Statement of Faith
What Wilderness Ridge Believes
The Bible
We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments that comprise the Bible are the
inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit supervised the
writers of the Bible in what they wrote so that, using their own unique personalities, the very
words recorded in the original manuscripts are the direct revelation of God. We believe the Bible
not only contains the Word of God but actually is God’s Word and, therefore, is the complete and
final authority for belief and behavior. As such, it can be completely trusted. We believe that
inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility extend equally and fully to all parts of Scripture: historically,
poetically, doctrinally and prophetically (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21, 1 Cor. 2:13, John 17:17).
God
We believe that there is one and only one true and living God, an infinite Spirit who is the
Maker and Supreme Ruler of the universe. We believe the Bible reveals Him to be holy,
sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable and full of love, justice,
goodness, mercy, and truth. This is only a representative list of His eternal and unchanging
attributes. Although there is only one God, He exists eternally in three persons as the Trinity:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe these members of the Trinity are coequal in
essence, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, but are distinct in
subsistence, executing different but harmonious functions (Mark 12:29, John 4:24, Matt. 3:16-
17, Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ has existed eternally as the Son of God. At a specific point in time,
Jesus became a man (the incarnation) in order to reveal God and redeem humanity. We believe
He was supernaturally conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary. In His
incarnation, He forever possesses both full deity and full humanity in such a way that the
properties of each nature are fully retained and undiminished by the union. We believe Jesus
died on the cross as a substitute for sinful humanity, was buried, rose bodily from the tomb,
ascended into Heaven where He ministers on the behalf of those who have trusted in Him, and
someday will come again for His own (John 1:18, 8:58, Matt. 1:23, Col. 1:15-17, 1 Tim. 1:15,
3:16).
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully coequal with God the
Father and God the Son in terms of divine being, but distinct from the Father and the Son in His
personhood. We believe the Holy Spirit actively ministers to the world. This ministry includes
restraining evil, convicting the unsaved of sin and bestowing God’s goodness on mankind. We
also believe He ministers to every believer in Jesus Christ in numerous ways: regenerating,
sealing, indwelling, baptizing into the Body of Christ, and the giving of spiritual gifts. Other
ministries to believers include filling, assuring, teaching, guiding, and comforting (Acts 5:3-4, 2
Thess. 2:3-9, John 16:7-11, Matt. 5:45, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 6:19, 12:13, Eph. 3:20, 1 Cor.
14, James 5:14, Eph. 5:18, Rom. 8:16, 14, John 16:13, 7).
Creation
We believe that God, according to His sovereign will and for His own glory, created the heavens
and the earth without the use of pre-existent material. We also believe that all living things
came into being by the creative act of God and not by a random process. Creation has an
existence distinct from Him and yet is always dependent on Him (Gen. 2:4, Prov. 16:4, Acts
17:24, Col. 1:16-17).
Humanity
We believe that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God and in a state of
innocence. Through deliberate disobedience, humanity fell from its sinless state and as a
consequence lost its fellowship with God and became subject to spiritual and physical death.
We believe that through Adam’s transgressions the entire human race has inherited a corrupt
nature, which is prone to do evil and unable to please God (Gen. 1:26-27, 3:24, Rom. 5:12, Eph.
2:1-3).
Sin
We believe that sin is anything contrary to the character of God. Every person is alienated from
God because of their depraved nature as well as personal acts of sin. Everyone is separated
from God and completely incapable of meriting salvation and avoiding the judgment of God.
This sinful nature is never eradicated, even for those who have trusted in Christ alone for
salvation. It remains until the end of life on earth. However, we believe God has made provision
for forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ and victory over sin through the power
of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 3:10, 23, 6:23, Eph. 4:18, 1 John 1:8-10, Gal. 5:16-17).
Salvation
We believe that salvation from the penalty and power of sin is available through faith in Jesus
Christ alone. This salvation was made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ which He shed
on the cross. It is through this act that He became sin for us and died in our place. There is
nothing a person can do to earn this salvation (including good works, moral achievement or
religious status). The one and only condition for salvation is personal faith in Jesus Christ as
one’s own substitute for sin and savior from sin. At the time of salvation, a person is spiritually
regenerated, sins are forgiven, God’s righteousness is imputed, and he/she is declared
righteous in the sight of God. This salvation is complete and a present possession of all
believers which remains his/hers forever. All who have trusted Christ as Savior are kept secure
and will never lose their salvation (1 Pet. 1:18-19, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 2:24, Eph 2:8-9, Tit. 3:5,
Eph. 4:32, Rom. 5:1, Rom. 8:38-39).
The Church
We believe that the Church is a unique organism composed of people who have placed their
faith in Christ alone as Savior. The Church began on the day of Pentecost and will continue its
distinct purpose until Christ’s return. We believe that the Church exists in both a universal
aspect, as the Body of Christ, and in a local assembly of believers in Jesus Christ. The local
church has the twofold purpose of the edification of believers and the evangelization of the
unsaved. We practice water baptism by immersion, and the Lord’s Supper, which we believe to
be a memorial of Christ’s death. Both are open to all believers (1 Cor. 12:13, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Thess.
4:13-17, Col. 4:16, Eph. 4:7, Heb. 13:17, Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-28.)
Marriage and Sexuality
Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His Bride – the Church. It is defined from the
beginning of Scripture as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. God designed
sexual intimacy for a marriage relationship and does not endorse or condone it in any other
context (1 Thess. 4:3-5, Eph 5:22-23, Gen 2:24, Matt 19:4-5).
Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According
to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will
be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to
Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified
bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38;
9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans
14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5;
3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8;
Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation
1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.
