Doctrinal Statement
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- Calvary Baptist Church Covenant
- Article I: Of the Scriptures
- Article II: Of the True God
- Article III: Of the Devil, or Satan
- Article IV: Of the Creation
- Article V: Of the Fall of Man
- Article VI: Substitutionary Sacrifice for Sin
- Article VII: Of Salvation by Grace
- Article VIII: Of Justification and Sanctification
- Article IX: Of the Church
- Article X: Of the Ordinances
- Article XI: Of the Security of the Believer
- Article XII: Of the Righteous and the Wicked
- Article XIII: Of the Return of Christ
- Article XIV: Of the Resurrection
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on 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, to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.
We promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit to forsake the paths of sin and to walk in the ways of holiness all the days of our lives. With this in view, we engage to strive together for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort, to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church and the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the Gospel throughout all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements; to be exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the use and sale of intoxicating liquor as a beverage; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior; to make Christ first in all things both spiritual and temporal.
We also engage that we will not practice, in church services or in private, strange customs which some churches practice, but which are not in accord with our church constitution and articles of faith; such as speaking in tongues, footwashing, triune immersion, sprinkling of infants or children, making the sign of the cross, conducting divine healing meetings, and any other custom strange to our church. But we will loyally practice only those things taught and approved officially by this church. We will avoid not only the practice of such customs, but will also entirely avoid their use while a member.
We further engage to walk together in Christian love and watchfulness, giving and receiving admonition with meekness and affection; to remember each other in prayer, and to aid each other in case of sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling, and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of the Word of God.
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally and completely inspired by God and written without error by Holy Spirit controlled men; and is all truth without any admixture of error. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-20).
We believe there is one and only one true and living God infinite in every excellence; and the supreme maker and ruler of the universe; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 147:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary, and that He is very God Himself (John 1:1-2; John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, fills, and helps the believer (John 14:16; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; John 16:7-14; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1;13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14 & 16).
We believe that Satan, a distinct personality, is the unholy god of this age, author of all sin and spiritual darkness, and is doomed to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).
We believe God created the heavens and the earth, as recorded in Scripture (Genesis 1 & 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3).
We believe that man was created innocent in the image of God and by voluntary transgression fell into sin, and that because of this fall all men are sinners by birth with no spark of divinity; that all men are sinners, not only by constraint but by choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 3; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:10-19).
We believe that salvation of sinners is only by the Grace of God; through Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Himself a human body and nature, yet without sin, by His suffering, death by crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father, and by so doing made a full and substitutionary sacrifice for our sins; that this salvation is freely offered to all who will believe and accept it (John 1:1-3; 1:14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33).
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation, that this salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are instantaneous upon the acceptance of Christ. That this salvation is wholly of grace and in no wise dependent upon works; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13; John 6:29).
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us (Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 8:1; 5:9; 5:1).
We believe that sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit by which He sets the believer apart to Christ and away from the world as the believer yields to Him. We believe that it produces holiness of life, is not a second work of grace and does not result in sinless perfection in this life. We do not believe sanctification produces speaking in tongues, etc., but rather an orderly, godly life (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; Titus 2:12; 1 John 1:8; 1 Corinthians 14:33 & 40).
We believe that the church universal is manifest through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ; and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the local church is final.
We believe that the local church may have fellowship with other groups as it desires subject only to the commands of the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Such fellowship cannot control or coerce the local church and may be terminated at any time by the will of the church for reasons sufficient unto itself (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17; 11:16; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Acts 5:29; 15:1-35).
We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism: We believe that full immersion in water is the only Scriptural mode of baptism for believers and is a solemn testimony of our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior; it follows salvation and is a necessary prerequisite to church membership (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42).
The Lord’s Supper: We believe that the Lord’s Supper, partaking of the elements which are symbols of His body and blood, is the commemoration by believers of His death, until He come, and our continual fellowship with Him, and should always be preceded by careful self-examination (1 Corinthians 1:23-32).
We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born again and are eternally secure in Christ (Philippians 1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1).
We believe that God looks on the unsaved as wicked and after death destined for eternal destruction; that in God’s eyes the saved are righteous through faith in and accpetance of the finished work of Christ and shall inherit eternal blessedness in the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord (Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21).
We believe in the bodily, personal, premillenial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven-year Tribulation Period to catch away His church, and that He will come with His church at the close of the Tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21).
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who are dead in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and will be caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air; and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millenial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne of Judgment to receive their final doom (John 5:21-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15).
Thank you so much. Your website has helped me with my report for school concerning the history and elements of our church. I appreciate all the hard work you put in and pray that you can continue to do such a great and wonderful job.
In Christ,
Lyza
Do you have a mailing list that I could join?
We now have a link which you may use to subscribe to posts and comments via email. Just follow the link provided in the far right-hand column of our homepage. I hope you find this helpful. God bless!
Do you use the KJV Bible in your church? Also, do you have a regular time for soul winning?
Thank you.
Yes – we do use the KJV, and only the KJV, in our church. Currently, our soulwinning mainly consists of Saturday morning bus calling. Our Pastor is an active soulwinner, and mans a soulwinning booth at the South Dakota State Fair every summer (under the banner of Amazing Grace Mission). We distribute tracts, and encourage personal evangelism in every area of life.