Statement of Faith
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel of Port Orchard 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.
The Bible
There is one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons (Isaiah 48:16), the Father, the Son (Psalm 2, 110), and the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:16, Acts 5:3-4), equal in power and glory. This triune God created all (Genesis 1:1), upholds all (Col 1:17), and governs all (Psalms 66:7). God the Father is an infinite (John 1:1-3), personal Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in holiness (1 Peter 1:13-19), wisdom, power, and love (1 John 4:14-16). He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of mankind (Psalm 118, 136). Still, He will not always strive with rebellious man because He will by no means clear the guilty who refuse to humble themselves and receive forgiveness of sin through His Son, Jesus the Christ (Numbers 14:18, Revelation 20:11-15). He hears and answers prayer for those who know Him (1 John 4:14-15), but does not hear the prayers of the wicked until they call on the name of the Lord in repentance (Proverbs 28:9, Jeremiah 11:11-14, Luke 18:10-14). He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 6:35-40). The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7-11), and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:15-18, Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (Romans 5:5, John 14:25-26). The present ministry of the Holy Spirit includes all the biblical gifts of the Spirit as God sovereignly uses those yielded to Him (1 Cor 12-14).
God
There is one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three persons (Isaiah 48:16), the Father, the Son (Psalm 2, 110), and the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:16, Acts 5:3-4), equal in power and glory. This triune God created all (Genesis 1:1), upholds all (Col 1:17), and governs all (Psalms 66:7). God the Father is an infinite (John 1:1-3), personal Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in holiness (1 Peter 1:13-19), wisdom, power, and love (1 John 4:14-16). He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of mankind (Psalm 118, 136). Still, He will not always strive with rebellious man because He will by no means clear the guilty who refuse to humble themselves and receive forgiveness of sin through His Son, Jesus the Christ (Numbers 14:18, Revelation 20:11-15). He hears and answers prayer for those who know Him (1 John 4:14-15), but does not hear the prayers of the wicked until they call on the name of the Lord in repentance (Proverbs 28:9, Jeremiah 11:11-14, Luke 18:10-14). He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 6:35-40). The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7-11), and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:15-18, Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (Romans 5:5, John 14:25-26). The present ministry of the Holy Spirit includes all the biblical gifts of the Spirit as God sovereignly uses those yielded to Him (1 Cor 12-14).
Jesus
Jesus is “The Word” that became flesh and dwelt among us, is the Creator of all things, appointed heir of all things, is the brightness and express image of the Father, upholds all things by the word of His power, has by Himself purged sins, provided redemption, and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father (John 1:1-4, John 14:9-11, Colossians 1:15-19, Hebrews 1:1-4). Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), fully God and fully man (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6). Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), performed miracles, taught truth (John 8:31-32), died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross (Isaiah 53, 2 Cor 5:21), rose again bodily (Luke 24:37-39), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-10), is perpetually interceding for His people (Romans 8:34), and will physically and visibly return to the earth (Matthew 24:30).
Mankind
All humans inherit rebellion from the first human rebel, Adam (Romans 5). As a child, the rebel attitude is displayed in foolishness against parental authority (Proverbs 22:15). When old enough to know God’s law or when aware of the conviction of the Holy Spirit about sin (Romans 1, John 16:8), man will, by their very nature, turn their rebellion against God and at that moment they become sinners and experience spiritual death (Romans 7:7-12). All mature humans are incapable of not sinning against God (Romans 3:23). All mature sinful adults who have not received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus as their savior are enemies of God and will be eternally separated from God in a place called the Lake of Fire (Phil 3:18-19, Col 1:21, Revelation 20:11-15). The sinner who repents of their rebellion (sin) against God and calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation is born again by the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:8-13). Jesus Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit to empower for service by His sovereign will and timing. The believer will be bodily resurrected to eternal blessing. Babies or young children (who are too young to understand there is a God who created all things that they answer to – i.e., not having reached the age of accountability) cannot sin against God and are therefore spiritually alive and will go to heaven if they die (Numbers 14:27-29, 2 Samuel 12:22-23, Jonah 4:11, Matthew 18:10 and 19:13-14, Hebrews 1:13-14, Romans 7:9). We reject the Augustine/Calvinist doctrine of original sin and associated Total Depravity which comes from their twisting of Psalm 51:5, a doctrine that would place most dead babies and young children in hell.
Mankind, Angels, Satan, and Demons Salvation and Perseverance
Salvation for an individual is by grace through faith, trusting/believing in and confessing with their mouth the Biblical Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (John 7:38, Romans 10:8-13, Ephesians 1:12-14).
The above occurs in the heart of the sinner in various ways, including repentance from a self-centered, rebellious life against God (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:22, 17:30, 26:19-20). The full gospel of salvation is revealed in the preaching of Jesus and the Apostles. For example, an individual may recognize the evil and hopelessness of his own heart and life (Luke 5:8 and 18:13-14). He may recognize that he deserves eternal hell (Luke 16:19-31) and is not worthy of God’s favor (Luke 7:6). He may recognize his need for a savior (Acts 16:30-31). He must believe that Jesus’ deity, sinless life, death on the cross, shed blood, and resurrection from the dead are sufficient propitiation for his sins (1 Cor 15:1-4, Romans 3:23-27, John 7:37-39).
The believer must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Jesus. He must abide in the Vine, walk in the Spirit, and hold his conviction firm until the end (Matthew 16:24, Hebrews 3:5-6, 10:23, 1 John 2:19).
The above occurs in the heart of the sinner in various ways, including repentance from a self-centered, rebellious life against God (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:22, 17:30, 26:19-20). The full gospel of salvation is revealed in the preaching of Jesus and the Apostles. For example, an individual may recognize the evil and hopelessness of his own heart and life (Luke 5:8 and 18:13-14). He may recognize that he deserves eternal hell (Luke 16:19-31) and is not worthy of God’s favor (Luke 7:6). He may recognize his need for a savior (Acts 16:30-31). He must believe that Jesus’ deity, sinless life, death on the cross, shed blood, and resurrection from the dead are sufficient propitiation for his sins (1 Cor 15:1-4, Romans 3:23-27, John 7:37-39).
The believer must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Jesus. He must abide in the Vine, walk in the Spirit, and hold his conviction firm until the end (Matthew 16:24, Hebrews 3:5-6, 10:23, 1 John 2:19).
The Church
The Church of Jesus Christ is the Body of Christ on earth and comprises all people throughout the world who have believed in the biblical Jesus, as presented in the true Gospel that Paul preached. The Church exists to glorify God, to edify believers, and to make disciples of people from all nations. God has ordained various ministries for the overseeing and working of the Church. God has provided each member of the Body of Christ with gifts for the edification of the Church (Eph 4, Romans 12, 1 Cor 12). The Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Biblical World View and Eschatology (Last Days interpretation of Scripture)
World history is a matter of two elements: Mankind rebelling against God and God reaching out in mercy and reconciliation to all who would humble themselves and believe in His salvation plan (Matthew 7:13-14). Every event in the history of man relates to one of these two elements (Matthew 12:30). There is nothing neutral. World history is the unfolding of God’s sovereign purposes and plans in spite of the evil intentions of men and fallen angels.
We believe in a literal six-day creation which occurred thousands of years ago and in the global flood of Noah.
We believe in the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational rapture, dispensational view of the prophetic scriptures pertaining to the last days. As such, we believe the Jewish race is still under divine covenant with God despite their current blindness, and will be grafted back into God’s prophetic plan (Romans 11, Revelation 4-19) after the church is taken up in the rapture (Revelation 4). We believe that in preparation for their re-grafting, God has miraculously brought the Jews back into the land of Israel by divine covenant. We believe the Jewish nation was restored in one day as prophesied in Isaiah 66:7-9. We reject the unbiblical views of “replacement theology” which espouse that the church has replaced the Jewish people pertaining to the covenants of God. We reject the Amillennial, Preterist, Partial Preterist, and New Apostolic Reformation views of last-days events. We also reject Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, and Pre-Wrath views of the Rapture, although we enjoy Christian fellowship with those who hold these views.
We believe in a literal six-day creation which occurred thousands of years ago and in the global flood of Noah.
We believe in the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational rapture, dispensational view of the prophetic scriptures pertaining to the last days. As such, we believe the Jewish race is still under divine covenant with God despite their current blindness, and will be grafted back into God’s prophetic plan (Romans 11, Revelation 4-19) after the church is taken up in the rapture (Revelation 4). We believe that in preparation for their re-grafting, God has miraculously brought the Jews back into the land of Israel by divine covenant. We believe the Jewish nation was restored in one day as prophesied in Isaiah 66:7-9. We reject the unbiblical views of “replacement theology” which espouse that the church has replaced the Jewish people pertaining to the covenants of God. We reject the Amillennial, Preterist, Partial Preterist, and New Apostolic Reformation views of last-days events. We also reject Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, and Pre-Wrath views of the Rapture, although we enjoy Christian fellowship with those who hold these views.
The World System
The World System is under the control of Satan as allowed by the sovereignty of God (2 Cor 4:4, 1 John 5:19). The evil kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed [Jesus], saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.”
(Psalm 2) Christians are to pray for and give honor to the kings and rulers and are to be subject to the magistrates unless their mandates are contrary to God’s commands. (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:17, Acts 5:29). The World System is developing towards the global system of Anti-Christ.
(Psalm 2) Christians are to pray for and give honor to the kings and rulers and are to be subject to the magistrates unless their mandates are contrary to God’s commands. (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:17, Acts 5:29). The World System is developing towards the global system of Anti-Christ.
The Wisdom of Man
The "wisdom of man" is foolishness to God (1 Cor 3:18-19).
The Blessed Hope
Our hope is not in this world system but in the “Blessed Hope” of Jesus’ soon return. The Lord Jesus Christ will visibly return to the earth and establish His earthly kingdom for one thousand years, followed by a new and eternal heaven and earth (Titus 2:11-15, Revelation 19-22).
our Mission
Calvary Chapel of Port Orchard is devoted spreading the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, which is the message that God so loves you, that He sent His Son, Jesus, so that if you believe in Him, He will forgive your sins and give you the gift of everlasting life (John 3:16). To this end, we teach the Word of God, literally, verse-by-verse, showing how God’s Word applies to us today, and emphasizing how current events reveal fulfillment of end times Biblical prophecy before our very eyes. The god who reveals the future before it happens is the only true God (Isaiah 45:21-25, 46:9-19).
We believe our Lord Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready to meet Him? (1 John 5:10-13). If you are unsure, please get in touch with us using the form below.
We believe our Lord Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready to meet Him? (1 John 5:10-13). If you are unsure, please get in touch with us using the form below.
Know God
Men, women, and children throughout the ages have pondered, “Is there a God?” and “If there is a God, how can I know Him? How can I know the truth?” Are there any clues or signs that prove God existence and can lead me to know Him? The answer is yes! Here are three major “signs” or “clues” that point to God’s eternal existence.
First, consider the Bible. The Bible (Scriptures) begins with, “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). The Bible contains 66 different books penned by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years. It is often called God’s love letter to man. The Bible reveals God’s character and tells us what God expects of us.
The Bible itself declares that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Some reject this as circular reasoning (the Bible is inspired by God because the Bible has a verse that says so), but what except divine authorship can explain the Bible’s accuracy and cohesiveness despite its numerous human authors, writing over a long period of time, something that is impossible from a human perspective?
Other powerful testimonies to the divine authorship of the Bible are the prophecies contained in it. God declares that He alone knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Consider the Person of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus was born, Scriptures told when, how, where, and for what purpose He would be born. The prophets also described His earthly ministry and detailed the type of death He would suffer, long before crucifixion was even invented as a form of capital punishment (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53).
Another “sign” or “clue” is creation. The Bible tells us, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). While many claim that all creation – man, the earth, weather patterns, animals, nature, seasons, the sun, the moon, the stars – are all the result of billions of years of random occurrences, the Bible declares that we (man) and the universe are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14). As scientists probe the microscopic intricacies of living things, they confront the awesome complexity of that life, which testifies to a super-intelligent Master Designer. (No sane person would claim that something far less complex, say an automobile, was the result of billions of years of chance occurrences!) And as we gaze over the vastness of space, we get only a glimpse of God’s great power. As the Scriptures say, “These are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!” (Job 26:14)
Finally, there is our conscience, that “little voice” inside each one of us that distinguishes between right and wrong. Every normal person, regardless of race or nationality, inherently knows “inside” that it is wrong to lie, steal, and murder.
Unfortunately, most of mankind has ignored this God-given moral guide. We usually suppress our consciences and make excuses for our bad behavior. The Bible tells us that rebellion against God’s moral standard is sin and through sin, death entered the world. (“The wages [earnings] of sin is death.” Romans 6:23)
In light of this, it is important to address the question, “What happens when we die?” The Bible states, “It is appointed for man to die once, and then the judgment.” The Bible also tells us that “books” will be opened (Revelation 20:12). One book will contain all the thoughts, words, and deeds of our lives. The other book is the “Book of Life.” God will sentence those whose names are not written in the Book of Life to eternal damnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
So how do you get your name written in the “Book of Life” and escape the lake of fire? Know this: because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), it is impossible for anyone to be in the Book of Life based on being a “good person.” But because God loves us, He made a way to be added to the Book of Life and saved from the lake of fire. That way is through faith in Jesus, Who died on a cross, taking on Himself the punishment that you deserve (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21) and then rose again to life, proving He is God and is able to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
To be saved then, you must first humbly admit that you are a sinner and deserve eternal separation from God in hell (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Then you must repent (have a complete change of heart) and submit to God instead of rebelling against Him (Acts 2:37‑38, Proverbs 3:33-35). Agree with God the Father that the only way to be forgiven is to have a believing faith in Jesus, His Son, and agree with Him that Jesus alone is the way to God (John 14:6).
The Bible promises in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Simply confess your sin (agree with God that you are a sinner), ask God to forgive you, thank Him for sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross in your place, and by faith receive His forgiveness. Then purpose to commit the rest of your life to following and serving Him.
We urge you to act upon this now if you have never done so – none of us knows how much longer we have to live. Get alone with God now and tell Him that you repent of your offenses against Him and want to devote the rest of your life to Him. Tell Him that you want to worship Jesus and lovingly follow His commands until He comes again. Then find a church that will faithfully teach you the Bible in a way that Jesus is glorified and lifted up as the only Way to be saved. Ask Jesus to lead you to a church where other believers will surround you, pray for you, and encourage you in your new faith.
If you do this, your life will change, the Holy Spirit of God will fill you and give you spiritual life (John 3:16, 20:21-22), and you will experience a renewed knowledge that there is more to life (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Bible promises that if any man is in Jesus Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, all things become new. You will know that after you depart this life, you will receive the promise of eternal life (John 11:25), because you will know God. Best of all, you will be known by God.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3 NKJ)
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:7-9 NKJ)
First, consider the Bible. The Bible (Scriptures) begins with, “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). The Bible contains 66 different books penned by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years. It is often called God’s love letter to man. The Bible reveals God’s character and tells us what God expects of us.
The Bible itself declares that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Some reject this as circular reasoning (the Bible is inspired by God because the Bible has a verse that says so), but what except divine authorship can explain the Bible’s accuracy and cohesiveness despite its numerous human authors, writing over a long period of time, something that is impossible from a human perspective?
Other powerful testimonies to the divine authorship of the Bible are the prophecies contained in it. God declares that He alone knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Consider the Person of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus was born, Scriptures told when, how, where, and for what purpose He would be born. The prophets also described His earthly ministry and detailed the type of death He would suffer, long before crucifixion was even invented as a form of capital punishment (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53).
Another “sign” or “clue” is creation. The Bible tells us, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). While many claim that all creation – man, the earth, weather patterns, animals, nature, seasons, the sun, the moon, the stars – are all the result of billions of years of random occurrences, the Bible declares that we (man) and the universe are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14). As scientists probe the microscopic intricacies of living things, they confront the awesome complexity of that life, which testifies to a super-intelligent Master Designer. (No sane person would claim that something far less complex, say an automobile, was the result of billions of years of chance occurrences!) And as we gaze over the vastness of space, we get only a glimpse of God’s great power. As the Scriptures say, “These are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!” (Job 26:14)
Finally, there is our conscience, that “little voice” inside each one of us that distinguishes between right and wrong. Every normal person, regardless of race or nationality, inherently knows “inside” that it is wrong to lie, steal, and murder.
Unfortunately, most of mankind has ignored this God-given moral guide. We usually suppress our consciences and make excuses for our bad behavior. The Bible tells us that rebellion against God’s moral standard is sin and through sin, death entered the world. (“The wages [earnings] of sin is death.” Romans 6:23)
In light of this, it is important to address the question, “What happens when we die?” The Bible states, “It is appointed for man to die once, and then the judgment.” The Bible also tells us that “books” will be opened (Revelation 20:12). One book will contain all the thoughts, words, and deeds of our lives. The other book is the “Book of Life.” God will sentence those whose names are not written in the Book of Life to eternal damnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
So how do you get your name written in the “Book of Life” and escape the lake of fire? Know this: because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), it is impossible for anyone to be in the Book of Life based on being a “good person.” But because God loves us, He made a way to be added to the Book of Life and saved from the lake of fire. That way is through faith in Jesus, Who died on a cross, taking on Himself the punishment that you deserve (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21) and then rose again to life, proving He is God and is able to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
To be saved then, you must first humbly admit that you are a sinner and deserve eternal separation from God in hell (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Then you must repent (have a complete change of heart) and submit to God instead of rebelling against Him (Acts 2:37‑38, Proverbs 3:33-35). Agree with God the Father that the only way to be forgiven is to have a believing faith in Jesus, His Son, and agree with Him that Jesus alone is the way to God (John 14:6).
The Bible promises in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Simply confess your sin (agree with God that you are a sinner), ask God to forgive you, thank Him for sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross in your place, and by faith receive His forgiveness. Then purpose to commit the rest of your life to following and serving Him.
We urge you to act upon this now if you have never done so – none of us knows how much longer we have to live. Get alone with God now and tell Him that you repent of your offenses against Him and want to devote the rest of your life to Him. Tell Him that you want to worship Jesus and lovingly follow His commands until He comes again. Then find a church that will faithfully teach you the Bible in a way that Jesus is glorified and lifted up as the only Way to be saved. Ask Jesus to lead you to a church where other believers will surround you, pray for you, and encourage you in your new faith.
If you do this, your life will change, the Holy Spirit of God will fill you and give you spiritual life (John 3:16, 20:21-22), and you will experience a renewed knowledge that there is more to life (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Bible promises that if any man is in Jesus Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, all things become new. You will know that after you depart this life, you will receive the promise of eternal life (John 11:25), because you will know God. Best of all, you will be known by God.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3 NKJ)
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:7-9 NKJ)