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Calvary Baptist Church

What We Believe

“The word of God is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it, just turn it loose”

C.H. Spurgeon
Calvary Baptist Church is a church that believes that God’s word can be trusted literally from Genesis to Revelation, is sufficient for the issues one faces in this life and the life to come, and is relevant and authoritative for every generation. The focus of our Sunday morning gathering is the verse by verse exposition of Scripture. We are a Christ-Centered church. This means that we intentionally turn our gaze upon Jesus Christ in our worship, in our preaching and in our lives. The hope of the gospel is everything to us, that God, who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). We love the doctrines of grace, which are at the heart of the gospel. God has redeemed us and saved us by His grace, not of our works. We claim nothing of ourselves. All praise and glory goes to Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are comitted to spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and making disciples in our homes, our community and our world.

CBC Membership Covenant

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ. We purpose to walk together in Christian love, and to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort.  We commit ourselves to promote its prosperity and spirituality, and to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines.  We will also contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel to all nations. We also purpose to maintain family and private devotions, to religiously educate our children, and to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances. We further purpose to walk uprightly in the world, to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our conduct, to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger, to abstain from any practice which would bring unwarranted harm to our body, mind, or testimony, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior. We purpose to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, to be ready for reconciliation and to secure it without delay. We moreover purpose that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with another church where we can resume the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

CBC Doctrinal Statement

1. THE BIBLE  

We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the text of the original manuscripts of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, which alone constitute the inerrant Word of God.

We believe the Bible supports using a literal-normal, grammatical, historical method of interpretation in light of the progress of revelation. Thus, we believe that the Bible is the clear, sufficient, and supreme authority for all belief, life, and ministry and the foundation for true Christian fellowship. (2Timothy 3:16-17; 2Peter 1:19-21)

2. GOD

We believe there is only one living and true God. We believe in the trinity of the Godhead – one immutable, omnibenevolent and omnipotent God, omniscient in all things past, present, and future, who eternally exists in three equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Exodus 20:2-3; 1Corinthians 8:6; 1John 5:7)

We believe in the deity, virgin birth, perfect humanity, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only means of salvation from sin and the sole mediator between God and man. (John 1:1,2; 1John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38)

We believe the personality and deity the Holy Spirit, through whose ministry believers today are regenerated, baptized into Christ and His body, indwelt, sealed, gifted, and empowered for service. (2Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16,17; Romans 8:14-27)

We believe that gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to build up the body of Christ. We believe that the sign gifts of the Spirit were given only for the apostolic era, providing revelation and authenticating the ministry of the apostles.

3. MANKIND & CREATION

We believe that God created the universe (including mankind) in six literal, consecutive 24-hour days apart from the process of evolution. We believe that man was created in the image of God and retains that image after the fall. Therefore, we affirm the dignity of human life and affirm that all people are worth pursuing for the cause of Christ. (Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:16,17; John 1:3)

We believe that all human beings are totally depraved and guilty before God as a result of the fall of Adam. We commit acts of sin because we are sinners by nature. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19)

4. SALVATION

We believe that the Triune God saves sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. God secures their eternal salvation, having sovereignly elected them to be willing recipients of His grace in Christ, whose blood was shed for the remission of sins. We believe that salvation is demonstrated through good works that are part of a holy life. We believe that every Christian has the joyous responsibility of evangelizing sinners in obedience to Christ’s Great Commission. (John 3:1-7; 10:28-29; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-13; Titus 3:5-7; James 2:17-18, Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6)

5. CHURCH

We believe that the universal Church is the body of Christ, comprised of all true believers from Pentecost until the Rapture. Jesus Christ is the sole head of the Church.

We believe that the local church is an assembly of immersed believers, led by pastors and served by deacons, independent and congregationally governed, in fellowship with other churches of like faith and order.

We believe that the local church is responsible to fulfill the Great Commission. It must observe the ordinances of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper; foster true fellowship, prayer, and worship; edify and equip believers; and evangelize the world. (Acts 2:41,42; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:11; 5:23,24; 1 Timothy 3:17; Colossians 1:18).

We believe that the only biblical mode of baptism is immersion; that baptism is for believers only; that it is a testimony of their identity by faith with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection; and that it is a prerequisite for local church membership. We believe that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is solely a memorial of Christ’s death, and that the body and blood of Christ are not present in the bread and cup. (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

We believe in the priesthood of all believers and that we have direct access to God apart from any mediator except Christ. We respect the God-given capacity of individual soul liberty through which each person will give account for living by the dictates of his own conscience. We believe in the separation of church and state, and that believers must fulfill biblical responsibilities to each.

We believe that the Bible directs us to a life of holiness, requiring separation from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy unto God.

We believe in the distinction between the nation of Israel and the Church, the Spirit- baptized Body of Christ. The Church is not the collection of all believers of all times.

6. ANGELS

We believe in the personal existence of angels as created spirit beings. God’s holy angels are ministering spirits. Satan and other fallen angels can influence believers, but believers cannot be demon possessed. (Matthew 4:1-3; 2Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)

7. END TIMES

We believe in the pre-tribulational rapture and bodily resurrection of the Church at Christ’s imminent coming. Believers will give account for their works at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which will follow the Rapture.  (1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 19:11-21)

We believe that God will fulfill the biblical covenants made with the nation of Israel. Though they are now dispersed among the nations, they will be re-gathered in the land of Israel and saved as a nation at the premillennial coming of Christ to the earth. At that time, Christ will begin his Davidic rule over the world for 1,000 years and continue to reign in the eternal state.

We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of unbelievers after the millennial reign of Christ. We believe in the eternal existence and punishment of all unbelievers in the lake of fire and the eternal existence and blessedness of all believers in the new heavens and earth. (Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:21)

CBC’s complete Church Constitution can be downloaded here:  http://www.calvarybyesville.org/eek/CBC_Constitution.PDF At the risk of being far too simplistic, Calvary is baptistic, calvinistic, dispensational, cessationist, complementarian, and premillennial. you can read our “Doctrinal FAQ” about other specific issues not addressed in our consitution. FOR REFERENCE… The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith is our preferred historic confession.  It can be read here:  http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bcof.htm  (a baptist catechism is available here – http://www.desiringgod.org/about/our-distinctives/our-beliefs/a-baptist-catechism)
  • We do take exception to chapter 7.  In this area we prefer some of the other creeds that make no mention of a “coventant of works” such as the Genevan Confession 1536, French Confession 1559, Belgic Confession 1561, Heidelberg Catechism 1563, and the Baptist Confession 1644.  The development of Coventant Theology can be traced to Robert Rollock in whose writings (1596-1597) see the first discussion of a “Covenant of Works” and a “Covenant of Grace”.
  • We also take exception to chapter 19 sections 2-7.  In this area we prefer the Belgic Confession, section 25, French Confession, section 23, and the 2nd Helvetic Confession.
  • Regarding chapter 22, sections 7-8, we prefer the 2nd Helvetic Confession 1561, and questions 166-184 from Calvins Geneva Catechism.
The Apostles Creed: We believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. The “5 Solas” are:
  • Sola Scriptura  (Only the Bible) – The Bible is the only truth on which we can build our lives
  • Sola Gratia  (Only Grace) – Our salvation is a free gift of God and cannot be earned
  • Sola Fide  (Only Faith) – It is impossible to please God without Faith
  • Solus Christus  (Only Christ) – Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.
  • Soli Deo Gloria  (Only God’s Glory) – God is the only being worthy of glory, honor, and devotion.
The “Baptist Distinctives” are:
  • B  iblical Authority (specifically, the NT sets the doctrine & order of the church)
  • A  utonomy of the Local Church & Congregational Polity
  • P  riesthood of the Believer
  • T  wo Ordinances (Baptism & The Lords Supper)
  • I  ndividual Soul Liberty & Responsability
  • S  aved, Baptized Church Membership
  • T  wo Offices (Elder & Deacon)
  • S  eperation of Church & State, and of Church & Apostasy
The Elders & Deacons of CBC are in the process of wrting several position papers on various topics to help clarify the position of the leadership, and more importantly, what we understand the bible to teach.  They will be published here as they are completed.
  • Cohabitation
  • Divorce & Remarriage
  • Alcohol
  • Church Membership
  • Church Discipline
  • Church Government
  • Gift of Tongues
  • Worship
  • Seperation / Cooperation
  • Role of Women
  • Sovereignty of God
  • Sufficiency of Scripture