Doctrinal Statement
Of
Calvary Bible Church of Colorado Springs
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, without error in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. (Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13; II Tim 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
Special Creation
We believe in the doctrine of special creation of all things in the beginning, and that God completed all creation in six literal twenty-four hour days. We also believe in a worldwide catastrophic flood brought about in judgment of man's sin by God. We believe and accept the first 11 chapters of Genesis as they were written. (Gen. 1-11; II Pet 2:5, 3:5-6 )
The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection. (Deut 6:4; II Cor 13:14)
The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that he might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice for all mankind; and, that our justification is made sure by his literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; I Pet 1:3-5, 2:24; I John 2:2, 4:14)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our high priest, he fulfills the ministry of the representative intercessor and advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom 8:34; Heb 9:24, 7:25; I John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that he is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ., indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom 8:9; I Cor 12:12-14; II Cor 3:6; Eph 1:13-14, 4:30)
We believe that he is the divine teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the spirit. (John 16:13; Eph 5:18; I John 2:20, 27)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom 3:22-23, 5:12; Eph2: 1-3, 12)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed at Calvary for the forgiveness of the sin of all mankind. (John 1:12; Eph 1:7, 2:8-10; I Pet 1:18-19)
Blood Atonement
We believe that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for the sin of all mankind.
(Rom 3:24-26; Heb 9:22)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, one saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom 8:1, 38-39; I Cor 1:4-8; I Pet 1:5)
The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every believer possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.
(Rom 6:13, 8:12-13; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; I Pet 14-16; I John 3:5-9)
Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. We also believe that God commands separation from all religious apostasy, worldly sinful pleasure practices, and associations.
(Rom 12:1-2, 14:13; II Cor 6:14 to 7:1; II Tim 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scriptures, and to seek to proclaim the gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor 5:19-20)
Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that God gives spiritual gifts to all believers. Some gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent, and are to be used throughout the Church Age. Other gifts were temporary, and were given in the Apostolic Age for the purpose of founding the Church. Having fulfilled their purpose, they are not necessary, and are not given today. We believe that the temporary gifts include the gifts of apostleship, prophecy, miracles, healing, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. (Rom 12:3-8; I Cor
12:13-14; II Cor 12:12; Heb 1:1-2, 2:3-4)
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith according to his own will for the sick and afflicted. (I Cor 12:7-11 II Cor 12:12; Eph 4:7-12; James 5:15)
The Church
We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age. (I Cor 12:12-14; II Cor 11:2; Eph 1:22-23, 5:25-27)
We believe that the New Testament teaches the goal of establishing local churches that are to be independent. Each church is to govern itself, make it's own decisions, and determine it's own procedures. The independence of the local church does not in any way hinder the fellowship between fundamental churches of like faith and practices. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; I Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord has committed two ordinances to the local church, namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe that the ordinance of Christian Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is distinctly a believer's baptism, and is a public testimony of the individual's personal faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Lord. It does not in any way grant the forgiveness of sins or confer grace to the person. (Matt 28:19; Acts 8:36-37, 18:8; Rom 6:3-5)
We believe that the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ to commemorate his death for us. The elements used are symbolic of our Lord's body and blood, and do not grant life or convey grace to the participant. Believers are to practice this ordinance until Christ comes again. (I Cor 11:23-34)
Dispensationalism
We believe in the dispensational view of Biblical interpretation, but reject the extreme teaching known as "Hyper Dispensationalism" such as that teaching which opposes either the Lords Table or water baptism as a scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age.
(Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:8; I Cor 11:23-26)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a created personality, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa 14:12-17; Matt 4:2-11, 25:41; Rev 20:10)
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in the "Blessed Hope", the personal, imminent, pretribulation and premillenial coming in the air of the Lord Jesus Christ for his redeemed ones, and in his subsequent return to earth with his saints to establish his millennial kingdom. (Zech 14:4-11; I Thess 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9; Rev 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to
judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev 20:5-6, 12-13)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death, absent from the body, and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23, 3:21; I Thess 4:16-17; Rev 20;4-6)
We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in constant misery until the second resurrection. Then with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be thrown into the lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment.
(Matt 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; I Thess 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev 20:11-15)
Our Doctrine Amplified
Because there are a number of theological movements in our day which we believe are not Biblical, we desire to clarify our stand as a church regarding these theological movements in light of our stated doctrinal position.
The Charismatic Emphasis
There is at present in Christendom an observed phenomenon variously called the Pentecostal Movement, Neo-Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Renewal, Charismatic Movement, Charismatic Emphasis or Interpretation, Tongues Movement, Glossolalia, etc. Many common characteristics are observed among the various aspects of this movement:
Ø The seeking after and promotion of the baptism of or in the Holy Spirit as an experience distinct and subsequent to conversion
Ø The seeking after, manifesting of, and promotion of tongues as the evidence of such baptism, or as the mark of a higher and more spiritual experience
Ø The acceptance of so-called new revelations as providing instruction and guidance equal in validity to the scriptures, and the unifying nature of commonly shared experiences even where serious doctrinal and ecclesiastical differences would otherwise preclude association.
For the purpose of this statement, the term "charismatic emphasis" is intended to refer to the broad sweep of this phenomenon.
As a corollary to the charismatic emphasis, there has been the seeking after, the manifesting of, and the promotion of tongues, the dependence upon new revelation, and bringing about of ecumenical relationships based
on shared experiences irrespective of basic doctrinal positions. The result is that confusion and divisions have been fostered in the many churches both here and on the mission field.
Calvary Bible Church of Colorado Springs is in no way part of, related to, or identified with the above-defined charismatic emphasis.
Ecumenism
Ecumenism is a popular religious movement designed to catch the unwary. It's philosophy of Christian unity has been largely promulgated by the World and National Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the world at large, and tragically, by some elements of neo-evangelism. The ecumenical movement seeks the eventual union of all religions into one super church. This means that every church, religion, or religious body participating in the merger must compromise its beliefs in areas of
faith, and practice to conform to the will of the whole ecumenical body.
Calvary Bible Church of Colorado Springs unalterably opposes any "dialogue" or overture whatsoever which has as its ultimate purpose the breaking down of the determination of Christians to stand true to their God, and to the traditional Christian faith as outlined in the New Testament. (II Cor 6:11-18; Rev 2:9, 14-15)
Neo-Orthodoxy
Neo-Orthodoxy is a reaction to liberalism using words, phrases, and language familiar to Christians everywhere and in this manner project an "evangelistic" image. The adherents of this movement claim to accept the authority of the Bible yet reject its verbal, plenary inspiration. Calvary Bible Church of Colorado Springs completely rejects Neo-Orthodoxy.
Neo- Evangelicalism
Neo-Evangelicalism is a more subtle movement, paradoxically promoted by professed Christians who consider the "fundamentalist" view of Christian theology as being too negative, and by "fair words" seek to diffuse the fine line of demarcation between fundamentalism and liberalism. We maintain that those truths considered fundamental to Christian theology and the vagaries of Christ-denying liberalism cannot be made to "walk together." To attempt this unscriptural union
is to compromise pure Christian by subjecting it to an unscriptural and therefore "unequal yoke." Calvary Bible Church of Colorado Springs adheres to firm fundamentalism as opposed to the Neo-evangelical movement. (II Cor 6:11-18; Col 2:8)
Lordship Salvation
Much discussion has raged in evangelical circles over
the topic of Lordship Salvation because it touches on the fundamental
issue of the content of the gospel message. We must be very careful not to
demand too much or little when presenting the gospel to an unbeliever.
The Lordship debate revolves around two central
issues. The first is the connection between justification and
sanctification. It is our conviction that sanctification will result from
justification and that the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual
will produce spiritual fruit. We cannot, however, judge with certainty the
presence of fruit in another individual’s life.
The second issue is how much emphasis should be
placed on commitment to a lifestyle of obedience in the presentation of
the gospel. We believe that commitment and discipleship are results
of salvation and not requirements for it. Salvation ought to be
preached as a free gift based on the death of Christ on our behalf. We
reject the notion that a person can come to faith in Christ expecting that
God will honor a life of continued rebellion, but also deny that
wholehearted commitment to obedience is necessary (or even possible) for
the potential convert.
We draw the following four conclusions regarding the
nature of conversion and the presentation of the gospel (Ephesians
2:8-10):
1. The
Spirit’s work of pre-evangelism includes reproof for sin. An understanding
of sin is foundational for one’s comprehension of the gospel.
2. We
ought to preach forgiveness as a free gift based on the death of Christ on
our behalf.
3. We
should expect those who believe to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
4.
Where fruit is lacking, it may be legitimate to question an individual’s
personal salvation, though only the Lord really knows for sure.
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