Jesus is Lord

Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…”

Mark 16:16

Everyone's faith journey starts with this single question, "Do you believe Jesus is who He claimed to be?" That belief that "Jesus is Lord" is what the Bible calls salvation. And while that confession starts with a repentant heart and a personal invitation, it's not private. It's time to go public!

Romans Road

Romans 3:10
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

Romans 3:23-24
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people because all sinned.

  • Sin brought darkness into the world, leaving us all lost apart from God.
  • God loves you as you are, but too much to leave you the way you are.
  • God’s love compelled Him to do something.
  • So God sent Jesus as the light to live a life we could not live, and to die a death that we deserved, so that we could experience a new life in Christ.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

| Learn More: The Creed Sermon Series

Salvation Prayer

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

| God’s grace demands a response.

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for loving me as I am, but loving me too much to leave me the way I am. I acknowledge my need for You and receive Your truth that sets me free and makes me new. Come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died, were buried, and rose again. I confess, “You are Lord,” and allow You to lead my life from this day forward. As much as I know now, I give You my heart and put my faith in You.
Amen.

Next Steps

If you made that confession, “Jesus is Lord,” and meant it, you have been made new. You might not feel any different, but the gospel is about facts, not feelings, and if you have put your faith in Christ, then you have been forgiven, and He has come into your life.

Here are a few steps you can start taking to help you grow and engage in this new relationship.

1. Begin to read God’s Word, the Bible.
2. Start talking to God through prayer.
3. Surround yourself with Godly people.
4. Engage in Godly conversations.
5. Allow God to transform your heart daily.

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What is Water Baptism?

Water baptism is our step of obedience that publicly declares our commitment to Jesus and demonstrates our changed life through Jesus. It’s not a confession of perfection; it’s a confession of redemption.

  • I have been saved —my past is redeemed.
  • I am being saved —my present makes sense.
  • I will be saved —my future is secure.

Sign Up for Water Baptism

Upcoming Baptisms:

Sunday, November 22

Common Questions:

Will I have to say anything?

Yes. We do believe in and value a public declaration of faith. We will ask you to answer two questions:

1. Have you invited Jesus to be Lord of your life?
2. What led to your decision to be baptized?

These answers can be short and sweet, written down and read, and provide an opportunity to share your story that could encourage others in their journey with Jesus.

Here are a couple of questions to help you frame your response. Your answers should reflect a desire to obey and follow Christ and to commit yourself to the local church.

1. What was your life like before getting saved?
2. What circumstances did God use to bring you to Christ?
3. How has your life changed since following Jesus?

What should I wear?

We provide a black T-shirt you can wear and keep as a reminder of this decision. We encourage women to wear shorts or yoga pants and men to wear shorts or a swimsuit to preserve modesty. Please bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a plastic bag for your wet articles of clothing.

Can families be baptized together?

Yes! If each family member fully understands the meaning of baptism and has personally placed their trust in Christ for salvation, we encourage families to be baptized at the same time. It is a beautiful expression of commitment.

However, it is important to remember that baptism is a personal statement of faith, not a family tradition. It is usually not wise to delay your baptism while waiting for other family members to accept Christ and follow Him, particularly children. This puts undue pressure on them and delays your obedience.

Can my child be baptized?

At The Harbour, we wait until children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism for themselves before we baptize them. As a guideline, we recommend around 12 years old, but it depends on each child.

The purpose of water baptism is to publicly confess your commitment to following the ways and words of Jesus. If your child can do that, we’d be happy to baptize them.

Can my infant be baptized?

Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make their confession of Christ. We practice a version of this, but we refer to it as Child Dedications.

Tell Someone

Going public with your decision to follow Jesus is a big step, but if God has impacted your life in a powerful way, we’d love to hear about it and answer any questions you may have.

Tell Someone

You Said Yes

If you said yes to Jesus, we have a free resource to help you navigate those first few steps. But here’s the thing: while your decision to follow Jesus is personal, it’s not private. We experience the life Jesus has for us best in community.

21 Day Devotional

Join Fresh Start

Fresh Start is an eight-week small group that provides space to ask honest questions and engage in foundational conversations that help you grow in your new relationship with Jesus.

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