What We Believe
At CBC, we believe that the Creator God has revealed himself to humanity through his Son, Jesus Christ, and that our understanding of God comes through the Bible, his inspired message. This means that we focus exclusively on the Bible to determine what God is like, and what he wants from us. Our sermons, lessons and devotions emphasize the centrality of Scripture as the means of entering into a personal relationship with God and growing to be more like him. Our understanding of the Bible’s core teaching has led us to the following beliefs…
Along with millions of Christians throughout the ages, we believe that God exists as a Triune Being with one nature shared by three co-eternal and co-equal yet distinct Persons; the Father, the Son and the Spirit. We believe that God created the universe and everything in it; he is the Uncreated Creator.
We also believe that humanity is fallen and depraved, meaning that all of us are born with a sinful nature. We are each isolated from God and without his intervention, we would stay that way for eternity. All of the misery and suffering in the world is a direct or indirect result of human rebellion against God, and we have aligned ourselves with the supernatural forces who have arrayed themselves against him.
But God loves humanity, and He intervened in the world to restore us to Himself. Thus, the Father sent the Son into the world to reclaim us as his own by facing the consequences of our sin. The Son took on human nature by being born sinless to the Virgin Mary. He grew up and presented himself to the Jewish people as their King, but he was rejected and executed. However, this was God’s plan all along, to offer his Son as a sacrificial substitute for the sins of humanity. Thus Jesus Christ was physically and truly killed, but he physically and truly rose again to life, initiating a new era in God’s plan for the ages.
We believe that because of the Son’s sacrificial death, anyone who puts their faith in him will be rescued from the power and penalty of sin. God the Father gives them the righteousness of Jesus Christ and instills in them a new nature. The Spirit of God comes to live in them and transform their character to be like his.
As part of this process, God intends for believers to participate in a local church, which is a regular gathering of believers to worship him. Our services are organized around teaching the Scriptures and praising God with songs. We also periodically hold Communion and Baptisms, which represent the two ordinances that Jesus instructed his people to keep. We consider these ceremonies to be symbolic commemorations of Jesus’ death and its implications for us.
We believe every believer has access to God through Jesus Christ, so that there is no need for a priest or other human mediator. Each of us is responsible to God for our own actions, based on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and our consciences.
Finally, we maintain the confident expectation that the Son of God will return literally and physically to rule the Earth one day. We are citizens of his kingdom, which will have no end. Until that time, we live as aliens and strangers in the world, enjoying the good things God provides, but never mistaking it for home.
This is a basic summary of our beliefs, as listed in the Calvary Baptist Constitution Article III. Those who are interested are invited to visit the church to read a more complete description of our beliefs and practices in our Constitution, or to talk to the pastors and deacons about our particular take on an issue.
how to know jesus
Few people would disagree that we live in a messed-up world. From all of the chaos and uncertainty of global politics right down to the disharmony in our own day-to-day lives, most people recognize that things are not as they should be. But who or what is to blame for this situation?
Although it is often an unpopular view, we at CBC believe that human nature itself is the problem. The Bible informs us that it is our own wayward hearts that continue to poison the world around us. We find it easy to convince ourselves of our own goodness, and to overlook the selfishness inside, but from God’s holy perspective, even our well-intentioned acts are infected with evil. (Isaiah 64:6) He made humanity to mirror his divine image, but, beginning with the first two humans, we have rejected his authority and his love. (Genesis 1-3) Because of this, our entire race became unworthy and unable to experience a relationship with God. As a result of our choice, we were enslaved by Sin and Evil. (Romans 5:12) Our sin disqualifies us from his Heaven, and so, every person on earth faces an eternity banished from God’s presence. His just and flawless character demands our isolation, and without him, our world has become dark and troubled.
But remarkably, God chose to heal the world and redeem humanity. So intent is he on bringing you and I back to him, that he sent his Son into the world to pay the awful penalty for our sin. (Matthew 20:28) It staggers the mind to imagine it, but God turned his back on his own Son in order that your relationship to him could be restored! (Mark 15:34) Christ took your sin on himself so that you could have his righteousness, becoming acceptable to God as a result. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
All you have to do to receive this incredible gift is trust in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for your sake! Admit that you are a sinner, helpless to improve your standing with God, and believe that Christ’s sacrifice accomplished all that was necessary to make you acceptable to him. Confess these things aloud to God, and tell him you want to begin a new relationship with him. In doing so, you become his child! (John 1:12)
Remember, salvation is not a formula or a ritual. In order to begin a new relationship with God, you must truly want to do so. Reciting a prayer aloud in order to escape the consequences for sin does no good, if you have no intention or desire to reject sin. This does NOT mean that there are preconditions or requirements in order to be saved, merely that it makes no sense to ask for something that you do not want- a relationship with God. Just to be clear on this, neither your faith nor your sincerity can save you. Rather, it is God who will save you by his grace because of your faith, your honest expression of belief, in Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
If you have just taken this step, Congratulations! You have joined a new family, a new kingdom of people who await the day when Jesus Christ returns to bring God’s rule to Earth. (Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13) While we wait, we’ve been entrusted by God with the responsibility to spread his Kingdom. We do this by sharing the Good News with others, inviting them into the family, and by living as good citizens of the coming Kingdom. (Philippians 1:27) And in order to learn and practice the values of God’s Kingdom, it is imperative that you meet regularly with members of his family. (Hebrews 10:25) Calvary Baptist Church in Kenai represents one such gathering of believers, and there are many more in our area and beyond.
No doubt you have many questions about all of this. While there is no substitute for simply reading the Bible to gain insight, we at CBC realize that many churches, theologians and philosophers claim to interpret the Bible correctly. Not all competing claims can be true. (Galatians 1:8) Please feel free to contact us, and we would be happy to explain why we read the Bible the way we do. (1 Peter 3:15) We would love to help you deepen your relationship with God!