This is my search section here
Harbor of Hope
Beliefs header

Our Beliefs

"WE EXIST TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO GOD..."

God

We believe in one God, the Giver of Life and the Creator of the universe. God has always existed as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are equal and are one God. God is an all-powerful, all-knowing and ever present spiritual being. He is truthful, faithful, loving, good, patient, just, merciful, holy and righteous. As Ruler of the universe, God reigns supreme over nature, history and individual lives.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Hebrews 11:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 17:24-28

Humanity

We believe men and women are created in the image of God. The person is made up of a spiritual nature and a physical body and is wholly dependent upon God. The primary purpose of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy a relationship with Him. Unfortunately all men and women rebel against God's standards and deserve the separation from Him that sin brings. Reconciliation with God is only available by His grace for salvation and new life.

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 23; Mark 12:29-30; Romans 3:23-24

Jesus

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal divine Son of God. He chose voluntarily to be made in human likeness and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus is God's ultimate solution to the brokenness of humanity. Although He lived a sinless life, He allowed Himself to be executed by crucifixion. His death paid the penalty for the sin and rebellion of mankind against God. Three days later, He came back to life. He appeared to many witnesses for the next forty days, and He ascended into heaven where He now serves as the Mediator between God and man.

John 14:6; Romans 1:1-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-22

Salvation

We recognize our inability to re-establish a relationship with God on our own. God, in His mercy, has reached out to us and provided a solution to the problem of our brokenness caused by sin. We are invited back into a relationship with God by placing our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Those accepting Christ in faith should repent (turn away from) of their sins, confess their faith in Him, and be baptized into Christ. God's promise is that everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ will receive the forgiveness of their sins and the free gift of eternal life.

Acts 2:38; Romans 1:16-17; 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:16-17

Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the presence of God in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit has been given to us by God as a comforter, guide, teacher and guarantee of our eternal hope. The Holy Spirit recreates men and women, empowering us to live the new life to which we have been called. His work in us produces lives characterized by love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Through His Spirit, God grants gifts and abilities to believers for the strengthening of the church.

John 14:16-17; 16:13; Romans 8:9-14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13

Scripture

We believe in the authority of God's Word as it is recorded for us in the Bible. This revelation from God has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and is entirely true. The teachings of the prophets, apostles and Jesus contained in Scripture are useful for teaching, preaching and training in faith. Scripture is the norm and standard for all subsequent Christian teaching.

2 Peter 1:20-21; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Church

We believe that the church represents Jesus to the world. The Bible describes the church as a living organism (a body), with Jesus as our Leader (our Head). Every Christ-follower plays a unique role in contributing to the growth and maturity of the body. God has chosen to use the church to reconcile a lost world to Himself through Jesus Christ. For the church to move in God's direction, it is essential that Christ-followers gather together to worship God and celebrate His activity among them in as well as to be equipped, built up and encouraged through teaching, prayer and communion. As the church grows in maturity and unity, Jesus gets attention and His mission is advanced.

Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:18

Eternity

We believe in the present reign of Christ in heaven and over the heart, and that the Kingdom of God will be made complete when Christ comes to earth again to establish His eternal rule. When Jesus returns, He will stand as judge of both the living and the dead. Those who belong to Jesus live will spend eternity in His presence, which the Scriptures describe as Heaven; while those who choose to live apart from Him in this life will spend eternity outside of His presence; which is described as hell. God’s heart, expressed clearly in Scripture, is that all of humanity would come to know Him by embracing his grace offered freely in Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:3