Rev. Joseph J. Duvall , D. D.
Articles of Faith as Adopted by
Harbor Mountain Ministries
Formerly Milestone Ministries
Est. 1995
Of God.—We believe in the one only living and true God, a Spirit infinite, eternal and unchangeable, in His being and perfections; the Lord Almighty, who is love, most just in all His ways, most glorious in holiness, unsearchable in wisdom, plenteous in mercy, full of compassion, abundant in goodness and truth. We worship Him in the unity of the Godhead and the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three persons of the same substance, equal in power and glory.
Of Revelation.—We believe that God has revealed Himself in nature, in history, and in the heart of man; that He has been graciously pleased to make clearer revelation of Himself to men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; and that in the fullness of time He has perfectly revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, given by inspiration of God, as containing the only infallible rule of faith and life, a faithful record of God's gracious revelations, and as the sure witness to Christ.
Of the Divine Purpose.—We believe that the eternal, wise, holy, and loving purpose of God so embraces all events that, while the freedom of man is not taken away, nor is God the author of sin, yet in His providence He makes all things work together in the fulfillment of His sovereign design and the manifestation of His glory.
Of Creation and Providence.—We believe that God is the creator, upholder and governor of all things; that He is above all His works and in them all; and that He made man in His own image, fitting for fellowship with Him , free and able to choose between good and evil, and responsible to his Maker and Lord.
Of the Sin of Man.—We believe that our first parents, when tempted by Lucifer, chose evil, and so fell away from God and came under the power of sin, the penalty of which is eternal death; and that, by reason of this disobedience, all mankind after them are born with a sinful nature, that we have broken God's law and that no man can be saved but by His grace.
Of the Grace of God.—We believe that God, out of His great love for the world, has given His only begotten Son to be the Savior of sinners, and in the Gospel , freely offers His all-sufficient salvation to all men.. We believe also that God, in His own good pleasure, gave to His Son a people, an innumerable multitude, chosen in Christ unto holiness, service and salvation.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ.—We believe in and confess the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man, who, being the eternal Son of God, for us and for our salvation became truly man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin. Unto us He has revealed the Father, by His word and Spirit, making known the perfect will of God. For our redemption He fulfilled all righteousness, offered Himself a perfect sacrifice on the cross, satisfied Divine justice and made propitiation for the sins of the whole world. He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where He ever intercedes for us. In the hearts of believers He abides forever as the indwelling Christ; above us and over us all He rules; wherefore, unto Him we render love, obedience and adoration as our Prophet, Priest and King.
Of the Holy Spirit.—We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,, who moves upon the hearts of mankind to restrain them from evil and to incite them unto good, and whom the Father is ever willing to give unto all who ask Him. We believe that mankind can willfully sin against the Holy Spirit thus forfeiting any possibility of regeneration or eternal life. We believe that He has spoken through holy men of God in making known His truth to mankind for our salvation ; that, through our exalted Savior, He was sent forth with power to convict the world of sin,, to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and to persuade and enable us to obey the call of the Gospel; and that He abides with the true Church, dwelling in every believer as the spirit of truth,, of power, of holiness, of comfort and of love, uniting them to Jesus by faith, as he dwells in them, taking away the bondage of sin, sealing us for the day of redemption. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent by which God conveys to His believers various and divers gifts useful to the perfection and edification of the whole body of believers.
Of Regeneration.—We believe in the necessity of regeneration, whereby we are made new creatures in Christ Jesus by the Spirit of God, who imparts spiritual life by the gracious and mysterious operation of His power, using as the ordinary means the truths of His word and the ordinances of Divine appointment in ways agreeable to the nature of men.
Of Faith and Repentance.—We believe that faith in Christ is a saving grace whereby we receive Him , trust in Him and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered to us in the Gospel , and that this saving faith is always accompanied by repentance, wherein we confess and forsake our sins with full purpose of and endeavor after a new obedience to God.
Of Justification and Sonship.—We believe that God, on the sole ground of the perfect obedience and sacrifice of Christ, pardons those who by faith receive Him as their Savior and Lord, accepts them as righteous, and bestows upon them the adoption of sons, with a right to all the privileges therein implied, including a conscious assurance of their sonship.
Of Sanctification.—We believe that those who are regenerated and justified grow in the likeness of Christ through fellowship with Him, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the truth; that a holy life is the fruit and evidence of saving faith ; and that the believer's hope of continuance in such a life is in the persevering grace of God. We believe that in this growth in grace Christians may attain that maturity and full assurance of faith whereby the love of God is made perfect in us.
Of Prayer.—We believe that we are encouraged to draw near to God, our Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, on our own behalf and that of others to pour out our hearts humbly yet freely before Him, as His beloved children , giving Him the honor and praise due His holy name, asking Him to glorify Himself on earth as in heaven , confessing unto Him our sins and seeking of Him every gift needful for this life and for our everlasting salvation . We believe also that, inasmuch as all true prayer is prompted by His Spirit, He will in response, thereto, grant us every blessing according to His unsearchable wisdom and the riches of His grace in Jesus Christ.
Of the Law of God.—We believe that the moral law of God, summarized in the Ten Commandments, testified to by the prophets and unfolded in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, stands forever in truth and equity, and is not made void by faith, but on the contrary is established thereby. We believe that God requires of every man to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God; and that only through this harmony with the will of God shall be fulfilled that brotherhood of mankind wherein the kingdom of God is to be made manifest.
Of the Church.—We acknowledge one holy Church, the innumerable company of saints of every age and nation , who being united by the Holy Spirit to Christ their Head , are one body in Him and have communion with their Lord and with one another. Further, we receive it as the will of Christ that His Church on earth should exist as a visible and sacred brotherhood, consisting of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Him , and organized for the confession of His name, for the public worship of God, for the administration of the sacraments, for the up building of the saints, and for the universal propagation of the Gospel; and we acknowledge as a part, more or less pure, of this universal brotherhood, every particular Church throughout the world which professes this faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Him .
Of the Sacraments.—We acknowledge two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which were instituted by Christ, to be of perpetual obligation as signs and seals of the covenant ratified in His precious blood, as means of grace, by which, He doth not only quicken but also strengthens and comforts our faith in Him, and as ordinances, through the observance of which , His Church is to confess her Lord and be visibly distinguished from the rest of the world.
1. Baptism with water into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the sacrament by which we signify and seal our union to Christ and participate in the blessings of the New Covenant. The proper subjects of baptism are believers, and infants presented by their parents or guardians in the Christian faith.. In the latter case, the parents or guardians are expected to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and should expect that their children will , by the operation of the Holy Spirit, receive the benefits which the sacrament is designed and fitted to convey. The Church is under the most solemn obligation to provide for their Christian instruction. also. This does not preclude or replace a later confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism after the age of accountability, but child baptism is solely a choice made by the parents or guardians at the time of the child's dedication .
2. The Lord's Supper is the sacrament of communion with Christ and with His people, in which bread and wine are given and received in thankful remembrance of Him and His sacrifice on the cross; and they who in faith receive the same, after a spiritual manner, partake of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to their comfort, nourishment and growth in grace. All may be admitted to the Lord's Supper who make a credible profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and of obedience to His law.
Of the Ministry.—We believe that Jesus Christ, as the Supreme Head of the Church, has appointed therein a ministry of the word and sacraments, and calls people to this ministry. That the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recognizes and chooses those whom He calls, and should thereupon duly ordain them to the work of the ministry.
Of Church Order and Fellowship.—We believe that the Supreme and only Head of the Church is the Lord Jesus Christ. That its worship, teaching, discipline and government should be administered according to His will by persons chosen for their fitness and duly set apart to their office, and that although the visible Church may contain unworthy members and is liable to err, yet believers ought not lightly to separate themselves from its communion , but are to live in fellowship with their brethren , which fellowship is to be extended , as God gives opportunity, to all , who in every place , call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
Of the Resurrection , the Last Judgment and the Future Life.—We believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust, through the power of the Son of God, who shall come to judge the living and the dead; that the finally impenitent shall go away into eternal punishment and the righteous into life eternal.
Of Christian Service and the Final Triumph.—We believe that it is our duty as disciples and servants of Christ to further the extension of His kingdom , to do good unto all men , to maintain the public and private worship of God, to hallow the Lord's Day, to preserve the inviolability of marriage between one man and one woman and the sanctity of the family, to uphold the just authority of the State, and to live in all honesty, purity and charity so that our lives shall testify of Christ. We joyfully receive the word of Christ, bidding His people go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, declaring unto them that God wishes in Christ to reconcile the world unto Himself, and that He would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.. We confidently believe that by His power and grace all His enemies shall finally be overcome, and the kingdoms of this world be made the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ.