Our Teaching Position is separate from our Doctrinal Statement because we recognize that various Christian denominations and assemblies hold to varying interpretations on the following matters. At Calvary Bible Church we interpret the Scriptures to teach the following positions. We faithfully adhere to them and teach them in the exercise of our ministry. Our members and attendees are free to, and some do hold different interpretations on these matter.

 

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