Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Gridley 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.
God
We believe 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 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.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3)
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 teaching, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth.
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58, 11:25; 1Cor. 15:3-4; 1Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1John 1:2; Rev.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. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit.
(Acts 1:8; 1Corinthians 12-14; 2Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13, 16; Hebrews 9:14)
(Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)
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.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3)
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 teaching, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and personal, visible return to earth.
(Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58, 11:25; 1Cor. 15:3-4; 1Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1John 1:2; Rev.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. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit.
(Acts 1:8; 1Corinthians 12-14; 2Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13, 16; Hebrews 9:14)
Bible
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.
(Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1Peter 1:23-25; 2Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21)
(Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1Peter 1:23-25; 2Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21)
Worship
We believe worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore: We remain flexible and yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.
(John 4:24)
We believe worship of God should be inspirational.
Therefore: We give a great place to music in our worship.
(Ps 150:4, Eph 5:19, Acts 16:25, Romans 15:9, Heb. 2:12, 1Cor. 14:15, and James 5:13)
We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore: our services are designed with great emphasis upon teaching the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.
(John 17:17, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 4:12, 1Timothy 5:17, 2Timothy 2:15, 3:16)
We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore: We look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we
have truly been worshipping Him.
(John 15:1-16, Gal 5:21-25)
(John 4:24)
We believe worship of God should be inspirational.
Therefore: We give a great place to music in our worship.
(Ps 150:4, Eph 5:19, Acts 16:25, Romans 15:9, Heb. 2:12, 1Cor. 14:15, and James 5:13)
We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore: our services are designed with great emphasis upon teaching the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.
(John 17:17, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 4:12, 1Timothy 5:17, 2Timothy 2:15, 3:16)
We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore: We look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we
have truly been worshipping Him.
(John 15:1-16, Gal 5:21-25)
Life as a Christian
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, under condemnation, that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service subsequent to regeneration.
(Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5)
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, 5:22, 18:9 and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:11-15)
We believe in what is termed “The Apostle's Creed” as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
We believe that marriage is a union ordained by God. It was first instituted by God in the early chapters of Genesis and other Old Testament books, codified in the Levitical law, the Old Testament prophets compared it to a relationship between God and his people, examples of it are in the historical narratives, and, the wisdom literature discusses the unique unity of marriage, and several New Testament Epistles give explicit instructions on this union, . Marriage is a typology of Christ and the Church. As such, the Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. This church defines “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in this Statement of Faith.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18, 24; 24:58-67; 29:18, 20; 1Samuel 25:39-42; Psalm 45:10-15; Proverbs 18:22; 19:14; Leviticus 21:4,7; Numbers 5:29 and other Scriptures; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 7:1-3; 1Corinthians 7:3-4; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4; 1Peter 3:1-7: Revelation 19:7-9)
We believe legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities outside of marriage, referred to in the New Testament as “porneia” including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography,
are incompatible with the biblical witness.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3 and 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
We believe every minister, board member, employee, or volunteer shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.
(Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5)
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, 5:22, 18:9 and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:11-15)
We believe in what is termed “The Apostle's Creed” as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
We believe that marriage is a union ordained by God. It was first instituted by God in the early chapters of Genesis and other Old Testament books, codified in the Levitical law, the Old Testament prophets compared it to a relationship between God and his people, examples of it are in the historical narratives, and, the wisdom literature discusses the unique unity of marriage, and several New Testament Epistles give explicit instructions on this union, . Marriage is a typology of Christ and the Church. As such, the Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. This church defines “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in this Statement of Faith.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18, 24; 24:58-67; 29:18, 20; 1Samuel 25:39-42; Psalm 45:10-15; Proverbs 18:22; 19:14; Leviticus 21:4,7; Numbers 5:29 and other Scriptures; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 7:1-3; 1Corinthians 7:3-4; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4; 1Peter 3:1-7: Revelation 19:7-9)
We believe legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities outside of marriage, referred to in the New Testament as “porneia” including but not limited to, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and pedophilia are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography,
are incompatible with the biblical witness.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3 and 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)
We believe every minister, board member, employee, or volunteer shall affirm their agreement with the Statement of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.
Baptism
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances church: 1) baptism and, 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.
(Matthew 28:19; Matt. 19:4-5; John 2:1-11; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe also in the laying on of hands for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of Pastors and Elders, and for receiving gifts of the Spirit or healing.
(Acts 8:17, 19:1-6, 2Tim. 1:6)
(Matthew 28:19; Matt. 19:4-5; John 2:1-11; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe also in the laying on of hands for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of Pastors and Elders, and for receiving gifts of the Spirit or healing.
(Acts 8:17, 19:1-6, 2Tim. 1:6)
The Church
We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.
(1Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
(1Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16)
Return
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 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18 and 5:9; 1Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16 and 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10 and 7:13-14)
We believe in the personal, 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.
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)
(Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18 and 5:9; 1Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16 and 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10 and 7:13-14)
We believe in the personal, 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.
(Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)