At Calvary We Believe

Nine Scriptural Pillars of Our Faith

At the heart of our fellowship lies a steadfast commitment to the foundational truths of the Gospel. We believe that sound doctrine is the bedrock of a vibrant life in Christ, and we hold fast to these eight scriptural pillars:

I
Divine Creation

We believe that the universe is the intentional work of a sovereign Creator.

Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

II
Inspiration & Inerrancy of Scripture

We believe the Bible is the holy, breathed-out Word of God, preserved without error.

2 Timothy 3:16

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

III
The Virgin Birth of Christ

We believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin, being both fully God and fully man.

Matthew 1:23

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

IV
The Person and Work of Christ

The Person of Jesus Christ

John 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 

John 1:14

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

 

1 Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

 

Colossians 1:16–17

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

 

Colossians 1:19

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."

 

Colossians 2:9

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

 

Revelation 1:8

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

 

The Work of Jesus Christ

John 1:29

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

 

1 John 3:5

"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."

 

John 3:17

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

 

Luke 19:10

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

 

Colossians 1:20, 22

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproachable in his sight."

 

1 John 1:7

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

 

Ephesians 1:7

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

 

Acts 4:12

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

V
Substitutionary Atonement

We believe Christ died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself.

Isaiah 53:5

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

VI
Bodily Resurrection

We believe Christ rose physically from the grave three days after His death, defeating sin and the power of the grave.

Luke 24:39

"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."

VII
The Rapture of the Church & the Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the rapture — from the Latin raptus — the catching up of believers to meet the Lord, and His ultimate return in glory.

The Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

 

1 Thessalonians 1:10

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

 

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Deliverance from Wrath

1 Thessalonians 5:9

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

Romans 5:9

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

 

Revelation 6:17

"For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

VIII
The Holy Ghost

The scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit must be an active presence in the life of every believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers believers, acts as a comforter and guide, and that speaking in tongues — as evidenced in Acts 2:4 — serves as both the initial evidence of Spirit baptism and a continuing spiritual gift.

Indwelling & Empowerment

Acts 2:4

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

 

Counselor & Comforter

John 14:26

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

 

Conviction & Sanctification

1 Peter 1:2

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

 

Empowerment to Witness

Acts 1:8

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

 

Internal Witness

Romans 8:16

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

 

Testifying

John 15:26–27

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."

 

Witnessing with Believers

Acts 5:32

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

 

Reproving the World

John 16:8–9

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me."

 

Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12

The gifts of the Spirit distributed to believers as the Spirit wills.

 

Fruit of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 13

The love of God expressed through the Spirit in the life of every believer.

IX
Literal Heaven and Hell

We believe in the eternal reality of both a place of reward for the redeemed and a place of judgment for the lost.

John 14:2

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

These truths are not merely ink on paper; they are the "blessed hope" that governs our worship and our walk. We invite you to join us as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.