What We Believe

In essential beliefs — we have unity.
“There is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all...”  (Ephesians 4:4-6)
(Our essentials are listed below under the heading "Core Beliefs.)

In non-essential beliefs — we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls...  So, then each of us will give an account of himself to God...  So, whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” (Romans 14:1,4,12, 22)

In all our beliefs — we show charity (love).
“...if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”  (1 Corinthians 13:2)

The following are the core beliefs of Laurel Ridge Community Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible.  These are our essential beliefs.  All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
(Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 2 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
(2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13 & 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Humans are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by attitudes and actions of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin separates each person from God and causes many problems in life.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2)

We were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
(John 3:16; 1 John 2:25 & 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

Salvation is a gift from God to mankind, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6 & 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
(John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25 & 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.  
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160 & 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

The Church is the Body of Christ and is consists of all believers in Jesus of this present age. Through the Church, believers are to be taught to obey the Lord, to testify concerning their faith in Jesus as Savior and to honor Him by holy living. Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is the primary mission of the Church. It is the obligation of all believers to witness, by word and life, to the truths of God’s Word. The gospel of God's grace is to be preached to all the world.  
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27, Matthew 28:19-20;  Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

The Church's two ordinances are believer’s water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Our observance of these two ordinances follows the example, teaching, and practice consistent with the Bible.  Water baptism by immersion is a testimony of belief in Jesus Christ and our identification with Him. The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ’s death as an atonement for our sins where the bread is symbolic of Jesus’ crucified body and the juice/cup is symbolic of Jesus’ shed blood.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Bible teaches that marriage was designed by God and affirmed by Jesus as one man united with one woman in covenantal relationship for life. Marriage reflects Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church. The purpose of marriage is for intimate partnership, procreation, and sexual pleasure. Any sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful and dishonoring to God’s design. Sexual attraction in and of itself is not deemed sinful if not acted upon.
(Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2)

Every human being is marvelously created in the image of God as male or female. Though cultural norms for gender expression may vary, one’s biological sex does not.  Due to the effects of sin upon humanity and brokenness in this world, for a variety of reasons a person’s experience of their sex and gender may become confused from God’s design. It is our desire to come alongside persons who are struggling with a gender identity that is not aligned with their birth sex as a compassionate and accepting community that extends love. However, recognizing that our sex as male and female is designed and ordered by God, we do not agree with any attempt to alter one’s birth sex through any medical intervention, devices, or techniques on the basis that it dishonors God’s design. Nor would we affirm any efforts to dissociate a person’s gender identity from their birth sex.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 8:20; Genesis 2:18-22; Romans 12:1-2)