CaLvary Chapel Spencer
We Believe...
...that Scripture is the inerrant, inspired, Word of God
...in the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
...in baptism of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts
...that God created man, man sinned, and that God grants us Salvation through Jesus Christ.
Scripture
WE BELIEVE that the Scriptures consist of the originally canonized sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments and are the living and unchanging Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Scriptures supersede any and all earthly laws. The Scriptures have not and will not change, nor is it to be added to or subtracted from. The Scriptures are the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. It is from these Scriptures that we establish our doctrine and Statement of Faith. (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 19-21; Revelation 22:18-19
God, The Trinity
WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true GOD, who has revealed Himself as eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, fulfilling distinct but complementary roles in the great work of redemption, and that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Zechariah 14:9; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; Luke 1:35; John 10:30; 14:16-17; 15:26; 17:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:3; 9:14; 1 John 5:7)
God, the Father
WE BELIEVE in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, knowledge, power and love; that He is everywhere present, the unchangeable Creator of all with the Son and Holy Spirit; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, desiring that all should be saved; that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He judges sin according to His righteousness. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 90:2; 102:27; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 3:24; Matthew 6:9; John 3:16; 4:24; 17:1-11; Romans 8:14-16; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17)
God, the Son
WE BELIEVE in the person of Jesus Christ, co-Creator with the Father and Holy Spirit, God's only begotten eternal Son, who took upon Himself human form, being conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death and reconciliation of man, His bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth to rule, reign and judge. He is the chief cornerstone, head and groom to His Church. (Isaiah 7:14; 53:1-5; Matthew 1:21-23; 28:6; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; 24:39; John 1:1-3; 8:58; 11:25-26; Acts 1:9-11; 2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 2:22; Revelation 1:8)
God, the Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE in God the Holy Spirit, co-Creator with the Father and Son, who is now sent by the Father through the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, judgment and to lead us into all truth; to regenerate and seal the believer; to sanctify, empower and equip for ministry the Church to carry on Christ’s work on earth. (Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:8-11; Romans 8:1, 5, 9; 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30-32)
WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in every believer at the moment of salvation and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide to lead the believer in a life of holiness and that every Christian should walk and abide in daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. (John 7:37-39; 14:16-17, 26; 15:4,8; Acts 2:38-39; 15:7-9; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; 1 John 2:6)
WE BELIEVE that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct and separate experience to that of regeneration, occurring, either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, releasing the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the Christian's life enabling that person to be a bold and more effective witness. Consistent with biblical accounts, believers should anticipate baptism in the Holy Spirit to be evidenced by biblical manifestations of the Spirit. Every believer who is baptized in the Holy Spirit should seek a continual refilling of the Spirit. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:4, 33; 4:31; 8:14-18a; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 19:6; Ephesians 5:18)
Gifts and Fruit
WE BELIEVE that in order to build up and equip both individual believers and the Church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12 through14 that are to be earnestly desired and exercised in the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Mark 16:20; Acts 2:43; 8:12-13; 10:38; Romans 12:6-8; 15:13, 16; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Man
Creation and Fall
WE BELIEVE man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man, by voluntary transgression fell, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
Salvation
WE BELIEVE man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
WE BELIEVE salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
WE BELIEVE the inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
Santification
WE BELIEVE sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1-2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter1:5).
The Church
Baptism in Water
WE BELIEVE the ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).
Holy Communion
WE BELIEVE the Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements--bread and the fruit of the vine--is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"
The Church and its Mission
WE BELIEVE the Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the Body of Christ, and their name is written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason for being of Calvary Chapel Spencer as part of the Church is:a. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).c. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).Calvary Chapel Spencer exists to give continuing emphasis to this reason for being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:a. Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3, 4).b. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 12-14).c. Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26; Matthew 25:37-40; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).
The Ministry
WE BELIEVE a divinely-called and scripturally-ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) Worship of God (John 4:23, 24), (3) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16).
Divine Healing
WE BELIEVE divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).
Marriage
WE BELIEVE that marriage is exclusively the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female and that this union is evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe that legitimate biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, cross-dressing, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing and/or distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one’s physical gender or gender related appearance are incompatible with a true biblical witness.(Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:22-23; 20:13, 15-16; Deuteronomy 27:21; Matthew 19:4-6; I Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-11; 6:18-20; 7:1-3; 7:8-9; Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; I Timothy 1:9-11)
Accordingly, this ministry will not perform any marriage ceremonies between two individuals of the same genetic sex. It will not condone or recognize such same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships even if the state passes laws that provide for recognition of such unions.
Eschatology
Blessed Hope
WE BELIEVE the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).
Millenial Reign of Christ
WE BELIEVE the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21, 22; Zephaniah 3:19, 20; Romans 11:26, 27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3, 4).
Final Judgment
WE BELIEVE there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
New Heavens and New Earth
WE BELIEVE "We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22).