WHO WE ARE

We believe that there is One true God, the eternally self-existing “I AM,” who has revealed himself to us in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that the persons of the Trinity are co-eternal, co-equal, and yet with unique functions. We believe that all three persons of God were present at the beginning of creation and continue to hold all of creation together (Gen 1:1-3; Ex. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10, 11; Matt. 28; Jn. 8:58; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col 1:15-17).

We believe Jesus Christ is a distinct person from the Father and the Holy Spirit, yet of the same substance. We hold that Jesus had two natures in one person (divine and human). We believe that Jesus Christ is God of God, the Son of God, who was incarnated as a human, was born of a virgin, was crucified at Pontius Pilot’s command, by the Romans’ hand, and at the Jewish leaders' demand. He was buried, was resurrected, and is seated at the right hand of God on high (Mt. 1:20; Mk. 16:19; Jn. 1:1, 14; 3:16; 20:1-2; 1 Cor. 12:27-30; 14:26; 15:3-5; Hebrews 2:17; Gal. 4:4 Phil. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:22).

We believe the Holy Spirit is a distinct person from the Father and the Son. He is God of God, sent by the Father to equip the Body of Christ with grace for work. In all He does, He glorifies Christ. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates sinners, and in Him, they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted into the family of God. The Holy Spirit is received at salvation and assists us in our weaknesses by enabling us to live victorious, bold, Christ-like lives. The Holy Spirit empowers believers and imparts supernatural gifts to glorify Jesus Christ, spread the Gospel, and build the Church into completion and maturity. (Ps 103:30; Jn. 14:16-26; Rom. 8:9, 26; Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Heb. 10:29). 

We believe in the verbal inspiration of the traditional canon of Scripture. We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God in all matters of life and doctrine. We hold that the Bible is completely relevant today for every area of the human experience because it is living and active. We profess that the Bible is the exclusive and only authority for faith and lifestyle and that the original autographs are without error. It is to be believed, practiced, trusted, and hoped in (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:21). 

We believe that humankind was created in the image of God but voluntarily sinned when tempted by Satan and fell short of God’s righteousness. Sin is the willful transgression of the law of God and deserves death. At the fall, humankind incurred physical death and spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are in union with Adam and are sinners by nature and by choice. Sin has alienated humankind from God and subjected it to His just wrath (Ge. 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19).  

Atonement for our sins can only be received because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Son and Lamb of God. All humanity has been physically and spiritually separated from God because of our sin-nature and willful participation in sinful acts. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live; died the death that we deserved; conquered death through the resurrection we could not produce, and provides access to God that we could not earn. This work of Jesus Christ through His life, death, burial, and resurrection, along with His ascension into heaven and the forgiveness and eternal life it produces, is only made available by grace through faith to all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Those who receive God’s offer of grace by faith are born again, justified, regenerated, adopted into the family of God, made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and are partakers of eternal life to come (John 3:3; Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:10; 8:14-17; 10:9-10; Titus 3:5-6).

We believe in the Biblical and orthodox view of covenant marriage between one man, one woman, and God Himself. Hence, we only recognize marriage between a biological man and a biological woman. We believe marriage was created, instituted, and ordained by God, and for that reason, it is He alone who defines, blesses, and approves it. He established marriage as a covenant relationship in the Garden of Eden through Adam and Eve. In every example, illustration, story, and use of marriage in scripture, it is only ever in the context of a biological man and biological woman. We believe in grace, redemption, and restoration through Jesus Christ. Anyone who turns to Him can experience forgiveness, transformation, and new life. We believe every person deserves love, compassion, dignity, and respect. Hateful or demeaning behavior toward anyone does not reflect the heart of Jesus or the culture of The Harvest Church (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4; Mark 12:31; Luke 6:31; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:25; 1 Peter 3:7). 

We believe that from the beginning, God created two separate and distinct biological sexes/genders: male and female. Moreover, we believe that Scripture does not permit, approve, or condone any attempts to change or shift between one’s biological sex and gender identity or expression. God has created humankind, and any attempt to misconstrue the difference between male/female and/or biological sex/gender identity is an attempt to self-create and is a result of sin and the fall. We also acknowledge that there are extremely rare instances where people are born with indiscriminate biological sex organs. However, these cases do not involve an attempt to self-create nor deny the dignity of how they were born. We believe in grace, redemption, and restoration through Jesus Christ. Anyone who turns to Him can experience forgiveness, transformation, and new life. We believe every person deserves love, compassion, dignity, and respect. Hateful or demeaning behavior toward anyone does not reflect the heart of Jesus or the culture of The Harvest Church (Gen. 1:26-27; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6-7; Psalm 139:14). 

We believe every human life is created by God, made in His image, and possesses immeasurable worth from conception to natural death. Life is not an accident or a biological event. It is a divine creation, intentionally formed and lovingly known by God. We believe God is the author of life, and therefore all human life is sacred; including the unborn. Scripture consistently affirms God’s care for children in the womb and His involvement in their creation and purpose. We believe abortion ends a human life made in the image of God and stands outside His will. Because God values and protects the vulnerable, we believe our responsibility is to defend, cherish, and bless every life; especially those who cannot speak for themselves. We believe the Church is called to respond with truth, compassion, and practical support. We stand for life, and we also stand with women, fathers, and families facing difficult pregnancies, offering help, hope, and grace; not shame. We believe the gospel offers healing and restoration to anyone who has experienced abortion. In Christ there is forgiveness, freedom, and the power to redeem every story (Gen. 1:26-27; Exodus 20:13; Ps. 103:8-12; Ps. 139:13-16; Pro. 24:11-12; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41-44; Gal. 6:2; Rom. 8:1-2; James 1:27; 1 John 1:9).

We believe that the Church is the Body of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. The Church is comprised of all those who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The Church is expressed through local churches, whose membership should be only believers and followers of Jesus Christ. The Church is being built up and made into the Bride of Christ, fully matured and presentable at Jesus’ Second Coming. We believe the Church is a pillar of truth to the world because of the abiding story and presence of Jesus as mediated by the Holy Spirit. The local church is how Christ presents and spreads the message of the Gospel to the world (Mt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 5:1, 5; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11-17; 5:27; Rev. 2-3). 

We believe in the continuation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that the charismata did not cease after the Apostolic age. The purpose of the gifts is to equip the Church to carry out its mission until Christ returns and to be a foretaste of the life to come. Believers should seek God in prayer for the gifts of the Spirit to operate in their own lives and ministries and should not only agree to them theoretically but practice them outwardly as the Spirit leads (Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:5, 7; 12:1, 31; 1 Cor. 14:12; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Heb. 6:5). 

We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know, nor will we ever claim to know, when Jesus Christ will return. What we are convinced of is that when Jesus Christ does return, those who have placed their faith in Him will be caught up in the air, transformed in glory, and brought back to the earth, whereupon Christ will sit in judgment, separate the wheat from the chaff, renew the earth, and reign as King forever. We believe that God is creating a New Heaven and a New Earth where believers will dwell forever with God. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked in Hell, and the eternal joy of the redeemed upon the renewal of all things. The imminent coming of Christ should inspire godly living and commitment to the missional spreading of the Gospel (Isa. 65:17; Mt. 24:30, 28:18-20; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 19:11-22:21).