What we believe

The Christian beliefs of SouthRidge Church

This is what we stand for

We believe that the church is part of a movement of God, not a stuffy institution. We believe that God still meets with people who genuinely seek Him and willingly try to follow His Word. We believe His Word is unchanging and is as relevant today as when it was written. We believe God wants to know each of us intimately and invites us to join with Him in letting the world know where true life is found. So it’s our passion to partner with God in bringing the life changing power of Jesus Christ to our world – and that means you!

The Bible

We believe the Holy Bible to be that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation which, as originally written, was objectively the very Word of God; that it was written by men supernaturally moved; that it is verbally and plenary inspired; that it is truth without any admixture of error; and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to men; the true basis of Christian doctrine, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

God

We believe that there is one God who is an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Creator and the Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honour, faith, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct and harmonious offices in relationship to humanity.

(Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19).

The Father

We believe that God the Father is the Supreme Author and Initiator of the reconciliation of the elect to Himself; that He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from our sin, irrevocably calling the elect to draw near to Himself through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ; He is merciful toward humanity, hearing and answering the prayers of His people.

(John 16:23-27; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:3, 17-23).

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus is God’s one and only Son. He is truly and eternally God; that for our redemption He took upon Himself the nature of unfallen man; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary; that being tempted in the flesh He lived a sinless life; that he died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin; that on the third day He arose bodily from the dead and ascended in His glorified body into heaven where He now intercedes to the Father for His own.

(Matthew 1:18 and 23; Luke 24:1-8; John 1:1,14; Acts 1:11; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1; Revelation 19:11-20; Ephesians 3:17).

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; that He is the agent of regeneration, turning the lost soul to God; that He brings new life to every believer and indwells him from the moment of conversion; that every believer is baptized in the Spirit by Christ; that He fills the believer as control is yielded to Christ; that He works in the lives of believers to teach, correct, comfort and strengthen; that He guides, gifts and empowers believers for ministry; that the evidence of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

(Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; John 16:7-15, Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:11, 19; 12:4-13; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:1-8; Acts 5:3-4).

Satan

We believe that Satan is an evil person; that he is the originator of sin, tempter of humanity and the arch-enemy of God and humans; that he has been defeated by Jesus’ victorious death and triumphant resurrection; that he is the accuser of the saints; that he now awaits his destiny and final defeat when he will be thrown into the abyss of hell – a place of eternal punishment prepared for Satan, his angels, and unrepentant humanity.

(Ezekiel 28:11-15; Isaiah 14:12-20; Ephesians 6:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 19:11-16, 20).

Humankind

We believe that humanity originated with Adam and Eve as described in Genesis; that they were created in a state of innocence in the image and likeness of God, having the ability to know, obey and love God; that by their own willful disobedience they fell from their sinless state; that all humans sin not only by constraint but of choice, being by nature rebellious toward God, having no ability to please Him; that humanity is under just condemnation without defense or excuse; that man in his fallen state is in a condition of total depravity by which he is incapacitated to receive the things of the Spirit of God apart from the quickening grace of the Holy Spirit.

(Genesis 1:26-29; 2:7-3:19; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14).

Salvation

We believe that salvation cannot be earned; that no one deserves it; that it is based solely on the sovereign grace of God and was purchased for us through Jesus’ death on the cross, where He bore our sins in His own body, imputing His righteousness to believing sinners, His death making a full and expiatory atonement for our sins, canceling our guilt before God, restoring us to a relationship with Him, and providing us with the ability to live righteous lives as His children.

We believe that election is the eternal act of God’s sovereign grace by which He chooses, calls, justifies, and glorifies sinners; that it is effectuated by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word drawing sinners to Christ so that their wills are freely brought into compliance with God’s elective purpose; that it excludes all human boasting; that it is demonstrated in believers by their personal faith in Christ, their love for God and their desire for holiness; that it is the ground of the believer’s assurance and promotes humility and service.

We believe that in order to be saved, a sinner must be born again through personal faith in Jesus Christ; that the new birth is a new creation; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life as the gift of God; that such is kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation and shall never perish; that the new birth is brought about in a miraculous manner above man’s comprehension wholly and solely by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit; that its proper evidence appears in the fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.

(John 1:12; 3:3-7; Romans 3:24, 5:9, 8:1; 31-39; Ephesians 1:11-14; 2:8-10; 4:22-24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Local church

We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the Head; that the true Church is comprised of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been given new life by the Holy Spirit; that the Church expresses itself according to the New Testament pattern in local assemblies whose partners have been baptized upon credible confession of faith in Jesus Christ; that these partners form a spiritual family who contribute their efforts and resources voluntarily so that together they may worship the Lord, learn His Word, share in His ministry, serve one another, pray for all things, and reach out in love and service to the world; that the church exists to fulfill Christ’s command to make disciples of all peoples; that the ordinances of the local church are Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

(Colossians 1:15-18; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 6:1-11; Ephesians 2:19; 4:11-13; 5:21; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 22:37-38 and 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-31).

Future events

We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the bodily resurrection of all people; that there is an essential difference in the nature, belief, and practice of believers and unbelievers; in the eternal joy of believers in heaven and the judgment and conscious eternal punishment of the unbelievers in hell.

(John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 15:51-58; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 John 8; Revelation 19:20).

Church and state relations

We believe that offices of civil government are appointed by God for the interests and good order of society; that each individual should fulfill his responsibilities as a good citizen and should obey the laws of the land except in matters contrary to the Bible’s clear teaching; that the church and State are distinct and separate, each serving God’s purposes.

(Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-6).

Christian conduct

We believe the purpose of every believer is to bring glory to God; that the believer is set apart (sanctified) unto God as the recipient of all heavenly perfections; that sanctification is also a process by which the believer sets himself apart from sin to God in the gradual attaining of moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in his heart and in obedience to the Word of God; that it will culminate in the glorious and eternal state of entire sanctification at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; that believers should live blamelessly before the world as faithful managers of the resources with which God has entrusted us.

(Colossians 2:6-7; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 1:28; 1 Timothy 6:6-9; 1 Peter 1:14-15, Romans 12:1-2; John 15:5, Ephesians 2;10).