There are some things which are essential to our faith that cannot be compromised, while there are other, non-essential beliefs that are not necessarily required by Scripture. There is nothing sacred about tradition or methodology. Therefore, we will hold fast to the essentials, show liberty in the non-essentials, and not compromise the Gospel by arguing over things that do not really matter in the grand scheme of God’s mission and His Word.
With that in mind, here is what The Ridge believes . . .
...about God – There is only one true God. The God of the Bible is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. He is sovereign (in control of all things, at all times), and a personal God, willing and able to affect every aspect of our lives.
...about Jesus - Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus has eternally existed and became flesh, born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, to reveal God to man and to become the Savior of the lost world. He lived a sinless, human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He, in bodily form, arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.
...about the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment that they place their faith in Jesus Christ. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right, and gifts for service.
...about the Bible - We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Spirit to write words of Scripture. Therefore, the Bible is without any error. It is given, by God, to guide us in truth for our beliefs and daily living.
...about Humanity - We believe that man was created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him, but became separated from that relationship through disobedience and rebellion, called SIN. As a result, man is totally incapable of coming back into a right relationship with God by his own effort.
...about Sin - Sin is simply disobedience to God. Everybody does it. God can have nothing to do with sin, therefore people must be “redeemed” from the debt of sin in order to have a right relationship with God and eternal life in heaven. We believe that all that is wrong in the world is sourced in sin, and can only be remedied by God’s redemptive work.
...about Salvation - Salvation is God’s free gift, offered to all of us and paid for by Jesus' death and resurrection, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ alone, as God’s offer of forgiveness, can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from going our own self-ruled way in life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved from our sin and eternal separation from God. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
...about the Church - The church is a body of "people," not a place you go to. This may sound confusing, but nowhere in the New Testament do you read that the followers of Jesus "went to church." What you do read is that the church (the people) gathered together. There is a big difference between the two. The church is the people, not a place or a meeting you attend. We believe that today, the "church" has become known as a place people go to vs. a people on a mission for God. We cannot underestimate the power of words that shape our viewpoints and understanding of what a "church" is, and how it is supposed to function. The Ridge will have weekly worship gatherings, and will have various other meetings at a "place"- but foremost, we will be defined and function as a community of "people” on a mission.
...about Baptism and Communion - The Bible teaches us that baptism is a meaningful symbol of our love, faith in, and obedience to Jesus Christ. It does not provide salvation (eternal life) for us, nor does it have special power to wash our sins. Our pastors publicly baptize by immersing children, teenagers, and adults who have trusted Christ as their Savior. We do not baptize babies, but we do dedicate them and their parents to the Lord. Communion is also a meaningful memorial of Jesus' death and a symbol of our love for Jesus. It is open to all Christians who have examined themselves and confessed their sin to God.
...about Eternity – We believe that Jesus is returning to judge all human beings and to establish God’s eternal kingdom. Heaven and Hell are real places. Man was made for eternity and will spend it in one place or the other. Death is a beginning, not an end.