What We Believe - Calvary Chapel Delaware County

The Bible

We believe the Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments (thirty-nine Old Testament, twenty-seven New Testament), to be the inspired word of God, completely true in all it affirms and without error as originally written. It is the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of all people, sufficient and authoritative for faith and life, and that there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

We also believe that God in His omniscience and sovereignty has preserved His word through the ages.

Psalm 119:9, 105; Matthew 5:17-18; John 10:34-36; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:15-16

God

We believe in one true and living God, who has revealed Himself in the Bible, in nature, and in man's conscience as the Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge, existing eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

By His sovereign power God continues to sustain His creation, and by His providence He orders the affairs of men and nations according to His wise, eternal plan. He is infinite in His wisdom, unchangeable in His attributes, righteous and loving in all His ways.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; 10:30; Acts 5: 3-4; Ephesians 1:3-14; Revelation 1:4-6

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God, who became fully human by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience, subservient to the will of the Father, and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men and women by dying on the cross as their substitute, and rose bodily from the grave, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust Him alone.

He achieved victory over death and the powers of evil, and ascended into heaven where, as the only Mediator between God and humanity, He continually intercedes for His people. His return to this earth, or Second Coming, is the great hope of the church. (See "End Times.")

Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 20-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1: 15-23

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Person of the Holy Spirit is fully God, who applies the saving work of Jesus Christ to sinful human beings. During this age, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict, regenerate, indwell, guide, instruct, empower, and uniquely gift the believer for godly living and service, so that the church is built up. We believe that all gifts of the Spirit as listed in the New Testament are available today in the life of the church.

‍Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5,John 14:15-31; 16:7-15; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12:4-31; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; 5:18; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12

Human Beings

We believe that human beings were created in the image of God for His pleasure. God's desire was to establish a relationship with man, to have fellowship with Him, and to allow man to have dominion over the earth. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled and sinned against God, and therefore was alienated from Him.
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As a result all human beings became guilty before God, subject to sin's power, inclined toward disobedience to God's moral law, and unable to please God apart from His saving grace. Because all human beings possess an eternal spirit, we believe that believers will spend eternity in the presence of God (Heaven), while unbelievers, at their choosing, will be eternally separated from God (Hell).

‍Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Psalm 8; Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans 1:18; 3:23; 5:12-21

Salvation

We believe that the central purpose of God's revelation in the Bible is to call human beings into fellowship with Himself.

Salvation is deliverance from alienation, sin, guilt, bondage, and death, as well as restoration to fellowship, righteousness, freedom, and life for all who repent of their sins and who trust in Jesus Christ. Salvation originates and is sustained by God's sovereign and loving grace, is based on Christ's saving work, is received by faith alone, and is expressed in a lifetime of developing holiness, obedience, and love.

‍Romans 3:21-31; 5:1-2; 6:23; 8:1-17; Galatians 2:16-21; Ephesians 2:1-10

The Church

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, the new community of all believers who are united to Christ and to one another by the Holy Spirit. The Church is called to worship God and to demonstrate His gracious character in the world by proclaiming the gospel, making disciples from all nations, observing baptism and the Lord's Supper, maintaining the unity and purity of the body, and seeking to apply the truths of Scripture to the needs of people.

‍Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; John 17:20-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:1-16

End Times

We are pre-millennial in our eschatology. This means we believe in Christ's imminent return for His church (the rapture) ushering in seven years of worldwide tribulation. At the end of this period Christ will come to restore the nation of Israel, and set up His millennial kingdom. After this He will judge all mankind.

‍Matthew 13:39-42; 24:36-44; Luke 21:25-35; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:1

Faith & Practice

We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what the Bible teaches. Calvary Chapel recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where the Bible is silent.

Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in this Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause division or dissention within the body of Christ.