Mission Statement and Statement of Faith, Character, Belief and Ordinances

Mission Statement: Learning in the scriptures, loving with sincerity, and serving in the Spirit.

What we believe about the word of God:

We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe the Bible is the only way one can come to know God in a saving way. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates. The Bible is the basis for which this church is governed. (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21)

We believe the Bible can and should be understood literally and historically, unless the immediate context suggests otherwise. This does not negate the use of “figures of speech” but as students and interpreters of the word, we have an obligation to determine what the scriptures originally and objectively meant.

Jesus understood the Bible literally and historically and He taught authoritatively with this in mind saying “the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35) and countless times Jesus would declare “It is written” and when dealing with His opponents He asked them “have you not read” (Matthew 22:31). Jesus affirmed multiple Old Testament accounts from creation (Mark 10) Noah’s ark (Matthew 24), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17), the murder of Abel (Luke 11), the call of Moses (Mark 12), to the manna given in the wilderness (John 6). He also affirmed the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch (Mark 7, 10, 12, John 5) and He believed Daniel wrote the book of Daniel (Daniel 9).

The English Standard version (ESV) will be the literal Bible translation to be used to interpret any issue related to doctrine and our Statement of Faith.

What we believe about God:

We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally self existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this tri-une God created all, upholds all, and governs all things. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 28:19- 20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).

We believe: He is Holy (1 Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 57:15 1 Peter 1:16, Revelation 4:8)

He is righteous and just (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 9:7-8, Psalm 11:7, Isaiah 30:18)

He is transcendent, yet immanent and immutable, meaning though God is high above His creation He is very much involved in every aspect of it, and He is unchanging. (Isaiah 40:22, Isaiah 55:8-9, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Acts 17, 27-28, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)

He is loving and merciful (Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Luke 6:36, John 3:16, Romans 835-39, Ephesians 4:2-6, 1 John 4:8, 1 Peter 1:3, Titus 3:5)

He is full of grace (Psalm 145:17, John 1:14, Romans 3:24, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 5:10, Titus 2:11)

He is Omnipotent, or all powerful (Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 11:36, Hebrews 1:3, Matthew 19:26, Mark 14:36)

He is Omnipresent or ubiquitous, present everywhere (Jeremiah 23:24, Psalm 139:7-10, Proverbs 15:3, 1 Kings 8:27, Acts 17:24)

He is Omniscient, or all knowing (Psalm 147:5, Ezekiel 11:5, Acts 15:18, Romans 11:33, 1 John 3:20, Hebrews 4:13, Romans 2:16)

We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16, John 4:24, John 14:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3).

We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God the Son. In His incarnation He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death under Pontius Pilate, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, His visible return to earth, and His Kingdom and reign which shall never end. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, John 8:58, John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, fully divine and He who divinely inspired men of God to write the Holy Scriptures (2 Peter 1:20-21). We believe He was sent forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26, Romans 15:13,Romans 15:16; Hebrews 9:14).

We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ upon conversion and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 16:13, John 14:16-17, John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9, Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:13). We believe it is He who enables us and empowers us to serve God in this hostile and fallen world with joy and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Romans 15:13). And we believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians 12-14.  

What we believe about mankind:

We believe that all people, male and female, are fearfully and wonderfully made individuals created by God, in His image (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 5:1-2, Genesis 9:6, Psalms 139:14, James 3:9). But since the fall of Genesis 3, human beings are also sinners by nature and, therefore, are under condemnation; God saves and regenerates us based upon faith by the Holy Spirit and by His grace. But only those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5).

What we believe about the church:

We believe in the universal church, 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 1:22, Ephesians 4:15-16)

Inwardly, we the believe the church of Jesus Christ should be devoted to the word of God, to communion and fellowship, and to prayer (Acts 2:42). We believe we are to be devoted to loving and honoring one another (Romans 12:10).

Outwardly, we believe the church of Jesus Christ should be committed to proclaiming the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). This of course does not negate our responsibility to serve and care for those in need, as we are able (James 1:27).

What we believe about the Ordinances:

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church:

(a) full immersion water baptism of believers (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:28, Acts 8:34-38)

Baptism is a way of publicly identifying with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. It also serves as a symbol of the believer passing from death to life in Christ. (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)

(b) the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Communion, or the Lord’s supper, symbolizes the sinless Savior offering His body to be broken and His blood to be shed so that we could be redeemed from our sin.

They have been commanded by our Lord Jesus so both ordinances are very important, but it is equally important to understand that both ordinances are purely symbolic and have no bearing on one’s salvation. And neither should be treated trivially as Paul sternly warned the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:27, here he also makes it clear that the ordinances are only for born again believers.

We also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage. (Matthew 19:4-5 and John 2:1-11)

(More on marriage further down)

What we believe about eternity and eschatology (end things):

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, 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, Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:22, Matthew 18:9, Matthew 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, Revelation 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 Tribulation that will come upon the earth. (Isaiah 26:19-21; Luke 21:36; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10)

We believe at the conclusion of the Tribulation Jesus will return to judge the world and establish His literal Kingdom on Earth for a 1000 years to fulfill all the promises He made to His chosen people Israel. (Revelation 20)

What we believe about Salvation:

Concerning Soteriology Evergreen Calvary Chapel is neither Calvinist nor Arminian. We believe that God is sovereign (Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 46:9-10, Daniel 4:35, 1 Timothy 6:15), and God has chosen His people in love (John 6:44, John 15:16, Ephesians 1:4-5, Acts 13:48), according to His foreknowledge (1 Peter 1:1-2, Romans 9:29-30).

Every person is fallen and in need of Jesus (John 14:6, John 15:5, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Romans 3:23) He alone saves apart from human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9), showing no partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11). We believe that every human being has a responsibility to respond to the Lord, and will be accountable to Him for their failure to do so (Deuteronomy 30:19, Joshua 24:15, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 9:23-24, John 7:17, Romans 10:9-15, Acts 2:37-38, 2 Peter 1:10, Revelation 3:20).

We believe Jesus died for the sins of the world (John 3:16, Acts 2:21, 1 John 2:2) for God is a Savior and desires all to be saved (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:10, 2 Peter 3:9). Though God declared “whosoever may come” many will resist and reject Him (Matthew 23:37, Acts 7:51), and unfortunately many will perish and not respond positively to His gracious call to salvation (Matthew 7:13-14).

We also believe in the security of those who truly put their trust in Him for their eternity (John 6:37-40, John 10:28-30, Romans 8:37-39, Ephesians 4:30, Jude 1:24-25, 1 Peter 1:4-5) Concerning those who fall away/ walk away from Him John addressed this clearly in 1 John 2.

More concerning what we believe about: Marriage, Gender and Sexuality

We believe in the biblical account of creation and God as the Creator. We believe that God creates each man and woman and that He created them with the immutable and unchangeable nature of male and female to reflect the image and nature of God.

Rejection of one’s biological and God given sex is sin and is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage’ has only one meaning: the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25) and spoken of by Jesus (Matthew 19:4-5). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).

We believe that any form of sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10): and that legitimate biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, cross-dressing, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church.

Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing and/or distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one’s physical gender or gender related appearance are incompatible with a true biblical witness. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Corinthians 7:1-3, 1 Corinthians 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the beliefs and doctrines of Evergreen Calvary Chapel. However, our compassion for a person struggling with sin should not be mistaken for approval of such sin.