:1-13; 4:1-5), but is ripening for judgment until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24; II Thess. 1:7-9), which will climax in the apostasy of professing Christendom (II Thess. 2:3; Rev. 17).
Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the just and the unjust (John 5:25-29); that the souls of those who have trusted in Christ go immediately into his presence at death (II Cor. 5:1-8), where they remain in a state of conscious bliss until the resurrection of the just, at which time they are reunited with their glorified bodies (I Cor. 15:12-58; Phil. 3:20-21); and that the souls of unbelievers go immediately into a state of conscious torment at death (Luke 16:19-31), where they remain until the resurrection of the unjust, at which time both soul and body shall be cast into the lake of fire (Matt. 10:28; Rev. 20:11-15).
Introduction
Realizing that the church of Jesus Christ has always been under the attack of Satan and the evil, vain philosophies of the world, and that such will be the case until Christ returns to judge sin, Calvary Bible Church takes a stand upon the following moral issues (we do not believe these to be merely social issues, but important moral issues which are addressed in the Word of God):
Civil Government
The Ten Commandments
Sexual Sin
Humanism
Feminism
Abortion
Euthanasia
Capital Punishment
Divorce
Separation from Worldliness
Secret Oath-Bound Societies
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is ordained of God for the punishment of evil doers and for the protection of the good (Rom. 13:1-7). We therefore consider it our duty to pray for rulers and magistrates (I Tim. 2:1-3) and to be submissive to their authority, except in things opposed to the will of God (Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14; Acts 4:19, 5:29; Matt. 23:10).