Calvary Core Beliefs

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22;  Psalm 90:2;  Matthew 28:19;

1 Peter 1:2;  2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father.  Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22, 23;  Isaiah 9:6;  John 1:1-5; 14:10-30;

Hebrews 4:14,15;  1 Corinthians 15:3,4;  Romans 1:3,4;

Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15;  Titus 2:13
 

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.   He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to convict us of sin.  He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.  He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved.  As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17;  John 16:7-13, 14:16,17;  Acts 1:8;

1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16;  Ephesians 1:13;  Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

The Bible is God’s Word to us.  It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

2 Timothy 3:16;  2 Peter 1:20,21;  2 Timothy 1:13;

Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6;  Proverbs 30:5

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it.   We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.   Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Romans 6:23;  Ephesians 2:8,9;  John 14:6, 1:12;  Titus 3:5;

Galatians 3:26;  Romans 5:1

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity.  If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it.   Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.  It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.  We also believe in the perseverance of the saints – that all who are genuinely born again endure to the end.  Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation and bring reproach on the name of Christ, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

John 10:29;  2 Timothy 1:12;  Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14;  1 Peter 1:3-5

People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.  Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16;  John 14:17;   Romans 6:23;  Romans 8:17-18;

Revelation 20:15;  1 Cor. 2:7-9