Our Mission
Calvary Bible Church exists
to glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
Listen to sermons on our mission statement.
glorify - a state of high honor
We glorify many things in our world. We give many things a state of high honor; celebrities, athletes, inventors entertainers, peers, even our families, and more. Too often we let these take the place of the one true God. To glorify God is to give Him the honor that He is due. God deserves the state of highest honor in all we say, in all we think, in all we do, and in all we feel. To honor God, to glorify God, is to give Him our first and our best.
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
disciple - a learner, a pupil, a follower
Everyone follows someone. The question everyone needs to answer for themselves is "Who?" Who am I following? Who established the worldview I ascribe to? Who leads my thoughts and direction in life? We the church are disciples, followers, pupils, learners of Jesus Christ the Lord. His love and grace saves us and makes us new. We aim to share this good news with others, inviting them to be learners as well, and teaching them to follow God whole-heartedly.
Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
nation - people group
We aim to share this good news of Jesus Christ in each area that God places us. We begin with our family and then extend outward to people in our lives including friends, coworkers, classmates, and others God leads us to. We, as the church, have this call on our lives both in our immediate context and extending to the world. Calvary Bible encourages all members to participate in this mission and supports those who do so vocationally both locally and globally.
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Our Beliefs - Doctrinal Statement
~ Concerning the Bible
~ Concerning the Bible
~ Concerning God
~ Concerning God
~ God the Father
~ God the Father
~ God the Son
~ God the Son
~ God the Holy Spirit
~ God the Holy Spirit
~ Concerning Man and His Need
~ Concerning Man and His Need
~ Concerning Redemption
~ Concerning Redemption
~ Man's Response to God
~ Man's Response to God
~ The Christian's Responsibility
~ The Christian's Responsibility
~ Marriage and Sexuality
~ Marriage and Sexuality
~ Concerning the Church
~ Concerning the Church
~ Concerning the Future
~ Concerning the Future
Concerning the Future
The return of Jesus Christ to this earth is imminent. His return will be bodily and visible, bringing to completion His kingdom, in order to judge the world in righteousness, to fulfill His prophetic promises to Israel and to the rest of mankind concerning the future, and to create a new heaven and a new earth. All people who have died will be raised from the dead, and those who have been redeemed will participate in eternal life in the presence of God, but those who have rejected Christ will suffer separation from God and eternal punishment in hell with Satan and the fallen angels.
Marriage and Sexuality
We believe Scripture teaches that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage.
The Christian's Responsibility
The Christian’s responsibility is to walk in a manner worthy of his or her calling, one of a living sacrifice, not conforming to this world but being transformed to live a Christ-like life. This transformation occurs as the believer is obedient to Christ as Lord. Obedience grows as believers learn to yield to the Spirit of Christ in them, by confessing their sins, and living daily in submission to Christ’s teachings, producing a greater awareness of peace and joy in the believers.
Man's Response to God
Eternal salvation from sin, death and hell is the free gift of God's grace, and is based solely upon one's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Everyone has the obligation and the opportunity to respond to God. This response is initiated by God as He draws people to Himself. All who repent of their sinfulness and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as full payment for all their sins receive Him as their Savior and Lord, and are forever reconciled to God the Father. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work. This salvation is publicly expressed by the believer’s baptism.
Concerning Redemption
Jesus Christ uniquely satisfied God’s just requirement of death as the penalty for sin by dying a substitutionary death for all mankind on the cross. The shed blood of Jesus Christ, together with His resurrection, provide the only grounds for justification and salvation for each one who believes in Him and calls upon His name. Everyone who is called into this relationship by God is granted every spiritual blessing that is in Christ and will finally be perfected as He is perfect. Nothing can separate the believer from the salvation and the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.
Concerning Man and His Need
Man was created by God in His own image but, through Adam’s sin, all mankind dies and is sinful in nature. Because mankind sins through personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, he stands condemned, is unable to save himself, and faces eternal separation from God. While each person has inherent value, being created by God in His image, each is nonetheless inherently sinful and hopelessly lost apart from divine grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit exists eternally with the Father and the Son. He was sent by the Son from the Father to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. After regenerating the sinner who believes, He indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts. Throughout the life of the believer, He fills, guides, teaches, empowers and comforts; thus He is the source of growth in godliness and sanctification. The Holy Spirit, permanently living in believers, is the guarantee of their inheritance in Jesus Christ.
Concerning the Church
The Church is the body of Christ on earth. It consists of all who have placed their faith in Christ, being united together immediately by the Holy Spirit in one spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head. This body finds expression as local churches, operating under the direction of Jesus Christ as Lord and Head of His body, through elders, pastor-teachers and evangelists, who equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Within the Church, believers utilize their spiritual gifts for the common good and are His witnesses in the world to further the task of making disciples of all nations. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances of the Church and are commanded in Scripture as a testimony of the Church until Christ’s return. We hold that the Church is distinct from Israel.
Concerning the Bible
The original writings of both Old and New Testaments were inspired by God by means of the Holy Spirit. These original writings were without error and are of supreme and final authority in every aspect of life for any person in any age. The Bible says everything God intended to say to mankind regarding redemption and how people are to live out their lives in relation to God and their fellow man.
Concerning God
There is only one true God that eternally exists in three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature and perfection, and worthy of the same worship and obedience. They share in the work of creation, maintenance of the universe, sovereign control of history, redemption of believers and judgment of angels and mankind.
God the Father
God the Father, is eternal and distinct in His being. He decrees and works all things according to His own purpose and for His own glory, being sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He continually sustains all of creation, directing and governing all creatures and events, accomplishing this without being the author or approver of sin, nor minimizing human responsibility. He has graciously chosen the elect from all eternity, He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, and He personally relates to His children as their Father.
God the Son
Jesus Christ is fully God, Creator of all things, and fully man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died on a cross in complete obedience to God the Father to reveal God to man and, through His shed blood, paid the penalty for the sins of the world and thereby redeemed man to God. He was raised bodily by the Father from the dead, ascended into heaven and given the name which is above every name. He intercedes at the right hand of the Father for all the saved. He is the only mediator between God and humanity, the head of His Body, the Church. He is coming again as Messiah and King and the final judge of both believers and unbelievers.
Why Doctrine Matters
"What comes into our minds when we think about God
is the most important thing about us."
~ A. W. Tozer
Every day, our world and culture shout out many contrasting philosophies and opinions about God in an attempt to define who He is. If we look to our society to frame our understanding of God’s character, we will be severely misguided. The history of the Israelites, seen in the Old Testament, points to the dangerous consequences of following such philosophies and opinions, and losing sight of who God actually is. Therefore, sound doctrine matters. God, through Scripture, reveals to us everything that we need to know about Him. This is the foundation of truth that guides the Church in knowing God and wholly worshipping Him.
Teaching Position
Concerning Eternal Security
Because salvation is wholly of God, man who appropriates it by faith is eternally secure. A son of God may be disciplined by His loving Father, but he rests secure in God’s grace forever.
Concerning Body, Soul, & Spirit
In life beyond earth, the body, soul, and spirit of the Christian shall be united with God forever in glory; the spirit and soul of the unbeliever will remain conscious of condemnation after death and in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium when the unbeliever shall be reunited with his body and cast into the lake of fire; these will not be annihilated, but punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
Why A Teaching Position
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path."
~ Psalm 119:105
Although we recognize the following matters have been subject to varying interpretations by evangelical denominations, Calvary Bible Church understands Scripture to teach the following. We faithfully adhere to these understandings and teach them in the exercise of our ministry. Our members and attendees are free to, and some do, hold different interpretations on these matters.
Concerning Baptism of the Holy Spirit
There is only one baptism and one indwelling of the Holy Spirit which occurs at the time of salvation, but there may be many fillings — moments of greater control which happen subsequent to that initial indwelling. The Holy Spirit is free to show Himself however He may choose in the life of a believer. However, it appears present day phenomena represented as “charismatic manifestations” do not represent genuine manifestations of the first century because of their often divisive and confusing results, or the manner by which those manifestations (i.e. tongues and healings) are used as so called measures of the true spirituality
Concerning the Rapture
The next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the coming of the Lord in the air to receive His own to Himself in Heaven. This is known as the Rapture. This will be a signless and imminent event preceding the Tribulation. It will entail completion of the body of Christ, His Church. (A) Translation of the Church will be followed by the fulfillment of Israel’s seventieth week — a seven-year period which involves severe and just judgments of God upon an apostate worldwide religious system via the kingdom of the Antichrist. At the end of the Tribulation, the times of the Gentiles will be brought to a close. (B) The Tribulation will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to Earth, just as He departed — in person, visibly, and bodily. With power and glory He will bind Satan and place him in the abyss, lift the curse which now rests upon creation, restore Israel to her own land (fulfilling God’s covenant promises), and establish His millennial reign upon the earth. (C)