Calvary Chapel Garland Statement of Faith
What we believe
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Garland based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. Our teaching and ministry are rooted in and flow from these biblical doctrines.
The Holy Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things. (John 1:1,14, Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19, Ex. 3:14, John 8:58)
God the Father
We believe in the Person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
God the Son
We believe in the Person of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal coming (future) visible return to Earth.
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Person of the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Christ for ministry. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. We believe in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct and separate experience to that of regeneration, occurring either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, evidenced by a greater dynamic in the Christian's life, enabling that Person to be a bold and more effective witness. The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, is love. We believe in the present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit concerning exercising all biblical gifts; they are to be used following Paul's instructions in the book of 1 Corinthians.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (II Timothy 3:15-16; II Peter 1:20-21)
The Church
We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and all who are born again in Jesus Christ are a part of the Body of Christ. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: full immersion water baptism of believers and the Lord's Supper. (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23)
Sin and Salvation
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God's standard and breaking His commandments – and therefore are subject to God's righteous judgment. However, God only saves and gives new life to all when one comes to Him in repentance and faith, trusting in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus Christ died in our place as our substitute, absorbing God's wrath that should have come upon us. Because Jesus died for the sins of the world, the invitation to believe is open to all, and whoever desires may come to Jesus for new life and the forgiveness of sins. (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7)
Heaven and Hell
We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord. Those who reject Jesus' free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9, 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15).
Christ's Second Coming
We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which will be His personal, visible return to Earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and eternal separation from God of the wicked. We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the Earth. (I Thess. 4:16-17, 2 Peter 3:13, Rev. 19:11-14 & 20:1-6, Rev. 21:1)
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of Baptism in water should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. This represents an outward symbol of cleansing, while the Blood of Christ has already saved the heart as an inner cleansing. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and have also been raised with Him to walk in the newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4; Hebrews 10:22)
Church Government
We believe that the example of the Patriarchs, Moses, the Judges, the Kings, the Apostles, and the Bishops of the early church all point to a consistent standard of Spiritual Leadership through Godly men who are God-called and set apart for such a task. We believe that the Biblical model for leadership in the church is a Pastor (Bishop) led church, with council, accountability, encouragement, support, and assistance in the work of the ministry from a plurality of Biblically qualified Elders. (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23)
Pastoral Leadership
We believe in the pattern and principle of male spiritual leadership and responsibility in the home and the church. This is the pattern found in the Bible from the Patriarchs to the Apostles and is consistent with the sacrificial example of Jesus. We believe this limits the roles of pastoral leadership and doctrinal authority to biblically qualified men. (1 Cor 11:1-2, 1 Tim 2:1-15, 1 Cor 12:12-13, Eph 4:15-16)
Christian Marriage
We believe that God created humankind and that He created them male and female. As such, He created them differently to complement and complete each other. Therefore, God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the family's foundation and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible, consistent with the Old and New Testaments. (Gen 2:18, Gen 2:23-24, Matt 19:4-5)
