Harmony Baptist Core Beliefs

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF HARMONY BAPTIST CHURCH

CONCERNING THE BIBLE:

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration and the infallibility of the Scripture.

By inspiration we mean the books of the bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. II Timothy 3:15-17

We believe the Word of God has been divinely preserved in the King James Bible for the English speaking people. II Peter 1:19-20.

CONCERNING GOD:

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4:4-6

CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT:

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and Son.

He guides the believer into all truth, and convicts sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:7-13, I Corinthians 12:12-14, Romans 8:9,14,16,26-27.

CONCERNING CHRIST:

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who is our mediator at the Father's right hand. He was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, and is true God and true man. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross and bore our sins, accomplishing our redemption. He arose from the grave according to the scriptures, ascended bodily after his resurrection, and we believe in his personal, premillennial, pretribulation return. John 1:12

Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

CONCERNING THE FALL OF MAN:

We believe that man was created in the image of God, but by choice sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Every person is born with a sinful nature, and therefore needs salvation. Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:1-12

CONCERNING THE NEW BIRTH:

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again. It is not a process, but is instantaneous. Jesus died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him, and repent of their sins, are justified through the shed blood of Jesus. It is wholly by grace, and if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. John 3:3, II Corinthians 5:17, I John 5:1. Colossians 2:13.

CONCERNING THE SECURITY OF BELIEVERS:

We believe that once saved, the believer is kept eternally by God’s promise and power, and is secure forever. John 6:37-40, Romans 8:38,39 I Corinthians 1:4-8.

CONCERNING THE CHURCH:

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, and that all born-again believers make up this body. We believe that the local Church is made up of born-again, baptized believers and that it is the institution Christ established upon this earth.

CONCERNING THE ORDINANCES:

We believe that scriptural baptism is by immersion of born-again believers only. Baptism plays no role in the salvation of the believer, and is an outward sign of an inward change; baptism identifies the convert with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Matthew 3:16, 28:19-20, Acts 8:12

The Lord's Supper, or communion, is an observance to commemorate Christ's sacrifice of His body represented by unleavened bread and blood represented by unfermented wine (grape juice) for our redemption, and look forward to His coming again. It is observed after thoughtful self-examination. Luke22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-31

The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are given to and carried out by the local church and under it’s authority.

CONCERNING HEAVEN AND HELL:

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Saved unto everlasting blessedness in Heaven, and the resurrection of the lost unto everlasting punishment in Hell fire. John 14:1-6, Revelation 20:15