As Christians
We believe in one true, good and living God who exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:1, 26; John 1:1,3; Eph. 4:5-6)
We believe in God the Father, the eternal and personal Creator and Ruler over all that exists. He is all-powerful and all-sufficient, yet conducts Himself with mercy towards humanity. He hears and answers prayer according to His wisdom, love and will. He draws people to Himself through His Son, saving and forgiving those who come to Him through Jesus. (Psa. 139; Luke 10:21-22; I Pet. 1:3)
We believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Father. He took on human nature, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, performed many signs and wonders, and taught the words of eternal life. He offered Himself as a substitution, an atoning sacrifice, for sinners. He was crucified, died, and was buried. He rose again three days later and ascended to Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father where He is constantly interceding for us. Salvation is found through Christ alone. It is only by the blood of His death that we are able to live in right relationship with God. He is worthy of worship, service and complete obedience. He will come again personally, sent by God the Father, to judge His creation and call the Family of God together to experience eternal, abundant and perfect life in the presence of God. At His appearance, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord of all. (Matt. 20:28; I John 2:2; Rom. 5:6-8; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 5:12-14)
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, eternally one with the Father and the Son. Through His guidance He enables people to understand Truth. He is the divine agent by which believers are born into the Family of God. He indwells all believers and as our constant helper, He calls, sanctifies, empowers, teaches and equips us. He enables all believers to live in union with God the Father and God the Son. (John 16:8-14; Rom. 8:9, 12-13; I Cor. 12:13)
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. It is absolutely trustworthy as our guide for life and for our relationship with God and with people. (John 20:31; II Pet. 3:16; Heb. 4:12)
We believe that Salvation is the gracious gift of God by which he justifies (makes right), sanctifies (continues to grow) and glorifies (fully restores) sinners. There is nothing that we can do to earn salvation; it comes by grace alone through faith in Christ. Apart from Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we are all subject to our own sinful natures and are thus separated from fellowship with God. But the Gospel is the act of God making a way for us to exchange our sinful nature for His righteous nature and be adopted into His family where we are secure forever. (John 6:44; Rom. 8:2, 30; Eph. 1:4-12; Phil. 2:13)
As Baptists
Baptism by immersion in water is the rite of initiation into the church. It is reserved for those who publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we baptize believers only, not infants.
A New Testament church is made up of believers only. Children and grandchildren of members are precious to God and are important to their families within the church, but they cannot be members themselves until they consciously place their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of the presence and grace of Jesus Christ. By faith, we meet the risen Lord at His table in a unique and powerful way.
All Christians are priests before God. Baptists elevate the laity so that every member is a minister.
Every Baptist church receives its marching orders from Jesus Christ. No church has to gain permission from another church in order to do what it believes is the will of God. At the same time, Baptist churches have a long history of cooperating with one another to expand and further the Kingdom of God in the world.
In their earliest years, Baptists were persecuted for their convictions about religious liberty. Having suffered at the hands of those who wanted to unite church and state, Baptists have long stood for the absolute religious liberty of all people, achieved through the separation of church and state. “A free church in a free nation” is the motto of Baptists.
The two church offices in a Baptist congregation are ministers and deacons. Ministers are the spiritual leaders of the church, overseeing worship, proclamation, discipleship, and all other ministries. Deacons are the primary models of lay ministry, serving the church through family ministry, outreach, and prayerful consideration of major proposals offered by church committees and teams. Deacons are not a governing body of the church, but rather a ministering body, discerning and modeling the best ways that Calvary can reach others with Christ’s love.