What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Harvest Chapel Free Methodist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines. There is a variety of interpretations of Scripture even within the Body of Christ, the Church universal. Thus, at some point, we will always encounter theological differences among Christians who connect to us. When this happens, we fully embrace the axiom: In essentials, unity (Ephesians 4:4-6); in non-essentials, liberty (Romans 14); in all things, charity (1 Corinthians 13:2).

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.

The Bible is God’s written Word, uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit. It bears unerring witness to Jesus Christ, the living Word. The Scriptures have come to us through human authors who wrote, as God moved them, in the languages and literary forms of their times. God continues, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, to speak through this Word to each generation and culture. The Bible has authority over all human life. It teaches the truth about God, His creation, His people, His one and only Son and the destiny of humankind. It also teaches the way of salvation and the life of faith.  We affirm both the Old and New Testaments as the standard and authority for all we do.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory.  When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time. Since that time, we have been unable by our own strength and work to restore ourselves in right relationship with God. However, God provides all the resources to make it possible for humans to respond to His grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  God’s law for all human life, personal and social, is expressed in two divine commands:  "Love the Lord God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself." These commands reveal what is best for persons in their relationship with God, others and society. 

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The church is created by God. It is the people of God. Christ Jesus is its Lord and Head. The Holy Spirit is its life and power. It is both divine and human, heavenly partnership. It is an organism, not an unchanging institution. It exists to fulfill the purposes of God in Christ. It redemptively ministers to persons. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the sacraments of the church commanded by Christ. They are means of grace through faith.

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.  Our eternal destiny is determined by God’s grace and our response, not by arbitrary decrees of God. For those who trust Him and obediently follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, there is a heaven of eternal glory.