NORTHRIDGE STATEMENT OF FAITH [Return to Constitution]
1. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the
verbally inspired Word and revelation of God, without error in the original
manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has
supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (JOHN 17:17; ROMANS 15:4;
II TIMOTHY 3:16,17; II PETER 1:19-21)
2. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living
and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every
divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the
work of creation, providence and redemption. (MATTHEW 28:19; JOHN 1:1-4; I JOHN
5:7)
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an
infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We
believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of individuals, that
He hears and answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all who come to
Him through Jesus Christ. (JOHN 3:16,17; JOHN 4:24; JOHN 17:5)
4. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's
only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth,
sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning
death on the cross, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual
intercession for His People, and personal visible return to earth. (ISAIAH 7:14;
JOHN 1:14; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11; HEBREWS 1:2,3; I JOHN 1:7)
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who was
sent from the Father and Son to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and
righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who
believe in Jesus Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
(JOHN 14:26; JOHN 16:7-15; ROMANS 8:14-17; EPHESIANS 1:13,14; I CORINTHIANS
12:7,13)
6. Regeneration
We believe that all people are
sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We
believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior
are regenerated, or reborn, by the Holy Spirit. (JOHN 1:12,13; JOHN 3:3,16,17;
ACTS 20:21; EPHESIANS 2:1-9; TITUS 3:5)
7. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a
living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons
are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of
believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and
associated for worship, fellowship and stewardship. We believe that God has laid
upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of
Jesus Christ to a lost world (MATTHEW 16:16-18; ACTS 2:38-41; EPHESIANS 2:19-22;
EPHESIANS 5:25-27)
8. Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should
live for the glory of God and the well being of humankind; that the Christian
should maintain conduct blameless before the world, be a faithful steward of
possessions and talents, and seek to realize for self and other the full stature
of maturity in Christ. (II CORINTHIANS 9:6-8; EPHESIANS 4:11-16; PHILIPPIANS
2:14-16; COLOSSIANS 3:17-23; I THESSALONIANS 5:17,18)
9. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ
has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the
name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by
Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe Christ commanded that these
two ordinances be observed and administered until His return. (MATTHEW 28:18-20;
ACTS 2:41; ROMANS 6:3-5; I CORINTHIANS 11:23-32)
10. Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being can
have a personal and vital relationship with God through prayer and His Word, and
is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith. We believe that each church
is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or
political authority; that, therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as
having different functions, each fulfilling its duties in the pursuit of
Godliness and betterment of mankind. (I TIMOTHY 2:5; ROMANS 13:1-5)
11. The Last Things
We believe in the personal, visible, return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the just and the unjust. We believe that the church shall meet the Lord in the air according to His promise, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. We believe in the final judgment, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost with Satan and His followers. (MATTHEW 25:31-46; JOHN 5:28,29; I CORINTHIANS 15:42-44; II CORINTHIANS 5:10; I THESSALONIANS 4:16-17; REVELATION 20:1-15)