Ajo Calvary Baptist Church
Ajo Calvary Baptist Church Statement Of Faith

This statement does not exhaust the extent of our faith but is a brief synopsis of the weightier matters of Biblical doctrine. The Bible itself is the sole authority of faith and practice of all that we believe.

1. The Holy Scriptures.   We believe that the Holy Scriptures of Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six (66) books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Authorized King James version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by and in all preaching and teaching. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20)

2. The Godhead.   We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26)

3. The Person and Work Of Jesus Christ.       We believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Savior of mankind. We believe Jesus Christ to be eternally God and to possess all the attributes of Deity. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born, that He was God incarnate, and that the purposes of the incarnation were to reveal God, to redeem men, and to rule over God’s kingdom. We believe Jesus Christ never relinquished any attributes of His Deity, but merely veiled them. We believe He lived a perfect, sinless life, at the end of which He was offered for all mankind as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin. This sacrifice was a just payment to God for the forgiveness of sin. It was activated by His death through the shedding of His blood on the cross and was accepted by God upon His resurrection. We believe He ascended into Heaven after His resurrection to be seated at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the time of receiving His church at the rapture, and returning seven years later to earth to rule and reign as King for 1,000 years (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 43:11; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1, 1:3, 14, 18, 29; Romans 3:19-25; Romans 5:6-15; Philippians 2:5-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 2:5; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:10-15; Hebrews 7:26, 9:24-28; I Peter 1:19, 2:2; I John 1:3; Revelation 20:1-6).

4. The Holy Spirit.   We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person Who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher Who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27)

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (I Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)

5. The Total Depravity Of Man.   We believe that man is totally depraved, (corrupted, void of any spark of holiness) and as such is completely helpless to reach heaven by any means other than the grace of God, manifested in His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation is freely offered to “ every creature “. We reject any teaching of man’s righteousness or works, which gain him admittance into heaven. Salvation was purchased by Christ’s Blood, which was shed upon the cross of Calvary. (Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Luke 19:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:22; Mark 16:15)

6. Salvation.   We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again by putting their trust in Christ alone. We believe the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus and is instantaneous and not a process. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19).

7. Eternal Security Of Believer.   We believe in the eternal security of the believer, that once a person is saved, they are saved forever. A salvation that cannot be worked for, cannot be worked at, to keep. Salvation is a “new birth experience”, and would be as impossible to become “unsaved” as to be physically “unborn”. If a person could lose their salvation, the only way they could be “saved again”, would be for Christ to shed His blood “afresh”, upon a cross. (John 10:28-30; John 3:1-7; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 6:4-6)

8. Separation.    We believe that all the saved should live in a manner that does not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)

9. The Second Advent of Christ.   We believe in the pre-millennial, pre-tribulation, second coming of Jesus Christ, commonly called “the rapture.” Although we do not know the exact time of His coming, we do know that Jesus Christ will come literally, personally, and suddenly, for the express purpose of receiving His children out of this world. At God’s appointed time, Christ will return. Those who have died “in Christ”, will rise to meet Him, and all those living (in Christ) shall join them, to meet Christ, in the air. “… and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

We believe the book of Revelation to be literal in its interpretation, and as such, believe in a literal seven year tribulation period, during which time God will judge the earth, as never before experienced. (Revelation 6-19; Luke 21:20-28)

10. The Church.        We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again baptized persons. (I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. We believe that Jesus established His church while on earth, empowered it on Pentecost, and that it is alive and well today. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4)

We believe in two ordinances which Christ gave, to be observed by the Local New Testament Church. They are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the first step of obedience for that one who has trusted Christ as Savior. It is also the means (along with salvation ) by which one enters into membership and fellowship with that local church. As the New Testament Church is Baptist in both doctrine and practice, we believe that scriptural baptism is Baptist baptism. The Lord’s Supper was given by Christ to local churches, to be partaken by those who have been saved, scripturally baptized, and are in fellowship with both the Lord, and the local church. The Lord’s Supper, is a time of remembrance, expectation, and self-examination, not to be taken lightly. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

11. Creation.    We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11)

12. Satan.    We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, the cause of the fall of man, the open and declared enemy of God and man, and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10)

13. The Eternal State.     We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men—the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men—the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)

14. Civil Government.     We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: (1) the home, (2) the church, and (3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and are governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and has balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)

15. Human Sexuality.     We believe that God has commanded that no intimate physical activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. Any church employee involved in any sexual conduct outside of the marriage relationship shall be terminated from employment. Any member involved in any sexual conduct outside of the marriage relationship shall be subject to church discipline.(Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (gender at birth) (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor 7:10; Eph 5:22-23).

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and church. Men are assigned the duties of leadership both in the home and the church and as such men only are eligible for the positions of pastor or deacon. (Gen. 3:25; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15, 3:4-5, 12)

We believe children are a heritage from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the church from any form of abuse or molestation. The church has zero tolerance for any person, whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. The protection of children is the utmost responsibility of all members. (Ps 127:3-5; Matt. 18:6; Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14)

16. Divorce and Remarriage.   We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in a church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon of a church. (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

17. Abortion.    We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, inexcusable taking of unborn human life. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

18. Giving.     We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 5:17-18; I John 3:17)

19. Lawsuits Between Believers.     We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32)

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.