The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture originated entirely from God and that it was given through writers inspired by God. Scripture speaks with the authority of God, and yet at the same time, reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. The Scriptures are presented exactly as God intended and without error in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there are no other writings similarly given by God. (Ps 19:7-11; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Rev 22:18-19)

Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He was united with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily made amends for the sins of people, making possible a right relationship with God. He died on the cross as a substitute for sinful mankind, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.

Jesus rose from the dead in the same body, now glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, where He, as mediator, continually intercedes with God the Father for His own—those who have received salvation. Because Jesus is alive believers are able to have a personal, interactive relationship with him at any moment. Jesus shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to bring history and the eternal plan of God to completion. (Matt 1:18-25; 24:30-31; 28:20; John 1:1-18; 3:16; 8:57-58; 14:6; 20:26-27; Acts 1:9-11; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:14, 20; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4-5; Phil 2:5-11; 1 Thes 4:14, 16-17; 1 Tim 2:5-6; Titus 2:13-15; Heb 1:3; 7:24-25; 8:1; 10:5-10; Rev 19:11-16).

The result of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. The one true church is composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Wherever God’s people meet regularly, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchful care of elders, pastors and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and spreading His Kingdom. The Scripture commands believers to gather in order to worship, pray, fellowship, teach, give, observe baptism and communion, serve within the body, and to reach out to the world through social justice, cultural impact and evangelism. (Matt 16:16-19; 25:14-30; 31-46; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; John 13:34-35; 17:20-21; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; 20:28; 1 Cor 11:23-28; 12:4-6, 12-13; Col 1:18-20; Eph 4:11-13; Phil 2:1-4; 1 Pet 2:4-10; 5:1-4; Heb 10:23-25; Rev 7:9-12)

We believe that there is only one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning, God created the world and all things therein out of nothing, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence—His loving and caring guidance—God operates throughout time to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Gen 1-2; 45:4-8; 50:19-20; Deut 6:4; 1 Chron 29:10-12; John 1:1-3; 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Rom 8:28; Col 1:15-20)

The Holy Spirit was sent into the world by the Father and the Son. A genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is evidenced by a life impacted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Before salvation, the Holy Spirit enlightens the minds of sinners and awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior. At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers, seals them into the family of God and gives them specific endowments, called the gifts of the Spirit, to build up the church and help it pursue its mission. Further, when believers yield to the control of the Holy Spirit they will gain an assurance in their relationship with Christ, a desire for fellowship with other Christians, a new value system that aligns them with God’s moral statutes, wisdom to discern what God wants them to do, and strength to do it. (John 3:5-8; 14:16-17; 16:8-11, 13-15; Acts 1:8; Rom 5:5; 8:9-11; 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 3:18; Eph 1:13; 4:4-6, 11-13, 30; Gal 5:16-22; 1 John 3:22-24; Titus 3:5-7).

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in an area where Scripture is silent. Rather, in these areas each believer should seek the wise counsel of others in the church and then be led by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible. (Rom 8:1-4; Gal 5:1; Phil 2:12)

For purposes of the Ridge Point Network Churches (Ridge Point Community Church, Cultivate Community Church and Third Coast Community Church) faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Lead Elders represent the churches on all final interpretive authority regarding the Bible’s meaning and application.