We believe . . .
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe and teach that God has declared all sinners righteous and has justified them for the sake of Christ. We believe that this is the main message of Scripture upon which the church was built and continues to stand today. This we believe is a truism pertinent to people of all times and in every place, of all races and social and economic levels. Without this "the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men" (Romans 5:18). Without exception, everyone needs forgiveness of sins before God. Scripture proclaims that all have been justified, for "the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" (Romans 5:18).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that persons receive this free gift of forgiveness not on the basis of their own works, but only through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). Justifying faith is trust in Christ and his redemptive work. The reason faith justifies is not because of any authority it has in and of itself, rather because of the salvation prepared by God in Christ, which it embraces (Romans 3:28; 4:5). Those who do not believe will forfeit the forgiveness won for them by Christ (John 8:24).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that people are incapable of producing this justifying faith, or trust, in their own hearts, because "the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him" (1 Corinthians 2:14). We believe that which scripture tells us, "the sinful mind is hostile to God" (Romans 8:7). It is the Holy Spirit who gives people faith to know that "Jesus is Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit works this faith by means of the gospel (Romans 10:17). We believe, therefore, that a person's change is totally because of the work of God's grace. Rejection of the gospel is entirely the unbeliever's own fault (Matthew 23:37).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that sinners are saved by grace alone. Grace is the undeserved love of God for sinners. This love is the reason God gave sinners everything they need for their salvation. It is all a gift of God. People do nothing to earn any of it (Ephesians 2:8,9).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that even before the world was created, God chose those individuals whom he would in time convert through the gospel of Christ and preserve in faith to eternal life (Ephesians 1:4-6; Romans 8:29,30). This election to faith and salvation in no way was caused by anything in people but shows how completely salvation is by grace alone (Romans 11:5,6).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that at the moment of death, the souls of those who believe in Christ go immediately to be with the Lord in the joy of heaven because of the atoning work of Christ (Luke 23:43). The souls of those who do not believe in Christ go to an eternity of misery in hell (Luke 16:22-24).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace reject any teaching suggesting that a person can in any way contribute to his or her own salvation. We also reject any belief that people with their own power can cooperate in their conversion or make a decision for Christ (John 15:16). We do not belief that those who have been converted were less unwilling to accept God's grace than those who still remain unconverted. The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace also rejects all attempts of sinners to justify themselves before God.
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe and teach that the doctrine of justification by faith is just as meaningful today as it was in the past.
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace believe that believers can fall from faith ("once saved, always saved"), because the Bible says it is possible for believers to fall from faith (1 Corinthians 10:12).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace reject the false and blasphemous conclusion that those who are lost were predestined, or elected, by God to damnation, for God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).
The Lutheran Churches Of Calvary Grace denounce the belief in universalism, the belief that all people are saved, even those without faith in Christ (John 3:36). We also reject pluralism, the belief that there are other ways to salvation besides faith in Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). We do not accept any teaching that says it does not matter what one believes so long as one has faith in God. This is what Scripture teaches about justification by grace through faith. This we believe, teach and confess.
