Church Covenant
Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks and beverages.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, to aid one another in sickness and distress, and to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
Doctrinal Statement
I. The Holy Scriptures.
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. This plenary, verbally inspired Word of God is inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme authority and final rule in life and faith. (Second Timothy 3:16, 17; Second Peter 1:20,21; Isaiah 8:20; John 16:12,13)
II. The Godhead.
A. We believe there is only one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance and equal in power and glory. (Genesis 1:1; John 10:30; Deuteronomy 6:4; Second Corinthians 13:14)
B. We reject the modernistic and liberal teaching that God is the Father of all and that all are brothers. We believe that He is the spiritual Father only of those who are born again and are brought into His household. Only those who have been redeemed through His blood -- having forgiveness of sins -- are our brothers. (John 1:12, 3:3; 8:44; Ephesians 4:18; John 1:12)
III. The Person and Work of Christ.
A. 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 man. (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35)
B. 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 representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:24, 9:24; Romans 8:34; First John 2:1,2)
IV. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
A. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling them, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; First Corinthians 12:13)
B. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guides believers into all truth. All those who are saved are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit. (John 16:13; First John 2:20; Ephesians 5:18)
V. The Total Depravity of Man.
We believe that man was created in the image of and after the likeness of God, that he sinned and thereby not only incurred physical death but spiritual death -- separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature which is enmity against God, and when they reach the age of moral responsibility, they become sinners in thought, word, and deed. (Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)
VI. Salvation.
A. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. All who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and righteousness. (Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; John 1:12,13; First Peter 1:18,19)
B. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into Heaven, and His present life there for us as a High Priest, advocate, and the only mediator between God and man. (Acts 2:24, 4:33; First Corinthians 15:15)
C. We believe in the priesthood of all believers and that the believer has the right and responsibility to study and interpret the Scriptures as guided by the Holy Spirit. (Revelation 1:6; Hebrews 4:14-16; First Timothy 2:5; Second Timothy 2:15)
VII. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers.
A. We believe that all the redeemed are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38,39; First Corinthians 1:4-8; First Peter 1:5; First John 2:19)
B. We believe the saved should rejoice in a personal confidence of a present salvation which rests in the manifestation of the indwelling Christ and veracity of the Word of God. (First John 5:11-13)
VIII. The Second Advent of Christ.
We believe in the blessed hope: The personal, iminent, pretribulational, pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones and His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His Millenial Kingdom. (First Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Zechariah 14:11-14; Revelation 3:10; 20:1-6)
IX. The Nature of the Believer.
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provisions made for the victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In this life, all claims to the eradication of the old nature are unscriptural. (Romans 6:13; 8:12,13; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colosians 3:10; First Peter 1:14-16; First John 3:6-9)
X. Biblical Separation.
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as to not bring reproach upon our Savior and Lord. Separation from all religious apostacy, worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God. (Romans 12:1,2; 14:13; First John 2:15-17; Second John 9-11; Second Corinthians 6:14-18)
XI. Missions.
We believe it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word the truths of the Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Second Corinthians 5:19,20)
XII. The Personality of Satan.
We believe that Satan is a person -- the author of sin and the cause of the fall. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10)
XIII. Sanctification.
We believe sanctification is in three aspects: (1) God sets us apart at the time of our personal acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior (First Corinthians 6:11; John 1:2); (2) We experience sanctification by the degree that we yield to God (Romans 12:1,2; Psalm 119:11; Second Corinthians 3:18); (3) We will be sanctified in the future when at that time we will be complete in Christ (First Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23; Philippians 3:12-14).
XIV. The Eternal State.
A. We believe in the bodily resurrection of man -- the saved to judgment and eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and eternal punishment. The resurrection unto life takes place at the Rapture, and the resurrection unto damnation occurs at the close of the millenial reign of Christ. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28,29; 11:25,26; First Thessalonians 4:16,17; Revelation 19:4-6, 11-15)
B. We believe that the souls of the redeemed at death are absent from the body and present with the Lord where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection when the spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Revelation 20:4-6; Second Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; First Thessalonians 4:16,17)
C. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery in Hell until their second resurrection when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast in the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment. (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; Second Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15)
XV. The Church.
A. The Body of Christ. We believe that the church, which is the body of and espoused Bride of Christ, is the spiritual organism made up of all born again persons of this present age. (Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:26,27; First Corinthians 12:12-14; Second Corinthians 11:2)
B. The Local Church.
1. We believe in the separation of church and state with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. (Matthew 22:17-21)
2. We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church and that no religious heirarchy has any scriptural grounds to dictate or run the affairs of any local church. (Acts 13:1-3)
XVI. The Ordinances.
A. Baptism. The immersion of the believer in water to show his faith in and identity with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and the Spirit-filled life. It is the symbol and demonstration of the conversion experience. (Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19,20; Acts 8:36-39; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; John 5:24)
B. The Lord's Supper. A memorial of the atoning death, burial, resurrection, and personal return of Christ. Only born again believers are to participate in this. We believe the elements (bread and juice of grape) are symbols of Christ's body and blood and have no merits in themselves. (First Corinthians 11:23-32; Luke 22:14-20)
How Do I Join Calvary Baptist Church?
The pastor visits with those who express an interest in joining Calvary Baptist Church. Those who are saved, baptized, and in full agreement with the Church Covenant are accepted into membership at the following business meeting.
Calvary Baptist Church is a fundamental, independent Baptist church located between Pound and Clintwood, Virginia in Dickenson County.