Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Southport 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.
WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)
WE BELIEVE that the SCRIPTURES of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Peter1:21)
WE BELIEVE in GOD THE FATHER, an infinite, 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 who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; John 3:16; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 2; Proverbs 30:4)
WE BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST, 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 and physical/ visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; 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, 2:2; Revelation 1:8)
WE BELIEVE in the HOLY SPIRIT, Who came 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; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide and enables the Christian to lead a godly life. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit, valid for today and we allow them to be exercised "decently and in order". (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26; Romans 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14; John 6:13; John 14:16-17; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
WE BELIEVE that all PEOPLE are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation and must be saved by Grace through faith in Jesus. Redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ; God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; Jesus Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service. (Romans 3:23; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 2:2; John 3:16; Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17)
WE BELIEVE in the universal CHURCH, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ORDINANCES to the Church: l) baptism, and 2) the Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers. These ordinances are observed in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, as acts of love and devotion, and are not to be considered necessary for our salvation. (Acts 2:38; Luke 22:19)
WE BELIEVE in the physical/ visible RETURN OF CHRIST to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
WE BELIEVE in what is termed "THE APOSTLES' CREED" as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
WE BELIEVE that MARRIAGE is exclusively the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female sanctioned by the state and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe 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; I Corinthians 5:11; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Corinthians 6:18-20; I Corinthians 7:1-3; I Corinthians 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
WE BELIEVE that all HUMAN LIFE is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from fertilization through natural death. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 5:1; Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9)
WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)
WE BELIEVE that the SCRIPTURES of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and is the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Peter1:21)
WE BELIEVE in GOD THE FATHER, an infinite, 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 who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; John 3:16; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 2; Proverbs 30:4)
WE BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST, 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 and physical/ visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; 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, 2:2; Revelation 1:8)
WE BELIEVE in the HOLY SPIRIT, Who came 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; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide and enables the Christian to lead a godly life. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit, valid for today and we allow them to be exercised "decently and in order". (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26; Romans 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14; John 6:13; John 14:16-17; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
WE BELIEVE that all PEOPLE are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation and must be saved by Grace through faith in Jesus. Redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ; God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; Jesus Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service. (Romans 3:23; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 2:2; John 3:16; Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17)
WE BELIEVE in the universal CHURCH, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ORDINANCES to the Church: l) baptism, and 2) the Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers. These ordinances are observed in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, as acts of love and devotion, and are not to be considered necessary for our salvation. (Acts 2:38; Luke 22:19)
WE BELIEVE in the physical/ visible RETURN OF CHRIST to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
WE BELIEVE in what is termed "THE APOSTLES' CREED" as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
WE BELIEVE that MARRIAGE is exclusively the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female sanctioned by the state and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe 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; I Corinthians 5:11; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Corinthians 6:18-20; I Corinthians 7:1-3; I Corinthians 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
WE BELIEVE that all HUMAN LIFE is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from fertilization through natural death. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 5:1; Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9)