What We Believe
THE BIBLE THE GODHEAD JESUS CHRIST THE HOLY SPIRIT MAN SIN SALVATION ASSURANCE AND SECURITY OF SALVATION BAPTISM THE ASSEMBLY FELLOWSHIP THE LORD'S SUPPER SPIRITUAL GIFTS FUTURE EVENTS
Every word in the original writings of the Holy Scriptures is inspired of God, authoritative, and without error. The Bible is the only written revelation of God to man and is infallible. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Proverbs 30:5-6)
There is one God, existing eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19) God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. (John 4:24,10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14;Hebrews 1:8-12)
We believe that Jesus Christ is absolute Deity and co-equal with God. He entered the human race miraculously be being born of a virgin. He did not sin and He could not sin. He died as a substitute for all the sins of the human race, was buried, rose bodily from the grave and ascended to the Father's right hand where He now ministers as our Great High Priest. (Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:1,14; Acts 1:9;Romans 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:14-15; 7:25; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18)
The Holy Spirit convicts and converts the sinner. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals all true believers in Christ and empowers them to live a holy life. (Matthew 28:19; John 16:8; Romans 8:9-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
Adam was created in the image and likeness of God and was an innocent being. He subsequently sinned, and as head of the human race he passed on a sinful nature to all mankind. All men are sinners by nature but also by practice. Apart from God's salvation man is lost eternally. (Genesis 1:27; 9:6; Romans 5:12;Ephesians 2:1)
Sin is our disobedience to the revealed will of God. It is also a state, the absence of righteousness, or anything that falls short of the perfect glory of God. God has established that the penalty for sin is death. (Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:23; James 2:10; 4:17; Revelation 20:11-15)
Without the shedding of the precious blood of Christ, there is no remission of sin. Salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and entirely apart from law keeping or good works. It is entered into by all those who hear and understand the gospel, repent of their sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Savior. (Mark 1:15; John 1:12-13; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Hebrews 9:22)
All true believers can know that they are saved on the authority of the Word of God. Those who are in Christ are safe and secure for all eternity. (John 10:28-29;Romans 5:1; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 5:13)
Baptism by immersion signifies that the believer has died with Christ, has been buried with Him, and has risen to walk in newness of life with Him. There is no salvation to be found in the act of baptism. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 10:47-48)
The local assembly is made up of believers in the Lord Jesus who meet together for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, and evangelism. Christ is the head of each assembly and He entrusts leadership to the elders, men who are recognized as Christ's undershepherds. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27;Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:24-25, 30; Acts 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17)
To be in fellowship at Meadow Ridge Bible Chapel, a person must be born again through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, holy in life, not under discipline by any assembly, and willing to submit to the spiritual oversight, leadership, and care of the elders.
The Lord's Supper is a meeting at which believers remember the Lord Jesus and show forth His death until He comes again. In accordance with the early church, the Lords Supper is celebrated every Sunday. (Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26)
Christ gives to each believer, at conversion, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, some gift or gifts to equip him to serve the Lord and edify other believers. Some gifts were foundational, and the miraculous gifts, such as healing, miracles, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, were gifts given as a sign to the Jews during the transitional period as the church was being established. These foundational and miraculous gifts ceased when their purposes were accomplished. (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 14:22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11-12; Hebrews 2:3-4)
God has revealed different dispensations, or periods of time, with corresponding rules governing life and relationship with God. In every dispensation the way of salvation is by faith alone. The present dispensation is the age of grace.The church did not exist prior to this age, and does not take the place of Israel in the prophecies of Scripture. The personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus to Rapture the Church will be followed in order by the tribulation, Christ's thousand year reign on earth, and the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and blessing for the saved. (Matthew 24:21; 29, 30; 25:46; Romans 6:14; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:2-6; Colossians 1:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:4-10; Hebrews 7:18-19; Revelation 10:1-6)