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Statement of Faith & Final Authority on Matters of Belief & Conduct

STATEMENT OF FAITH

  1. We believe the entire Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired Word. It is without error in all its teachings, including creation, history, its own origins, and salvation. The Bible equips us for true righteous living. (Ps. 19:7, 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:15-17)
     
  2. We believe in one living and true God, Creator and Lord of the Universe, who is infinite and unchangeable in all His attributes and is eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6; Heb. 7:24-25, 9:14)
     
  3. We believe that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where, as truly God and truly man, He is the only mediator between God and man. (Matt. 1:20-25; Luke 1:35; John 10:30,11:25, 14:6; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7;1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 4:15, 7:26-27)
     
  4. We believe that all people are created in God’s image to glorify, have fellowship, and serve Him but are separated from God by sin. (Gen. 1:27, 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Ps. 29:1-2; Matt. 4:10; Rom. 3:23, 5:12, 6:11, 15:6; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 6:7)
     
  5. We believe salvation (i.e. salvation from everlasting punishment and entrance into a state of fellowship with God both on earth and eternally in heaven) is secured totally by God’s grace, an unmerited gift to the believer. This gift is received by faith. True faith is accompanied by repentance and determination to follow Jesus in a life of obedience and good works. (Matt. 4:17; Luke 24:47; John 1:12, 3:16-18, 14:23-24; Acts 20:21; Rom. 3:28, 5:8-9; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; James 2:14-20)
     
  6. We believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit for the individual’s salvation and growth to maturity. (John 14:26, 16:7-8; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16; Titus 3:5)
     
  7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 17:22-23, Gal. 3:26-28, Eph. 4:1-6,11-16)
     
  8. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139)
     
  9. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably created each person as biologically male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen. 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
     
  10. We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen. 2:18-25) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman.
     
  11. We believe that any form of sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt. 15:18-20, 1 Cor. 6:9-10.)
     
  12. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11.)
     
  13. We believe it is our obligation as believers to witness by life and word to the truths of God’s Word and proclaim these to all people. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:4-6, 5:11-21)
     

FINAL AUTHORITY ON MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT

We believe this Statement of Faith to be the foundational truths that make The Harbor a Christ-centered organization. Members of The Harbor are not to teach or promote ideas that are contrary to the Word of God and the foundational beliefs outlined in the Statement of Faith. Members of The Harbor are not to be living a lifestyle or engaged in behavior that violates the principles outlined in sections numbered eight through eleven of the Statement of Faith.

The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of The Harbor’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is The Harbor’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.