Our Beliefs
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." - Matthew 6:33
Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek (C4) is a fellowship of believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and to be conformed into His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not a denominational church nor are we opposed to denominations as such; only the over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to division of the body of Christ. We believe that the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's (agape) love, which is greater than differences we possess, and, without which, we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 10:30)
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Jeremiah 32:17; 1 Peter 3:12; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:8; Revelation 1:8)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. We believe He is One, the same as God. He was fully human and fully God. (Matthew 1:18; John 3:16; John 20:24-29; Romans 10:9; Galatians 3:20; Hebrews 2:5-18; 1 Peter 2:22)
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service, either at the time of or subsequent to regeneration, which is a separate work from the indwelling Spirit for salvation. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the orderly exercise of all biblical gifts of the Spirit as reflected through the fruit of the same Spirit. (John 14:15-18; John 16:7-14; Acts 1:4-5; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12)
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:21)
We believe all people are, by nature, separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but their salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all of his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord. (Psalm 14:1-3; John 3:5-8; John 3:16-19; John 5:24; Romans 3:10; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ with His servants 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 baptism by immersion once a person has given his or her life to Christ, and communion. (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 4:1-2)
We are neither five-point Calvinists, nor are we Arminians. We adhere firmly to the biblical teaching of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. We avoid theological systems of belief that go beyond the written Word and thereby divide the Body of Christ. (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We do not believe in “positive confession” (the faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man's will); human prophecy that supersedes the Scriptures; the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology into biblical teaching; the overemphasis of spiritual gifts and experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of biblical teaching; or that true Christians can be demon-possessed. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Job 42:2; Psalm 135:6; Proverbs 30:5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Peter 1:20)
We believe the church is the body of Christ, of which Christ is the Head, (the Lead), and all born-again persons are members. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:24)
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church: 1) baptism, and 2) communion. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion, both of which are open to all believers in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe in the laying on of hands for the sending out of pastors and missionaries, and in conjunction with the anointing of oil by elders for the healing of the sick. (Luke 4:40; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; James 5:14)
We believe the only true basis for Christian fellowship is Christ's (agape) love, which is greater than differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians. (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 4:8)
We believe worship of God should be spiritual; therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship. (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3)
We believe worship of God should be inspirational; therefore, we give great place to music in our worship. We believe worship of God should be intelligent; therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us on how He should be worshiped. We seek to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to the individual's life, leading that person to a greater maturity in Christ. We teach both expositionally and topically. (Psalm 149:3; Psalm 150:4; Isaiah 28:10; Acts 16:25; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Revelation 15:2-4)
We believe worship of God should be fruitful; therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have been truly worshiping Him. We believe that church government should be simplistic rather than complex bureaucracy, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion. (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:11-13; Titus 3:8; James 4:1-3)
We believe that the Bible clearly delineates that spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body and that they are to be exercised in love. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without love, all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless. In our services, we focus on a personal relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God. We do not practice speaking in tongues during worship or while a Bible study is in progress because we do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself. God is not the author of confusion. These gifts are encouraged in more intimate settings (e.g. personal prayer times and afterglow services) where their benefit can accomplish the purpose for which they have been given - the edification of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14; 1 Corinthians 16:14)
We believe in biblical discipleship and that true discipleship strengthens the Body of Christ and serves to birth new and devoted disciples of Christ and God's Word. (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 23:11; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:6-9; Titus 2:3-8; 1 Peter 5:2-4)
We believe in the biblical definition of marriage, that marriage is between one man and one woman as biologically defined by their natural birth and as prescribed by the Bible. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7-9; Romans 1:26-27; Ephesians 5:31-33)