Head of the Harbor Statement of Faith

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously proposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

Bible

We believe that God has spoken through the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the work of human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As the inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

Human Condition

We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, and because of sin humans are alienated from God, under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus (Israel’s promised Messiah) was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified and arose bodily from the dead on the 3rd day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe the scripture teaches from Genesis to Revelation the threefold work of the Spirit. That He has indwelt (en), come alongside of (para), and upon (epi) believers for the work of the ministry. We believe it is essential to be filled and empowered by the Spirit of God to live an effective Christ-like life.We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the existence of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

The Church, Membership, Baptism, And Communion

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. We believe that once you are "born again" you become a child of God and therefore are a member of His body. We believe that once you are born into the family of God you belong to Jesus and His Church. We gather together as the Church in order to fellowship, partake in communion, pray, and to be instructed in God’s word. (the Apostle's doctrine). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: (a) full immersion water baptism of believers, and (b) the Lord's Supper (Communion.)

Christian Living

We believe that God commands us to love Him supremely and sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed. We also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ created the ordinance of marriage between one man and one woman.

Christ's Return

We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Heaven and Hell

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who have not will spend eternity separated from the Lord in Hell.