Doctrinal Statement
The Doctrinal and Teaching Positions of Calvary Bible Church Grass Valley, California
We Believe...
... that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are 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 practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
... that God eternally exists in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature and perfection, and worthy of the same worship and obedience (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:18-19; John1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).
... that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that He died on a cross, was raised bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is our present high priest and advocate at the right hand of the Father (John 1:10-14 and 29; John 20:15-20; Romans 3:25-26; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3-8, 7:25-27; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1).
...that the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, and convicts men of their sin, regenerates the sinner who believes, and indwells, gifts, instructs, guides, comforts, and empowers the believer for godly living and service (John 7:37-39, 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19- 20, 12:1-14:40; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:18-20). ... that Satan is the author of sin, and that sin is the falling short of God's righteousness and His perfect standards; and sin had to be dealt with by God on man's behalf before man could have intimate fellowship with Him (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28: 11-19; 1 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6).
... that man was created in the image of God but in disobedience to Him chose to walk in sin and is therefore lost, and that he can obtain salvation and spiritual life only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26, 2:16-17, 3:1-7; Romans 3:10-18 and 23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7).
... that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for each one who believes in Him and calls upon His name; and that only those who receive Christ as Savior are born of the Spirit, thus becoming the children of God (John 1:12; Acts 2:21; Romans 5:1-12 and 10:9-10).
... that all believers are called with a holy calling and are to live in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, thereby manifesting the character of Christ in all dimensions of their lives (Romans 6: 11-13; Galatians 5:16-23; 1 Peter 1:14-16).
... that the Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated and united together in the body of Christ of which He alone is the head (Matthew 16:16-18; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:11-22).
... that the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is both imminent and personal, and that this "blessed hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of each Christian (Matthew 24:14-21; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
... that the believer will be bodily raised from death to everlasting life and joy with the Lord; and the unbeliever will be raised to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment in Hell (Luke 16:19- 26; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Peter 2:1-9; Jude 1:6-7; Revelation 20:11-15).
... that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church, but are not required for salvation (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19.20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Teaching Position Statement Note: Although we recognize that various evangelical denominations and assemblies hold to varying interpretations on the following matters, Calvary Bible Church understands the Scriptures to teach the following positions. We faithfully adhere to them and teach them in the exercise of our ministry.
Teaching Position Statement
Note: Although we recognize that various evangelical denominations and
assemblies hold to varying interpretations on the following matters,
Calvary Bible Church understands the Scriptures to teach the following
positions. We faithfully adhere to them and teach them in the exercise
of our ministry.
We Believe . . .
... that 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 (John 10:28, 14:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 7:25, 12:5-11; 1 John 2:1-2, 5:13;Jude 1:24).
... that there is only one baptism--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 that the present day phenomena represented as "charismatic manifestations" do not represent the 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 true spirituality (John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13,13:1-13; Ephesians 5:18-20; Galatians 5:22.25).
... that 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 is a signless and imminent event that will precede the Tribulation. It will entail the completion of the body of Christ, His Church (Matthew 24:14-21;John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:7.10). This translation of the Church will then be followed by the fulfillment of Israel's seventieth week-a seven-year period which will involve the severe and just judgment 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 (Daniel 9:24-27; Jeremiah 30:7-8; Zechariah 12:2, 14:2-3; Matthew 24:15-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 6:1-17, 13:1-18 and 19:17.21). Next, the Tribulation will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth just as He departed-in person, visibly, 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 (Ezekiel 37:21-28; Matthew 24:15-25 and 46; 15:16-17; Romans 11:19-27; Revelation /20:1-3).
... that in life beyond earth, the body, soul, and spirit of the Christian shall be united with God forever in glory; and the spirit and soul of the unbelieving 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 (Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude1:6-7; Revelation 20:11-15). Adopted by the Elder Board in April 1988