Statement of Faith
The Core Values and Beliefs of Calvary Church of S.W.V.A.
The Early Christian Church had several councils to state what the people of God believed. The first such
council took place in Acts 15 in Jerusalem. In the first three centuries of the Church, councils met and
stated their beliefs in what became known as “creeds” (from the Latin word “credo” which means “I
believe”). The most famous of these is the Apostles Creed which was quoted as early as the second
century. There are almost no Christians anywhere who do not accept the Apostles Creed. This is the
source of what we believe and is the common heritage of Christians everywhere.
The Bible
WE BELIEVE in the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scriptures given by the Holy Spirit without error, as
He moved upon men of old. Furthermore, we believe that the church has no authority to establish
doctrine or practice contrary to those same scriptures, which were subsequently accepted as canon by
the early Christian Church. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
God Almighty
WE BELIEVE in one God, eternally revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (II Corinthians 13:
14; I John 5: 7)
Jesus, The Son Of God
WE BELIEVE that our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, truly God, truly man. He was born of
the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world,
resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet. (I
Corinthians 15:25; I Timothy 3:16; I Peter 1: 18-21)
Creation And The Fall Of Man
WE BELIEVE that man was made in the image of God and is the crown of creation. He is now, by reason
of the fall, spiritually depraved and alienated from his Creator. Apart from God’s grace he has no ability
to attain this high calling. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23-24)
Salvation by Grace through faith
WE BELIEVE that justification is by grace through faith in our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary. Furthermore,
WE BELIEVE in the total depravity of all mankind and the necessity of salvation through regeneration.
(Romans 4:25; 5:1; 12-18)
Water Baptism
WE BELIEVE that every believer should be identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection
through water baptism. (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5)The Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ.
(John 15: 26; 16:13; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 26-29)
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an endowment of power subsequent to conversion,
given by God to anoint the believer for Christian living and evangelism. (John 7:39; Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4;
Galatians 3:14, 5:22-24)
The Gifts Of The Spirit
WE BELIEVE in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12-14, and as
manifested in the early Church. These gifts are to be operated decently and in order. (I Corinthians
12:7-11, 14: 40)
Healing
WE BELIEVE in the healing of the body by Divine Power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects practiced
in the Early Church. (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14-15)
Communion
WE BELIEVE in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord's Supper, for
believers. I Corinthians 11:23-26
The Local Church
WE BELIEVE that the New Testament Church should be structured under the leadership of apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, elders and deacons as God placed then in the local assembly
and the universal church. Ephesians 4: 11-14; I Timothy 3: 1-13; Titus 1; 5
Holiness
WE BELIEVE in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfection of holiness in the
fear of God and the fulfillment of the individual believer’s destiny as an expression of Christian faith.
Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28-31; Ephesians 5:18; II Corinthians 6: 14, 7: 1; 3 John 2
The Second Coming and Eternal Life
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ will return visibly and in power to the earth and will present unto Himself a
victorious and glorious church. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the
everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost, the eternal judgment
of Satan and his angels. Matthew 25:41; John 3: 17-18; Hebrews 9: 27; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4;
22:1-7
The Early Christian Church had several councils to state what the people of God believed. The first such
council took place in Acts 15 in Jerusalem. In the first three centuries of the Church, councils met and
stated their beliefs in what became known as “creeds” (from the Latin word “credo” which means “I
believe”). The most famous of these is the Apostles Creed which was quoted as early as the second
century. There are almost no Christians anywhere who do not accept the Apostles Creed. This is the
source of what we believe and is the common heritage of Christians everywhere.
The Bible
WE BELIEVE in the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scriptures given by the Holy Spirit without error, as
He moved upon men of old. Furthermore, we believe that the church has no authority to establish
doctrine or practice contrary to those same scriptures, which were subsequently accepted as canon by
the early Christian Church. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
God Almighty
WE BELIEVE in one God, eternally revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (II Corinthians 13:
14; I John 5: 7)
Jesus, The Son Of God
WE BELIEVE that our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, truly God, truly man. He was born of
the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world,
resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet. (I
Corinthians 15:25; I Timothy 3:16; I Peter 1: 18-21)
Creation And The Fall Of Man
WE BELIEVE that man was made in the image of God and is the crown of creation. He is now, by reason
of the fall, spiritually depraved and alienated from his Creator. Apart from God’s grace he has no ability
to attain this high calling. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23-24)
Salvation by Grace through faith
WE BELIEVE that justification is by grace through faith in our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary. Furthermore,
WE BELIEVE in the total depravity of all mankind and the necessity of salvation through regeneration.
(Romans 4:25; 5:1; 12-18)
Water Baptism
WE BELIEVE that every believer should be identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection
through water baptism. (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5)The Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ.
(John 15: 26; 16:13; Romans 8:9, 14, 16, 26-29)
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an endowment of power subsequent to conversion,
given by God to anoint the believer for Christian living and evangelism. (John 7:39; Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4;
Galatians 3:14, 5:22-24)
The Gifts Of The Spirit
WE BELIEVE in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12-14, and as
manifested in the early Church. These gifts are to be operated decently and in order. (I Corinthians
12:7-11, 14: 40)
Healing
WE BELIEVE in the healing of the body by Divine Power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects practiced
in the Early Church. (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14-15)
Communion
WE BELIEVE in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord's Supper, for
believers. I Corinthians 11:23-26
The Local Church
WE BELIEVE that the New Testament Church should be structured under the leadership of apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, elders and deacons as God placed then in the local assembly
and the universal church. Ephesians 4: 11-14; I Timothy 3: 1-13; Titus 1; 5
Holiness
WE BELIEVE in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfection of holiness in the
fear of God and the fulfillment of the individual believer’s destiny as an expression of Christian faith.
Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28-31; Ephesians 5:18; II Corinthians 6: 14, 7: 1; 3 John 2
The Second Coming and Eternal Life
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ will return visibly and in power to the earth and will present unto Himself a
victorious and glorious church. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the
everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost, the eternal judgment
of Satan and his angels. Matthew 25:41; John 3: 17-18; Hebrews 9: 27; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4;
22:1-7