Tenets of Faith
The Fundamental Doctrines of Calvary Life Assemblies.
The human phraseology in these statements are not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full gospel ministry. No claim is made that this statement of doctrine contains all truth in the Bible, only that it covers our present needs as to these fundamental matters. Nor do we claim that all of our inspiration is completed, only that it covers what has been revealed to us up to this present time.
1. The Scriptures - 2Timothy 3:15-17 ; 1Peter 1:23-25
The Bible is the Inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the only infallible and authoritative Word of God. The Bible is the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason.
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2. The Trinity - 1John 5:7 ; John 1:1-5 ; Colossians 2:9-10 ; Acts 5:3,5
We believe in the Trinity, the Triune Godhead. The Godhead eternally exists in Three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus Christ - Isaiah 9:6
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ: in His Virgin Birth; in His Sinless Life; in His Miracles; in His Vicarious and Atoning Death; in His Bodily Resurrection; in His Ascension to the Right Hand of the Father; in His Personal and Imminent Future Return to this Earth in Power and Glory.
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3. Man, his Fall and Redemption - Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7 ; Romans 5:12-21
Man was created good and upright, for God said "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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4. Salvation of Man - 1Peter 1:18-19 ; Ephesians. 2:8-9 ; 1John 1:7
Salvation through Grace
"Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin" - Hebrews 9:22
Condition of Salvation - Titus 2:11
The Grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men through the preaching of Repentance toward God and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; man is Saved by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Spirit, and being Justified by Grace through Faith, he becomes an Heir of God, according to the Hope of Eternal Life - Romans 10:13-15 ; Luke 24: 47 ; Titus 3:5
Evidence of Salvation - Romans 8:16
The Inward Evidence to the Believer of their Salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit. The Outward Evidence of Salvation to all men is a life of Righteousness and True Holiness.
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5. Baptism in Water (An Ordinance of Immersion) - Matthew 28:19
The ordinance of baptism by burial with Christ should be observed, as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. In so doing they declare to the world that they have Died with Jesus, that they have been Buried with Him and that they have also been Raised with Him to walk in Newness of Life - Acts 10:47-48 ; Romans 6:4
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6. The Lord's Supper - John 6:48
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements -The Bread and the Fruit of the Vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the Divine Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of His Suffering and Death and a Prophecy of His Second Coming. The Lord's Supper is enjoined on all Believers until He comes again - Luke 22:19-20 ; 2Peter 1:4 ; 1Corinthians 11:26
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7. The Promise of the Father - Luke 24:49
This Promise of the Holy Spirit is to help and fulfill our life and service. All believers are entitled and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the Promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is His wish, for with this comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowal of the Gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry - Acts 1:4-8 ; 1Corinthians 12:1-31
This wonderful experience is distinct from the subsequent manifestation of Spiritual Power in public testimony and service - Acts 2:28, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9
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8. Evidence of the Holy Spirit's fullness - Acts 2:4
The full consummation of the Baptism of Believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the Initial Sign of Speaking in Other Tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of Spiritual Power in public testimony and service - Acts 1:8, 2:4,42-43, 10:44-46, 19:2-6
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9. Holiness - Hebrews 14:14
The Scriptures teach a life of Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the Power of the Holy Spirit we are able to Obey the command - "Be Holy - for I am Holy". Holiness is the Will of God for all Believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in Obedience to God's Word - 1Peter 1:15-16 ; 1Thessalonians 5:23-24 ; 1John 2:6
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10. The Church - Ephesians 1:22
The Church of Jesus Christ consists all persons who have been Regenerated by the Holy Spirit and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ - Matthew 16:18 ; Acts 2:47
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointment for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn from the Dead, who's names are written in Heaven in the Lamb's Book of Life - Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22 ; Hebrews 12:23
The manifestation of the Church is through local assemblies - Matthew 18:20
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11. Ministry of the Church - Ephesians 4:15-29
A divinely called and scripturally ordained Five-fold Ministry, namely, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers has been provided by our Lord for a Two-fold purpose:
a) The Evangelization of the World and b) The Edifying of the Body of Christ - Ephesians 4:11-13 ; 1Corinthians 12:28 ; Mark 16:15-29
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12. Divine Healing - Psalm 103:3 ; Exodus 15:26
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. "If there be any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church, and they will pray over him and anoint him with oil, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord will raise him up" - James 5:14-16 ; Isaiah 53:4-5 ; Matthew 8:16-17 ; Mark 16:18 ; John 5:14
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13. The Blessed Hope - Acts 1:9-11
The Resurrection of all in Christ.
The Rapture of the Church at Christ's coming in the air.
The Resurrection of those who have died or fallen asleep in Christ and their Translation, together with those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, is imminent and is the Blessed Hope of the Church - 1Thessalonians 4:16-18 ; Romans 8:23 ; Titus 2:13 ; 1Corinthians 15:51-52
Resurrection
Two Resurrections. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected - one to everlasting life - the other to everlasting damnation - 1Corinthians 15:12-13 ; Revelation 20:5-6
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14. The Millennial Reign - Revelation 20:1-7
The Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, and the reign of Christ on Earth is the Scriptural promise and the world's hope - 2Thessalonians 1:7 ; Revelation 19:11-16 ; Romans 11:25-27
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15. Hell and the Lake of Fire - Revelation 19:20
Made for the devil and his angels, however men will end there as well. The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the Second Death - Revelation 20:10-15
Hell was not originally made for mankind, but it will be his certain end without salvation in Christ - Psalm 9:17 ; Matthew 23:33
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16. The New Heavens and the New Earth - Revelation 21:1
We, according to His promise, look for a New Heaven and a New Earth in which dwells righteousness - 2Peter 3:13
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17. Satan - Genesis 3:14-15
The devil is a real person of appalling power for evil, seeking to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and determined to keep the whole human race in darkness and sin. His end will be the Lake of Fire - Matthew 4:1-11 ; 1Peter 5:8 ; John 8:44
Demons and Demonic Possession
It is possible for demons to control and possess unregenerate mankind; but for born-again, blood-washed Christians walking in righteousness, this is not possible. Christ has given each believer in His Church power over demons and all evil spirits - John 8:32-36 ; Luke 10:19-20
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18. We Preach...
We Preach Jesus Christ as Lord,
the same yesterday, today and forever. his Virgin Birth,
his Baptism, his Miracles and Works, his Teachings, his Crucifixion, his Resurrection,
his Ascension, his Second Coming, his Millennial Reign, the Coming Judgment,
when the Earth will be destroyed by fire and the New Heaven and the New Earth, when He shall have put all enemies under His feet and shall reign eternally and we, the Church, will abide with Him forever and ever, King of kings and Lord of lords.
This follows the pattern of Hebrews 6:1-6, the first principles of Repentance from dead works, Faith towards the living God, doctrine of Baptisms and Laying on of hands, Resurrection of the dead and Eternal Judgment.
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