If you would like to know more about the Calvary Chapel Movement and what makes it distinct?

You can purchase a copy of the Calvary Chapel Distinctives through Amazon or you can download the FREE digital Kindle Edition. Realife Calvary and its core principles come solely from scripture and are beautifully explained through the Distinctives book.

THE BIBLE

• WE BELIEVE the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament, to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative, and the inerrant Word of God. Men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture.

• 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:21

THE FATHER

• WE BELIEVE God the Father is infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.

• WE BELIEVE God concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; He hears and answers prayer; and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

• Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2 and 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24, 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3

THE SON

• WE BELIEVE that God the Son became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. That He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life (for He was without sin), died a substitutionary death for all mankind, was raised from the dead the third day, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God until His enemies are made His footstool.

• John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:18-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 10:12-13

THE HOLY SPIRIT

• WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We believe the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and seals believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He empowers them to live as His witnesses.

• John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 12-14, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

• WE BELIEVE in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that they are proven valid for today if they are exercised within Scriptural guidelines. We, as believers, are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love so that the whole body of Christ might be edified. We believe that love is more important than any spiritual gift, no matter how impressive it might seem, and without love, all worthless.

• 1 Corinthians 12-14

SALVATION

• WE BELIEVE all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

• WE BELIEVE in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of the human nature, and that all are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ, and that only by God’s grace through faith alone are we saved.

• John 3:16-19; John 5:24, Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-9, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5

ETERNITY

• WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved unto the resurrection of life (heaven), and those who are not unto the resurrection of damnation (Hell).

• Matthew 25:46, Luke 23:43. John 5:28-29; 14:2, Romans 2:6-8, Revelation 20:10; 21:8

THE RAPTURE

• WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ with His saints to rule the earth, which will be personal and visible. This motivates us to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God’s Word, regular fellowship, participation in adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

THE CHURCH

• WE BELIEVE in the universal church, the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith in the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving him, obeying Him and bringing the gospel to the world.

• Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28