What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Redeeming Grace based on the foundational truths taught in the bible.  All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

At our church, you will hear the word “gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The gospel is not merely a message that needs to be shared with non-Christians, but also with Christians.  It is not something that mature Christians move on from, but rather something that they move deeper into.  The gospel is the lens in which we should view theology, ministry, and all aspects of life.

The Apostle Paul defined the word “gospel” concisely in 1st Corinthians 15:3-5 when he wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Simply put, the gospel is all about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the implications it has for us.

The word “gospel” literally means “good news.”  It is the good news of God taking on flesh through the person Jesus Christ and rescuing mankind by His perfect life that we could never live, His substitutionary death that we deserved, and the resurrection that now gives us true life through His Spirit. While the gospel can be stated in a sentence, it is also the grand narrative that is told throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The gospel is the glorious story of how God is reconciling the whole world back to Himself through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. It is personal, yet cosmic. It is simple, yet infinite.

WE BELIEVE  That the only true basis of Christian fellowship is God's love, and is the fruit of true worship and greater than our differences.  Therefore we look for His love in our lives as the supreme evidence that we have truly been worshiping Him.

WE BELIEVE Worship of God should be Spiritual!  Therefore we remain flexible so the Holy Spirit may direct our worship.

WE BELIEVE Worship of God should be Inspirational!  Therefore we give a great place to music in our worship.

WE BELIEVE Worship of God should be Intelligent! Therefore our services place great emphasis upon teaching the Bible, which is the Word of God, that He might instruct us how to live and worship.

We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who know, love, and glorify one another. Perfectly equal in their divinity, however subordinate in responsibility; the Son submits to the will of the Father & the Holy Spirit is submitted to the will of the Father & the Son. This one true and living God is infinitely perfect both in His love and in His holiness. He is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy to receive all glory and adoration. Immortal and eternal, He perfectly and completely knows the end from the beginning, sustains and sovereignly rules over all things, and providentially brings about His eternal good purposes to redeem a people for Himself and restore His fallen creation, to the praise of His glorious grace.
(Genesis 1:2, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

An infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He bears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2, 102:27; John 3:16, 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3)

God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, His personal, visible return to earth, and His name as the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58, 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8)

Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and also to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ.
(John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 15:13,16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 9:14)

Who indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper teacher and guide.
(John 6:13; 14:16-17, 16:8-11; Romans 8:26)

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is separate and distinct from regeneration - occurring either subsequent 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 is the fruit of the Spirit love.
(Acts 19:2-5; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12-14)

His present day ministry and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians 12-14

All Scripture is self-attesting and, being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God's redemptive acts, culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
(Matthew 5:17-20; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

All people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God's standard and breaking His commandments - and therefore are under God's righteous judgment. Yet, God saves and gives new life to all who come 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 unto Jesus for new life and the forgiveness of sins.
(Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20:21; Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 22:17)

We believe that we are not simply saved as individuals, but that we are saved “into” something called the Church. This is the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the body of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)

We believe Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism (by full immersion) and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. They are not the means of salvation, they are only for the saved, and when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
(Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The local church is governed by the scriptures and operates under the Lordship of Christ with Pastor-Elders leading the people toward faithfulness in Christ. The office of the Pastor-Elder is limited to men as qualified by the scriptures.
(1 Corinthians 11:1-12; 1 Timothy 2:1-15)

We believe that God created man and that He created them biologically male and biologically female.  As such, He created them different so as to complement and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between biologically male and biologically female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible consistent with the Old and New Testament.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 18-20, 7:1-3, 8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal and 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 endless separation of the wicked
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)

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 7 Year Tribulation that will come upon the earth.
(Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16, 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10, 7:13-14)

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those people 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; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15)