Calvary Church, Lebanon, PA

What We Believe About God

We believe:

God to be eternally coexistent in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, coequal, co-substantial and eternally coexistent yet One God;
the heart and will of the Father to be revealed in and through Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son;
Jesus Christ to be the Eternal Son incarnate in human flesh, fully God divested of supernatural abilities and fully human. We believe in His conception by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, His sinless life, His vicarious and atoning life in the flesh and death on the cross, His physical resurrection from the dead, and His ascension to the Throne of God “where” He now reigns as Lord over all;
the Risen Son to be the High Priest to the family of God, the Shepherd of the church, the Bridegroom appointed by the Father to those who are redeemed by the Grace of God, and the Sovereign King over all;
the Holy Spirit to be the Person by Whom conviction, repentance and instruction comes. We believe in His continuing work as Teacher, Guide, Comforter, Agent of power to and through the church, Revealer of Jesus Christ the mystery of God among us, and Source of worship and strength of God to His people; and
in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ as a distinct (but not necessarily separate) work of grace, and (consistent with the unchanging activity of God) the ongoing ministry of the gifts of the Spirit in and through the church.

What We Believe About Authority

We believe:

the Holy Scriptures [in the original autographs] to be the inspired Word of God (consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ) and the final rule for believers in matters of faith and standard of the Christian life. (Sola Scriptura);
the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the valid and authoritative rule of faith and practice for sound doctrine, teaching, correction and guidance for the Body of Christ;
the local church to be the highest form of ecclesiastical authority on the earth, subject to the Headship of Jesus Christ, and therefore we believe in the autonomy of the local church;
that the local church government is clearly and firmly evident in the scriptures as government by the calling and appointment of God through the Holy Spirit, and that the Kingdom of God government in local churches functions as a theocracy and not a democracy. Government in the local church is thereby exercised by the Head, Jesus Christ, through the Pastor, Elders and Deacons (in that order);
that the church is under the supreme government of Jesus Christ and not the world. Therefore the church exercises all diligence to be subject to the laws of men except where those laws differ with the laws of the Kingdom of God. In matters of authority, civil leaders are servants of God and not His equal.

What We Believe About Humanity

We believe:

all humanity is divisible by God (and only by God) into two groups, the saved and the unsaved. We recognize the Brotherhood of the saved as the children of God, and the brotherhood of the unsaved as the children of darkness;
in Eternal Life as a gift of God to those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who depend upon Him as their sole hope of righteousness; and
in everlasting death and separation from God for those whom The Eternal Son of God shall so judge. This judgement is based solely upon His wisdom, righteousness and holiness and is not subject to the pronouncements of man however well intentioned they may be.

What We Believe About Sacraments

We believe:

in two sacraments, Water Baptism and Holy Communion. Water Baptism to be an act of faith (believer’s baptism.) While the mode of baptism does not affect validity, we practice baptism by immersion whenever possible to reflect the burial into Christ’s death and resurrection to new life, washing of water through faith as an outward sign of the inward washing by the blood of Christ to righteousness.
the Lord’s Supper (Communion) to be representative of the Lord’s body and blood and in the unique significance of its celebration within the community of believers. All those who declare their faith in Jesus Christ are welcome at this table.
that (because of the Priesthood of all believers in Jesus Christ) Communion may be observed and/or “administered” by any believer.

What We Believe About Christians

We believe:

that Christians are sinners who have found forgiveness by the grace of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit drawing them to Jesus Christ, the Mediator of our faith. They are no better than any others of humankind in matters of worth or personal merit; however, by faith they are a new creation in Jesus Christ and share in His gift of forgiveness. In this regard their condition is better than their natural condition apart from Him.
that Christians are called to discipleship to Jesus Christ and therefore obliged to endeavor to grow in the knowledge and likeness of Him. This “walk” of discipleship does not add to the work of Christ within them nor add to their worthiness. Rather it is a response of thanksgiving and faith in the fashion of a living sacrifice of praise and is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
that Christians are primarily a family. As such we are called to live as a family, bearing one another’s burdens, sharing one another’s joys, and caring for the fellowship in loving service while endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.