HARVEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), an assembly of over 1800 churches nationwide and is one of the fastest growing denominations in the United States. The Presbyterian Church in America is committed to historic Biblical Christianity affirmed in statements of faith such as the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, and the Westminster Confession of Faith, which are anchored in the doctrines of grace: Scripture alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone, for the Glory of God alone.
SUMMARY of HARVEST'S CORE BELIEFSAbout the Bible
We believe the Bible is the written Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and life. (Isaiah 40:8, 55:10-11; Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
About GodWe believe there is one God, who exists eternally in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, and that He also governs all their actions so that they fulfill the end for which they were created. In Himself, He is infinite, unchanging and eternal, perfectly holy and powerful, altogether just and wise, and utterly good and loving. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 14:9; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Hebrews 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 4:8)
About MankindWe believe that God created all people in His image with dignity and value to glorify and enjoy Him forever. God entered into a relationship of life and love with mankind upon the condition of perfect obedience, but that manwillfully sinned against His Creator and thereby fell into a state of sin, judgment, and death. Adam, as the head of the human race, through his sin plunged all of humanity into a state of sin and misery. From this state, people cannot be delivered except through God’s unmerited grace. We believe that all people are born as sinners and are completely unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:17; Psalms 8:3-6; Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-18)
About Salvation
We believe that God has not left the human race to perish in sin, but out of His great love with which He loved it, has from all eternity graciously chosen an innumerable multitude to be saved from the power and penalty of sin by a Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We may be assured that we are among that number if we hold fast to Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
Salvation is through Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone. We believe that salvation is by God alone as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith. The salvation earned by Christ is applied to us by the Holy Spirit, who convinces us of our sin and enables us to receive Christ. (Ephesians 1:4-6, 2:8-10; Romans 4:1-5, 8:28-30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:5; Philippians 3:9)
About Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who, in order to redeem us, became man by being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, born of her yet without sin. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, and by His perfect, sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross in our place, and the triumph of His resurrection, Christ has atoned for the sins of all who trust in Him alone for salvation. When we turn from our sin to God for mercy, renouncing all merit of our own, and putting our trust in Christ’s atoning blood, God forgives all our sin, credits the perfect righteousness of Christ to us, assures us of eternal life, and by His almighty Spirit begins renewing us in His likeness.
We believe that Jesus Christ will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all humanity and to receive His people to Himself, and to renew all things. (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:3; John 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 1: 9-10; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 21:5)
About the Church
We believe that God saves individuals into a people group for Himself called the Church, of whom Christ is the head. The church is not a building but a people. It is these people that the Bible refers to as Christ’s bride and His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. The church and its work are the most significant thing happening in the world today. For the Holy Spirit indwells Christ’s body and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust and follow Him as they fulfill their role as the primary instrument God has chosen to expand the Kingdom and renew all things until Christ’s second return. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:10, 5:22-27; Colossians 1:18-20; Acts 9:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts 1:8, John 20:21; Matthew 16:18-19; 18:17-18; 28:18-20).
