Harbor Presbyterian Church

What We Believe

It has been my experience that most churches and chapels are more concerned with their rules and their traditions than real people's needs. As I understand Jesus I realize he was most concerned with people's relationship with God, and with each other. As a matter of fact, he didn't really care much for the religious traditions and rules of the day. At Flipside, neither do we though there are some pretty basic essentials about what Jesus taught that we hold firmly to. I have found that in this changing and turbulent culture, if my life isn't attached to something and Someone that is unmoving I get thrown around. We hope these "basic essentials" help you understand a bit of the "doctrinal basics" of Flipside. Blessings on you.

BASIC ESSENTIALS

GOD: God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Gen. 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Ps. 90:2; Mt. 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14

JESUS: Jesus was God in the flesh. Fully man and fully God. Jesus is the personal, living Word of God. His very name, Immanuel, means "God with us". Jesus was born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life, suffered, bled, and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins, was raised from the tomb by God's power, and ascended back to the Father where He makes intercession for us. We live now in the blessed hope of his triumphant return.
Mt. 1:22, 23; Is. 9:6; Jn. 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Heb. 4:14, 15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Cor. 3:17; Jn 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12. 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18

BIBLE: The Bible is the final authority on all matters of faith. It is the rule by which we live and of which we preach. The Bible is the recorded, objective word of God. It is God's revelation of Himself to the world. It is the inspired, true, and accurate guide for all faith and practice.
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Ps. 119:105, 160, 12:6; Prov. 30:5

HUMANS: We are uniquely created by God to live forever in fellowship and communion with Him. We are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of God's creation. We have been given free will to exercise and in so doing we become disobedient and separated from God. Those who respond to Jesus in faith will be saved from sin and be given the free gift of eternal life. Those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior will experience eternal separation and punishment from the presence of God. Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Is. 53:6a; Rom. 3:23; Is. 59:1-2

SALVATION: Salvation is God's free gift to us who believe but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus into his life by faith.
Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1

ETERNAL SECURITY: Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot "lose" it. Salvation is maintained by the grace of God, not by the self effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this eternal security.
Jn. 10:28-29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

ETERNITY: People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or we'll exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Jn. 3:16, 14:17; Rom. 6:23, 8:17-18; Rev. 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9

LIFE'S PURPOSE: Love God with everything you are and everything you have and love and take care of others like you love and take care of yourself. Matthew 22:34-40