Statement of Faith:

We accept and adopt the following Statement of Faith:

1.  We believe in the inerrant, verbal, plenary, inspiration of the 66 books of the Bible, and it is the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice.  We believe in a literal interpretation of the Scriptures unless otherwise indicated by the context. ( II Tim. 3:16,17 ; Isa. 8:20 ; Rev. 22:18,19 )  We use only the KJV.

2.  We believe there is only one true God, existing in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and co-eternal, each with distinct personalities, but of one essence. (Matt. 3:16, 17-28; 18-20; I Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:8; Acts 13:2-4)

3.  We believe that Adam was created without sin, but fell by disobedience, carrying the whole race with him into spiritual death and condemnation and the need to be saved.  This fallen, totally depraved nature accounts for the sins of men.  (Rom. 5:12,19; Mk. 7:21,22)

4.  We believe Jesus Christ to be Co-Creator (Jn. 1:1-3), the Son of God (Lk. 1:35), and Redeemer (I Pet. 1:18,19); that He took on humanity through the virgin birth (Matt. 1:22,23; Jn. 1:14), and paid sin’s full penalty vicariously with His Blood that all men might be saved (Eph. 1:7; Isa. 53:5,6), that He was buried and rose again bodily and ascended to the right hand of the Father. (I Cor. 15:3-8, Lk. 20:39-42)

5.  We believe in the Person and work of the Holy Spirit which includes conviction of sin (Jn. 16:7-11), regeneration of sinners (Tit. 3:5), and indwelling believers (I Cor. 6:19).  We believe that the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” at Pentecost is set forth in the scriptures in two aspects: the experiential and positional.  In the experiential, Christ baptized the disciples with (or in) the Holy Spirit.  In the positional, the Holy Spirit baptized the disciples into the Body of Christ (Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12).  The experiential is that which John the Baptist (Matt. 3:11) and the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:5) had promised and was realized by the waiting disciples in the initial “filling of the Spirit” (Acts 2: 1-4).  This is identical with “receiving the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38; Jn. 7:37-39; Acts 2:32,33).  Since Pentecost each new believer shares or participates in this baptism positionally by being incorporated by the Holy Spirit into the “One Body” (I Cor. 12:27) and experientially by being “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).  We reject the charismatic movement with its claim of restoration of the sign gifts of I Cor. 12 including tongues (I Cor. 12:8-12).

6.  We believe that a soul is saved when Christ is accepted as personal Lord and Saviour and the Holy Spirit imparts eternal life (Jn. 1:12).  This  means the repentant and believing sinner is judicially declared righteous before God (Rom. 4:5) and in experience is born again (Jn. 3:3).  We believe the good works of a Christian are the results of salvation and contribute nothing toward saving him or keeping him saved (Eph. 2:8-10).

7.  We believe it is the plan of God for each believer to walk after the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of flesh (Gal. 5:16), that there is to be separation unto God and from the world (II Cor. 6:14-18).  This separation would be evidenced in attitude, conversation, conduct, dress, and habits (I Cor. 10:31; Rom. 14:13; I Tim. 2:9; I Cor. 8:13).

8.  We believe in the once for all regeneration and the eternal preservation of the saints (Jn. 10:27-29; Rom. 8:29,30; I Cor. 3:11-15).

9.  We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only two ordinances of the Church; that baptism consists in immersion to signify Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and the believer’s identification with Him (Col. 2:10-14), and that the Lord’s Supper is for the saved and that each participant is to examine himself (I Cor. 11:27-30).

10.  We believe the Church exists universally from Pentecost to the Rapture and is identified in the New Testament as the Body (Eph. 1:22,23), and Bride (Eph. 5:23-32) of Christ and as the Temple of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).  We believe that a local Church is a group of believers united for instruction, fellowship, and the spread of the Gospel with worldwide missions receiving equal emphasis with home ministry.  We believe the local Church is completely self-determining and responsible only to Christ, the Head – that it is completely independent with no other person, group, or body outside the local Church having any authority, right of intervention, or control in any form whatsoever (Acts 2:41-47; 6:1-7; Rom. 16:1,4,5,16; Acts 1:8).

11.  We believe in the premillineal view of Scripture relating to the Return of Christ.  We believe in two bodily resurrections, one for the saved and one for the unsaved (Jn. 5:28,29), separated by 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-15), and in an endless and literal heaven (Rev. 21,22) for all the redeemed and literal, and endless and conscious punishment for the lost (Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 14:1,11).

12.  We reject, as unauthoritative, the Revised Standard Version, Good News for Modern Man, and all other perverted translations of the original language such as The Way, The Living Bible, etc.  We believe that collaboration or participation with all forms of modernism, whether the National Council of Churches, or otherwise, is wrong and demands separation on our part (II Jn. 9:11).

13.  We reject the Hyper-Calvinistic teaching that destroys the vision and purpose of the Church as to its duty to bring men to Christ (Jn. 3:16).

Webmaster's Notes:
1. For Scripture References please see The Authorized King James Version of The Holy Bible
2. See also: The Costitution and By-Laws of Harvest Baptist Church