Core Values of Calvary Baptist Church

This Statement of Core Values is neither a complete statement of our faith nor do we claim for it any quality of finality or infallibility. It is for the general guidance of our own people as we seek to do God’s will in our lives and the life of this fellowship and for others as they may have needs. The church is free to revise this Statement of Core Values as God leads.

1.      One God. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him are all honor, glory and praise forever.

Gen. 1:1; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 6:9 ff.; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6.

2.      The Lordship of Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus Christ, the Living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. We affirm both His sinless humanity and His divinity.  We believe that Christ, through his sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection, has overcome the power of sin and death. We believe all those who by faith believe in Him shall be redeemed. He is our High Priest and the One Mediator between God and humankind, securing through His life and work our reconciliation with God. Christ is the head of the Church and the supreme authority for the Church and Christian life. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth - personally, visibly, and bodily - to judge the living and the dead.

Matt. 1:18-23; John 1:1-18, Rom. 3:23-26; 8:1-3, 34; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1: 1-3; 20: 14-15.

3.      Holy Spirit Lives Among Us.  We believe that the Holy Spirit lives among us today.  The Holy Spirit, who became uniquely present among men and women on the day of Pentecost, dwells in every believer at the moment of acceptance of God’s grace.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and calls unbelievers to faith and repentance through Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.  He convicts, enlightens, encourages, and empowers the believer and the church to carry out the will of God in worship, evangelism, and service.

Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 2:38; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 12:8-13.

4.      God’s Grace. We believe in God’s gift of grace. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God's free grace which He extends to those who repent and put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby becoming a child of God.  While a Christian life should result in good works, no person is redeemed by his good works.

Jer. 31:31 ff.; John 3:16; Acts 20:32; Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 2:1-10.

5.      The Authority of Scripture. We believe the Bible is the inspired written Word of God and is the  guide for Christian faith and practice. The message of the scripture is without error.  The teachings of scripture, as interpreted by the community of faith, under the leadership  of the Holy Spirit shall guide the life, faith, and practice of the individual believer and the church. The criterion by which all scripture is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.

Deut. 4:1-2; Matt. 5:17-18; Luke 21:33; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb.4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

6.      Prayer. We believe in the power of prayer.  Through prayer the lives of people, the church, communities, and nations can be changed, bringing salvation, healing, comfort, and other gifts from God.

Matt.  6: 5-15; 21: 22; Mark 11: 24-25; Eph. 6: 18-20; James 5: 15-16.

7.      Eternal Security.  We believe that because of the eternal purpose of God and through His gift of grace to us that a true believer once saved shall be kept saved forever.  Believers, through neglect and temptation, may again fall into persistent sin, thus bringing earthly judgments on themselves and impairing their witness in the world. Such sin grieves God and may rob the believer of the joy of fellowship with our Savior. However, God, through His power and love, shall keep for His glory those who have once accepted His grace.

John 3:16; 5:24; 10:27-29; 14:16-17; 17:11; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 4:30; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 1 John 5:13; Jude 24; Rev. 3:5.

8.      Christian Life.  We believe that the Christian life should be a life of service, joy, peace, and obedience to the Lord who saved us. Christ is our example of servanthood. The believer is free to be guided by the Holy Spirit, prayer, and the Word of God and is not bound by the Old Testament Law or the rules of legalists. This liberty in Christ, however, is not to be used as an excuse for sin. Saved people should live in such a way that they do not bring reproach to the name of Christ. A saved person should consistently seek to manifest a life of constant obedience to the Word of God a fervent love for other believers and a daily walk that is characterized by righteousness and Christ-likeness. Believers should regularly assemble together in fellowship and worship.

Rom. 6:1-13; Gal. 5:1, 13, 25; Titus 2:11-13; 1 John 2: 3-5, 15, 29.

9.      Missions. We believe in the Great Commission.  The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and make disciples of all nations. For us, missions are the extension of God's redemptive purpose through evangelism, education, and Christian service beginning with the believer and reaching beyond the local church into the world.

Matt. 9:37-38; 24:14; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

10. Stewardship.  We believe God is the source of all blessings; He both gives and owns them.  We are stewards charged with using the blessings given to us not only for our needs, but in all things for the glory of God.  Those blessings include our time, talents, and material possessions.  We believe that as God’s children we should contribute cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally according to our means for the work of God, beginning here in the local church.  We believe that God’s people should support God’s work with our tithes and offerings.  We are also to give of our time and talents in the service of our Redeemer.  We are confident that if we do so He will multiply and use our tithes, offerings, and gifts for His glory. 

Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 6:1-4; 23:23; 25:14-29; Rom. 12:6-8. 2 Cor. 9:6-8

11. The Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We affirm Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper as the two ordinances of Calvary Baptist Church. Baptism by immersion is a public witness of the born-again believer's willingness to die to sin and be raised with Christ in newness of life. The Lord's Supper, observed through the elements of the bread and the cup, is a sincere searching of one's heart, a confession to Him of our sins, a thankful remembrance of Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross, a blessed assurance of His return, and a joyous fellowship with the living Christ and His people. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbolic in nature and are not necessary for salvation.

Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Acts 8:35-39; 1 Cor. 11:23-29.

12. The Autonomy of the Local Church. We affirm the autonomy of the local church and its congregational form of governance with each member having an equal right to vote in matters.  We believe that the local community of faith is free to govern itself and is accountable to God alone. Calvary Baptist Church is free to determine its membership, leadership, worship order, and association with other institutions. We are a fellowship of people redeemed in Jesus Christ, who are called by God into a community of faith in which we voluntarily unite for worship, study, prayer, Christian service, and the propagation of the gospel of Christ. We believe that the church should carry out its work with love, support, and mutual respect.

Romans 12:4-8; Col. 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23.

13. Cooperation. As Baptists, we are autonomous but cooperating people. Our heritage has been one of working with various like-minded organizations to accomplish more effectively the work of Christ in the world. We believe that such cooperation is imperative for the mission and ministry of the church and the Kingdom of God. All such relationships are strictly voluntary and no cooperating organizations have authority over our church.

Matt. 10:5-15; 28:19-20; Luke 10:1 ff.; 1 Cor. 3:5-15.

14. The Separation of Church and State. We affirm the separation of church and state. We firmly believe that religion is best exercised when it is free, not coerced; therefore, the state should not prohibit the free exercise of faith. The church, likewise, should not resort to civil power to carry out her work, but pursue spiritual means to accomplish her mission.  A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.  All persons should have free access to God with the right to form and express opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by civil powers.

John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Gal. 5:1; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2.

15. Life in the World.  We believe we are under a duty to seek to make the example of Christ the supreme guide for our own lives and to use our gifts and talents to influence all society to do the same.  We will pray and work to the end that God’s will, as revealed through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, shall be done in our world. We will work to provide for the orphaned, widowed, needy, aged, helpless, sick, and the unbeliever.

2 Chronicles 7:14; Micah 6:8; Matt.5:13-16, 43-48; 6:9-13; 23:37-40; Rom. 12: 14; James 1:27; 2:8. 

16. Soul Competency and Priesthood of the Believer. We believe in the principles of Soul Competency and Priesthood of the Believer. We affirm soul competency, the accountability of each person before God. Each soul must repent and believe for itself; and each soul is responsible directly to God for sins committed. Each individual is competent to interpret Scripture according to the dictates of conscience and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Soul competency also involves soul responsibility to seek the truth and, having found it, to act upon it and to share it with others.  We believe in the priesthood of all believers, the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God through Jesus Christ without imposition of creed or control of clergy or government. The doctrines of soul competency and priesthood of the believer reflect both our freedom and responsibility to God and our fellowship.  It is not an occasion for arrogance but a call to humility and servanthood, following the model of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jer. 31: 31-34; Rom. 14:12; 15: 15-16;  Gal. 5: 13-14;  Eph. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9, 16; 3: 15; 5: 2-3;  ; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 20:6

17. No Creed.  As Baptists we subscribe to no creed—our faith is vibrant and living. 

John 14:6.