What We Believe
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What We Believe THE BIBLE - We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and accept the same as the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice. "Solo scriptura" Scripture alone.
THE GODHEAD - We believe in the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign, and immutable triune God; and in the unity of the Godhead where three personalities, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, execute distinct, harmonious offices, in the great work of redemption. This does not mean that there are three "people" called God, but rather a way of saying God eternally exists in three personally distinct ways. Scriptures declare that there is only one God, Who is eternally manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE SON - Co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin, to take upon Himself the form of man. By doing so, He never ceased to be God. In His incarnation He laid aside His “expression” of Deity, but not His “possession”. By His death, Jesus bore the curse of sin, sickness and sorrow redeeming us back to Himself. He arose the third day and ascended unto heaven, there He sits on the right hand of the Father, where He eternally make intercession for us. He is the only mediator between us and the Father (“Sola Christus” Christ alone is our mediator). He is God revealed as Son in redemption. THE HOLY SPIRIT - Co-existent, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Son. Sent by the Father, through the Son, He reproves the world of sin, prepares the church for Christ's return, and empowers the believer to follow the Lord. He is God revealed as Holy Ghost in regeneration.
THE FALL OF MAN - We believe all of humanity is born into sin through the bloodline of Adam, cannot save themselves, and are in need a Savior.
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION - We believe Christ is the Lamb of God, foreordained from the foundation of the world. By the shedding of His blood on the cross, His death, burial, and resurrection, He provided salvation for all who receive Him by faith.
THE NEW BIRTH - We believe because of man's total inability to save himself, salvation is by God's grace alone, and the believer in justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is received through sincere, godly repentance, and whole-hearted acceptance and confession of Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Through being born again, we become new creatures in Jesus Christ. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We are justified; "just as if" we had never sinned. "Sola Gratia" saved by grace, and "Sola Fide" justified by faith.
SECURITY AND FREE WILL OF THE BELIEVER - We believe the Christian will be persevered unto the end and be saved because of the power of Gods grace pledged for their support. We believe any saved person who has sinned (backslidden), but has a desire to repent, may do so and be restored to God's favor and fellowship. However, since man continues to have free choice, it is possible because of temptations and the weakness of human flesh for him to fall into the practice of sin and to make shipwreck of his faith and be lost once again. FOOT WASHING - Although we do not hold foot washing as an ordinance, Harvest Church does allow its members liberty of conscience in the observance of the foot washing ceremony. DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE -Sanctification/Purity -We believe that having been cleansed by the blood of Christ and quickened by the Spirit, it is God's Will that we should be sanctified daily and be made partakers of His holiness, walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, forsaking the very appearance of evil.
WATER BAPTISM - We believe water baptism is by full immersion into water. Moreover, those believers are to be baptized "By the authority given the church, in the name of Jesus we baptize this our brother/sister, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Baptism is subsequent to conversion and not a saving ordinance, but an outward sign of an inward work. Baptism is not optional for the believer, but a command of our Lord to be obeyed.
THE LORD'S SUPPER - We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper as a type of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an ordinance showing forth the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. We look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. We partake of the Lord's Supper on no set schedule, but as the Spirit leads. We believe all Christian believers, regardless of church affiliation, may partake of the Lord's Supper.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE - We believe marriage was instituted by God, sanctioned by the Lord Jesus Christ, and commended by St. Paul; we believe that a Christian man or woman should not marry an unsaved person. And having been united by God in holy matrimony, both are bound by Scripture and must follow it carefully. Each situation is weighed by Scripture.
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT 1. We believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give and to equip him for a practical, efficient, spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service. Inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days. 2. Spirit - Filled Life -We believe that having received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of the power from on high. The Holy Spirit is as a gentle dove, easily grieved, wounded by coldness, prayerlessness, idle conversation, worldliness, and a judging, critical spirit. It is the will of God that we walk and abide in the Spirit. 3. Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit - We believe that for the edification of the saints and the up building of the church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the individual believer: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, dividing to every man severally as He will. These gifts should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love. We believe that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. These should be cultivated in the life of every believer. 4. Moderation - We believe that our moderation should be known to all men. The Christian should be sober, well balanced, and seasoned with love. His zeal should be governed by Godly wisdom.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP - We believe in the Biblical pattern of public and private worship, and that Scripture teaches us how to worship our God. We believe it is Gods will for every born-again Believer to worship and praise the Lord, and that their worship must be "in Spirit and in Truth." We believe the expressions of praise and worship recorded in the Bible are the template for which we are to follow.
DIVINE HEALING - We believe divine healing was provided by the atonement of Christ Jesus' death. It is the power of God to heal the sick and afflicted in answer to believing prayer. We believe God is willing to heal the sick today and does so.
EVANGELISM - We believe the coming of Jesus Christ is eminent. As His redeemed children, we should put forth our utmost efforts to spread the Gospel to every "kindred, tribe, and tongue". Because soul winning is the chief mission of the church, every hindrance and hair-splitting doctrine which would quench or dampen the flame of worldwide evangelism should be cut off and cast away.
MISSIONS - We believe the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to the entire world is literal, imperative, and binding today. It is the supreme privilege and duty of the church to stress the cause of worldwide missions. The very life and strength of the home church depends on its whole-hearted sacrifice for, and support of a world missionary program.
MINISTRY - We believe in the five-fold ministry gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. God speaks to His body through these 'gifts" to the church. God did not ordain or establish committees, but individuals, filling one of these five-fold ministry gifts. ORDINATION OF MINISTERS -We believe the ordination of ministers is predicated upon Biblical principles and is consistent with the evangelical view. Ordination can be defined as the public ceremony by which Harvest Church acknowledges the divine call, commission, and qualification of a person into ministry and extends its blessings, fellowship, and opportunities for ministry. Ordination is held to be a spiritual and functional rather than sacerdotal. It is important as a public acknowledgment of God’s prior call and commission, but it is not essential. All Christians are equal, but ministers are set apart for special Christian service and leadership. When necessary, the laity can perform all of the functions of ministry except those for which the State requires an ordained minister. Ordination may be performed after a careful examination of the candidate, and their qualification on essential points: CHURCH RELATIONSHIP -We believe every born-again child of God should identify with the visible church of Jesus Christ, should labor diligently, and should contribute his temporal means toward the spreading of the Gospel here on earth. We believe tithes (which is ten percent of one's gross income) and offerings should be given into the storehouse of the Lord (which is the local church). We believe Christians are to be faithful in their attendance to church every Lords Day (Sunday), and to any other services that may be held. Tithing was before the law (Gen 14 & 28) established by the law (Lev. 27) and reaffirmed by Christ and the New Testament (Matt.23, Lk.11, Heb.7). Scripture References: Neh. 13:10-14; Heb. 10:24-25; Ps. 111:1; Acts 2:47; 16:5; Rom. 12:5; Mal. 3:8-12; 1 Cor. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Matt. 23:23; Rev. 1:10; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2;
PROVISION AND PROSPERITY - We believe it is the will of God for every Believer to have more than enough to meet their needs, to have enough left over to bless others and to give into the work of the Lord. We believe poverty, debt, and lack are a curse. We believe as Christians are obedient in tithing to the local church, sowing financial seeds into ministry, giving of their first fruits, and blessing the needy they will reap a harvest. Provision is having an adequate supply to fulfill the vision (destiny) God has given the Believer, and prosperity is anything more than what meets your needs.
RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST 1. RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH - We believe the "catching away" (or rapture) of the church is imminent and pre-millennial. We believe the Lord will soon descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then the redeemed which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord. We should therefore be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man will return. 2. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST - We believe the coming of Jesus Christ with His saints will end the great tribulation and establish the millennial kingdom on earth, when Christ shall rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. 3. MILLENNIAL RIEGN OF CHRIST- We believe that following the second coming of Christ that He shall literally rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords on this Earth for a thousand years. Scripture References: Zech. 14:5, Matt. 24:27 & 30, Rev. 1:7,19:11-14, & 20:1-6 FINAL JUDGMENT - We believe in the final judgment of the wicked at the Great White Throne, when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward of their deeds done in the flesh.
HELL -We believe hell is a literal place of outer darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse, and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels, and that there, into a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
HEAVEN - We believe heaven is the habitation of the Living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His children, and where they shall dwell eternally in happiness and security with Him. |