The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Ellicott City 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.

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:3-4, 21).

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 things (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8, 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).

We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, 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 (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2, 102:27; John 3:16, 4:24; I Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3).

We believe in the person of 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 (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58,11:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; I John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).

We believe in the person of 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 (John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 15:13,16; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 9:14). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide (John 16:13, 14:16-17, 16:8-11; Romans 8:26). We believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct and separate experience to that of regeneration, occurring either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, evidenced by a greater dynamic in the Christian’s life, enabling that person to be a bold and more effective witness. The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit, love. We believe in the present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit in regard to the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the instructions given to us (I Corinthians 12-14).

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God’s standard and breaking His commandments – and therefore are under God’s righteous judgment. Yet God saves and gives new life to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus Christ died in our place as our substitute, absorbing God’s wrath that should have come upon us. Because Jesus died for the sins of the world the invitation to believe is open to all, and whoever desires may come unto Jesus for new life and the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20:21; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; I John 2:2; Revelation 22:17).

We believe in the pattern and principle of male leadership and responsibility in both the home and the church, according to the sacrificial example of Jesus. We believe this limits the roles of pastoral leadership and doctrinal authority to qualified men (I Corinthians 11:1-12; I Timothy 2:1-15). We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the full-immersion water baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

We believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell and that all those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. Those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9, 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15).

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal, visible return to Earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, and in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless separation of the wicked (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15). We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16, 5:9; II Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10, 7:13-14).

We believe that God has one redemptive plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ for both Jew and Gentile while maintaining a distinction between Israel and the Church in His redemptive purposes. We believe that the Church has not replaced Israel; that God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David remain irrevocable; and that He will literally fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel according to His Word. Although Israel is presently experiencing a partial hardening in unbelief, God is not finished with His chosen people and will restore them to Himself through faith in Jesus Christ, fulfilling His covenant promises in His future kingdom. Therefore, we reject Replacement Theology (Supersessionism) and affirm both God’s present work through the Church and His future purposes for Israel (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21; II Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 31:31-37; Ezekiel 36:22-28; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 19:28; Acts 1:6-7; Romans 9-11, especially 11:1-2, 25-29; I Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 2:11-22).

We believe that God created mankind and that He created them male and female. As such, He created them different so as to complement and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we perform marriages in accordance with the Bible and consistent with the Old and New Testament (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11,18-20, 7:1-3,8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; I Timothy 1:9-11).

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably created mankind in His image, genetically male (man) and genetically female (woman). We believe and uphold the biblical truth that gender and sexual identity are not on a spectrum, and that males and females are sexually different but with equal, personal dignity. Male and female are two fixed, distinct, and complementary genders that reflect the image and nature of God. Sexual identity is irrevocably established, and determined by God, and observed by the genetic DNA at conception and by biological sex at birth. Sexual identity is immutable and does not change based on feelings, experience, or self-perception. We firmly believe that any attempt to alter, change, or redefine biological/genetic sexual identity is contrary to God’s established plan (Genesis 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13; Romans 1:26-32; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6).

We believe that sexuality is a glorious gift from God expressed in biblical marriage. We believe that sexual acts are not permitted by God outside of an exclusive, monogamous marriage between one genetic male and one genetic female, as defined by God’s Word. Any and all sexual acts and expressions that are inconsistent with the teachings of God’s Word are considered sinful and prohibited by God (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:24; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23, 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 22:5; Matthew 5:27-28, 15:19, 19:4­-6; Mark 10:5-­9; Acts 15:28-29; Romans 1:26­-27; I Corinthians 6:9-20, 7:2-5; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:17-19, 5:25­-27; Colossians 3:5; I Thessalonians 4:3,7; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 19:7­-9, 21:2).

We believe that all human life, from the moment of fertilization to natural death, is sacred; having been created by God in His image and likeness. Therefore, every human life, from fertilization to natural death, must be recognized, respected, and protected. We believe the right to life is not determined by society, but instead is grounded in God’s inerrant Word, which states that we are created in His image and likeness for His purpose. Because of these beliefs, it is against our religious and moral conviction to formally or materially cooperate in the termination of human life, such as through abortion or euthanasia (Genesis 1:26-27; Exodus 20:13, 23:7, Psalm 22:9-10, 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:1-2, 49:5; Job 10:8-12; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 5:21; Luke 1:39-45).