CALVARY CHAPEL GARLAND has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to bring glory to God by growing in our knowledge of Him and by being conformed to Christ's image by the power of the Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
WE BELIEVE that there is one God, eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19).
WE BELIEVE that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1f).
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for His Church. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today (Matthew 1:18; John 3:16; Acts 1:9, 11; 2:1-41; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 3:18; and the Gospels).
WE BELIEVE that all people are by nature lost and separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person places his/her faith in Christ as his/her Savior, that person is immediately born again, sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord (John 3:16-19; 5:24; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
WE BELIEVE in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for service all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ. We believe that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible, and that the use of the gifts is valid for today within the guidelines of Scripture. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without love all exercise of the spiritual gifts is compromised (John 14:26; 16:13; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; 12-14).
WE BELIEVE that church government should be simple rather than a complex bureaucracy. We depend on the Holy Spirit's guidance in establishing the leadership within the church in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).
WE BELIEVE in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ with His Church to rule on the earth during the Millennial Kingdom. We believe Christ's rule will be visible and personal. We also believe in the resurrection of the saved and the unsaved; the saved unto eternal life and the unsaved unto eternal punishment (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-15).
WE BELIEVE in the two New Testament ordinances of Water Baptism and the Lord's supper. These ordinances are observed in obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ as acts of love and devotion and are not necessary for ones salvation (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
WE SEEK to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life, leading that person towards greater maturity in Jesus Christ.
WE REJECT: (1) The belief that true Christians can be demon possessed, (2) The Positive Confession movement, that teaches that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man's will (3) the Prosperity Movement that teaches that it is God's will for every believer to be wealthy, (4) human prophecy that supersedes the Scripture, (5) the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into Biblical teaching, and (6) the overemphasis of spiritual gifts, experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching.
IN OUR SERVICES, we focus on a personal relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God. We teach both expositionally and topically. We do not allow speaking in tongues loudly during services, nor prophecy while a Bible study is in progress because we do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 14:32).
WE BELIEVE the only true basis for Christian fellowship is Jesus Christ's (agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.
WE BELIEVE the worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, we remain open and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.
WE BELIEVE the worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, we give great place to music during our services.
WE BELIEVE the worship of God should be instructional. Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God so that He might instruct us on how He should be worshipped.
WE BELIEVE the worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have been truly worshipping Him.
As an expert in Christian theology and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, I am well-versed in the principles and beliefs of Calvary Chapel Garland. With a deep understanding of scripture and a personal relationship with God, I am equipped to provide information related to the concepts presented in the article.
The foundation of Calvary Chapel Garland lies in the belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. This means that the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is regarded as the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. The conviction in the power and truth of the Bible is a central aspect of the fellowship.
Calvary Chapel Garland also holds to the belief in the Triune God, consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This understanding aligns with the biblical teachings found in passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4 and Matthew 28:19. The Father is acknowledged as the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.
The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ are fundamental beliefs within Calvary Chapel Garland. It is understood that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and provided atonement for our sins through His death on the Cross. His resurrection, ascension, and ongoing intercession for His Church are also vital aspects of the faith.
The fellowship recognizes the universal need for salvation and the importance of faith in Jesus Christ. It is believed that all people are lost and separated from God due to their own sin. However, through God's grace, salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ. This faith leads to being born again, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and becoming a child of God with the promise of eternal life.
The present ministry of the Holy Spirit is highly valued within Calvary Chapel Garland. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers believers. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is considered a tangible presence, guiding, helping, teaching, and equipping believers for service. The spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible are believed to be valid for today, with love being emphasized as the most important aspect of their exercise.
Church government is viewed as simple rather than complex, with a reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance in appointing leaders, following the scriptural guidelines outlined in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.
Calvary Chapel Garland embraces the belief in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is anticipated that Christ's rule during the Millennial Kingdom will be visible and personal. Additionally, the resurrection of the saved and unsaved is acknowledged, with the saved receiving eternal life and the unsaved facing eternal punishment.
The two New Testament ordinances of Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper are observed as acts of love and devotion, following the command of Jesus Christ. While these ordinances are not necessary for salvation, they are seen as important practices within the faith community.
Teaching the Word of God in a way that leads individuals towards greater maturity in Jesus Christ is a key objective of Calvary Chapel Garland. Applying the message of the Bible to personal lives is a central focus.
Calvary Chapel Garland rejects certain beliefs and practices. These include the notion that true Christians can be demon possessed, the Positive Confession movement that asserts the ability to command God's healing or miracles according to human will, the Prosperity Movement that teaches that all believers should be wealthy, the elevation of human prophecy above Scripture, the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into biblical teaching, and an overemphasis on spiritual gifts and experiences at the expense of biblical teaching.
During services, Calvary Chapel Garland places emphasis on worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God. Both expository and topical teaching methods are utilized. Speaking in tongues loudly during services and prophesying during Bible studies are not permitted, as it is believed that the Holy Spirit would not interrupt Himself.
The fellowship recognizes that true Christian fellowship is based on the agape love of Jesus Christ, which surpasses any differences that may exist among believers. Worship is seen as a spiritual, inspirational, instructional, and fruitful expression of devotion to God. The leading of the Holy Spirit is sought in order to guide and direct worship, with music playing a significant role in services.
Ultimately, Calvary Chapel Garland seeks to glorify God by growing in knowledge of Him, being conformed to the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and living out the teachings of the Bible in everyday life.
