of Calais accepts the Bible as its only authoritative rule of faith and practice. Our understanding of Christian truth is in essential accord with the beliefs of Baptist churches and with the classic doctrines of the faith as outlined in the earliest creeds of the Christian tradition. However, we have no official and authoritative creed other than Scripture. For the sake of clarity, we have outlined below our understanding of the basic tenets of our faith, as derived from Scripture:

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•  We believe that there is one God, infinite in being and perfection, eternally existing in three persons (the Trinity): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are of one substance and equal in power and glory.

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• We believe in the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, and in His virgin birth, sinless life, miraculous works, atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, priestly ministry, and triumphant return to complete the eternal plan of God.

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• We believe in the Holy Spirit, the abiding presence of God with us, who convicts people of sin, regenerates them and dwells in those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

• We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, given by divine inspiration, and that it is our only authoritative rule of faith and practice. The 66 chronological books of the Bible, as originally written, are inspired of God.

 

• We believe that all people are sinners in need of God’s grace. Human beings, created in the image of God, fell into sin through disobedience from God’s commands. This sinful state separates us from God, brings spiritual death, and leaves us under the righteous judgment of God. Human beings are saved only by virtue of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross, his victorious resurrection, and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. This salvation comes solely from God’s grace, through faith. Those who are saved are given eternal life in relationship with God and become a part of the “new creation” of God—the community of redeemed humanity, who represent the Kingdom of God on earth through His church.

 

• We believe that Christ will come again in glory, making fully manifest his eternal reign over all things. On the last day, the powers of evil will be eternally bound and God’s victory will be complete. All people will face a final judgment, as the Scriptures testify—some being given over to eternal death; but the saved in Christ will be raised to eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth.

 

• We believe in the church as a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head and of which all born-again (regenerate) persons are members. The church exists to make manifest the presence of Christ and the Kingdom of God in this world. We believe that each local church is a family of believers who share their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and associate for worship, service, fellowship, mission, and growth in discipleship. We further believe in the priesthood of all believers: that each Christian shares in the work and ministry of the local church, under the direction of the Holy Spirit as he guides the congregation as a whole.

 

• We believe that the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper were established by our Lord: their provision by the church is a continuing obligation and their observance by its members is a continuing privilege.

 

• We believe that the works of worship, discipleship, evangelism, missions, charity, and service—all done for the glory of God—constitute the supreme responsibilities of the Church.

 

•  We believe that each Christian is accountable to God for living a life which strives toward holiness—a progressive journey of curbing the habits of sin and growing in the grace and virtues of a godly life, aided by the Holy Spirit. Each believer has a responsibility to contribute by word and deed to the universal spread of the Gospel.