What We Believe

  

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Of the Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings. The Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of man and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and life.

 

Of God

We believe there is one living and true sovereign God, the Creator of all things, who is infinite, all glorious, eternal and unchangeable in all His attributes. He eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Of God’s Creation of the Universe

We believe God created the universe and all things out of nothing by the Word of His power, planned all things by His wisdom, and controls all things by His sovereign power – all for His glory

 

Of the Creation of Man

We believe man was created in the image of God, male and female, to have fellowship with Him and serve Him, enjoy Him, and reflect His holy character.

 

Of the Fall of Man

We believe by Adam willfully being deceived and yielding to the temptation of Satan, all mankind came under God’s wrath and condemnation and were separated from God. All persons are thus corrupt by nature, enslaved to sin, spiritually dead and unable to please God or merit salvation.

 

Of Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ, Who is God and true man, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His miracles, and the truth of His teachings. He died on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins, according to the Scriptures. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven where, at the right hand of the Father, He is our High Priest and Advocate.

 

Of Salvation in Christ

\We believe the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only basis for justification, forgiveness of sins, and eternal salvation of all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus by faith are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become the children of God. Salvation begins with God’s declarative act by which He pronounces believers righteous in Christ (justification); it continues with God’s progressive process in the life of a believer, producing conformity toward Christ-likeness (sanctification); and finally, salvation finds fulfillment in eternity in a total transformation of being in the likeness of Christ (glorification).

 

Of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is active from eternity in the creation of the world, the ministry of redemption, and the inspiration of the Word. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ; convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerate the unbelieving sinner; and indwell, guide, comfort, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.

 

Of Christ’s Church

We believe in the Church as the community of all true believers for all time and in every place. The Church is composed of all those united to Christ through faith by the Holy Spirit into one Body, with Christ as Head. Summit Harvest Church is an expression of the universal Church. As such, we endeavor to covenant together to hear the Word of God proclaimed, to preach and teach clearly the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to engage in corporate worship; to build each other’s faith through truth and love; to hold each other accountable according to biblical principles; to use the gifts that Christ gives for works of service; and to engage in local and world evangelization to make disciples. The church is to rightly administer and practice the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We subscribe to the Christian tradition called believer baptism; that is, baptism following (or responding to) personal faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Of the Resurrection and the Lord’s Return

We believe in the bodily resurrection of everyone who has lived, the everlasting blessedness of those united with God through Christ, and the everlasting punishment of those who have rejected God. We believe in the blessed hope that at the end of the age Jesus Christ will return to the earth personally, visibly, physically, and suddenly in power and great glory; and that He will gather His elect, raise the dead, judge the nations, and establish His kingdom.

 

Of Marriage and Family

We believe that the first institution established by God is the family. We commit ourselves to protect the marriage covenant between one man and one woman, and to maintain moral purity before and during marriage. We affirm that the primary responsibility for the spiritual instruction and training of children belongs to the parents.

 

Of the Unity of the Church

We believe that not all things in this affirmation are necessarily of equal weight, some being essential relative to salvation, some not. But we believe biblical doctrine stabilizes saints in the winds of confusion and strengthens the Church in her mission to prevail against the great systems of false religion and secularism. We believe the importance of truth is served by the existence of doctrinal borders, and the unity of Christ’s Church is served by the way we love our fellow Christian brothers and sisters across those borders. We would agree with a well recognized statement, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, charity; in all things, Jesus Christ.”