What we believe

On this page you can read about the basic beliefs that shapes this church. We believe in the Bible as the inspired and perfect Word of God and in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We hold central the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary and atoning death, resurrection, ascension, and his soon return to earth. We invite you to explore further and learn more about our beliefs by reading the information provided on this page.

The Bible is the inspired and perfect word of God

Calvary Chapel is a movement of Bible-based, free evangelical churches. The Bible is the only foundation of our faith, and through it, God reveals Himself to us. We reject any extra-biblical revelations or traditions, recognizing that the Bible is God’s word and His love letter to mankind. Through the Bible, God reveals Himself to us, allowing us to develop an intimate relationship with Him. It also provides us with answers to important questions in our lives and practical guidance for living a fulfilling life. Jesus told His followers:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Therefore, our devotion to the Bible and its teachings guides our beliefs, practices, and daily lives.

The Heart of Christianity

Being a Christian means that our identity is rooted in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God has created us to experience intimacy with Him, for He is the most remarkable being in the universe. Our existence finds its meaning and purpose in living for and in communion with God. Only through a personal relationship with Him can we discover true peace and fulfillment and satisfy our hearts’ longing for the Creator.

We have sinned and need forgiveness

However, despite our longing for intimacy with God, we are all separated from Him by our sinful nature and guilt, and are thus eternally lost. As God Himself says of us,

“There is none righteous, no not one,” and “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).

Our consciences bear witness that we have not always done what is right, and that we are guilty. We cannot overcome this separation from God or work off our guilt on our own. No amount of good works, church attendance, baptism, meditation, or any other form of religiosity or human effort can earn our salvation. We need something more: a solution that can only come from God Himself.

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20

The Gospel: Jesus died for our sins

Fortunately, God has made a way for us to enter the kingdom of heaven. The gospel is the good news that God’s love for you is boundless, and He offers you the gift of salvation and an eternal relationship with Him in His glory. As your Creator, He cherishes you and longs to be in fellowship with you. God gave us this gift through Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a man and lived a perfect, sinless life that we could never achieve on our own. He took our sin upon Himself and died for us on the cross, paying the price for our guilt. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

After three days, Jesus rose from the dead and triumphed over sin and death. Today, He wants to live in our hearts and transform our lives so that we can experience the fullness of His love and grace.

You have to receive him

As with any gift, we must receive it personally to make it effective in our lives. Growing up in a Christian culture or home does not automatically grant us salvation. Rather, it requires a personal decision to repent and turn away from our old life, and consciously accept God’s gift of salvation. Romans 10:9 states,

“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

When we confess our sins before God and consciously turn away from them, we are giving up our old way of life and embracing a new life in Christ. We must believe in and trust in the work of Jesus on the cross. It requires saying “yes” in faith to the fact that He paid the price for our sins with His own life.

The Miracle of Salvation: Made spiritually alive

Once we accept this gift of salvation, something wonderful happens. We are made spiritually alive for the first time, and all our guilt is forgiven. Our guilt is erased and transferred to Jesus’ account, and in return, His righteous life is credited to our account. Through this exchange, we are able to have a relationship with God and gain access to heaven. We are no longer separated from the living God, but He sees us as His children. We are adopted into His family.

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

How you can receive him

Have you received God’s gift of salvation and become His child? If not, you can do so by sincerely praying to Him and asking for it, as shown in this example prayer:

Dear God, my Heavenly Father, I confess that I have lived my life according to my own desires and that I am separated from You because of my sins. Please forgive me for my transgressions. Thank You for offering me salvation through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross. I accept this gift for myself personally. Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You and ask You to take control of my heart and transform me into the person You want me to be. I invite You into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Starting today, I want to live for You and with You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and enable me to live my life for Your glory.

The Assurance of Salvation

If you accept God’s gift of salvation, you are assured of eternal life in heaven and a God as a loving Father who will always be with you. God promises to care for you, protect you, and never let you go.

As Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As proof of this promise, the Holy Spirit is given to you to dwell within you and to transform you into the image of God. This assurance is based on God’s unchanging love for you, and nothing in this world can separate you from it.

Communion of the Saints

The Bible emphasizes the importance of Christians being committed to a local church body, submitting to God-ordained leadership, and actively participating in church activities that demonstrate a faith that bears fruit and works.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls” – Hebrews 13:17

Celebrating Diversity and Unity in the Church of Christ

As Christians who seek to follow Jesus, we highly value the bond that we share with all who have personally received Him and believe in His name. We deeply appreciate the rich diversity of personalities and backgrounds that comprise the Church of Christ, viewing it as a testament to God’s call for people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We firmly believe that God has uniquely fashioned each of us with specific talents and purposes, and our ultimate aim is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and grow in their faith. The boundless love that God has for all people is clearly evidenced in Revelation 7:9, where “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb”.