CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS
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NORTHRIDGE FELLOWSHIP DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
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NorthRidge accepts the Scriptures as its authority in matters of faith and practice and adopts and stands firm upon the following as its interpretation of Bible Doctrine.

1. NorthRidge believes that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament (which consists of 66 books) are divinely inspired by God. NorthRidge believes that the Scriptures in their original writings were without error. Accordingly, the Scriptures stand alone as NorthRidge’s source for doctrine and teaching. (Psalm 12:6; 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5,6; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17,18; Luke 16:17; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20,21).
   
   
2. NorthRidge believes there is one and only one, living and true God (“God”). God is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being. He is the Creator, the Redeemer, the Preserver, and the Ruler of the universe. God is holy and perfect. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever present. His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future. To Him, all people owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God reveals Himself to people as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:1,2; Isaiah 45:5,6,14,18,21,22; 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; Mark 12:29-32; John 1:1-3; 6:27; 12:26; 15:26; 16:15; 20:28; Acts 2:32-36; 5:4,9; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4-6,8).
   
   
3. NorthRidge believes that Jesus the Christ is God, the One and Only Begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born to the virgin, Mary. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-14; 20:28; Colossians 1:22; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 5:7; Philippians 2:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 4:1; 1 John 4:2,3; 2 John 1:7).
   
   
4. NorthRidge believes in God, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is equal with God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit indwells the Believer, and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the gospel. (Matthew 28:19; John 3:5-8; 14:16; 15:26,27; 16:7-14; Acts 1:4,5,8; Romans 8:4,9,11,14,26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21,22; 3:17; Galatians 5:16,22-25; Ephesians 1:13; 3:16; 4:30; 5:15-21; Titus 3:5).
   
   
5. NorthRidge believes that mankind was created in the image of God. Every person is born with a sinful nature, therefore each one has sinned. Thereby, every person incurs not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:27; 3:1-19; 5:1; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59:2; Romans 3:9-18,23; 5:12-14; 6:23; 8:7; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Galatians 3:22).
   
   
6. NorthRidge believes that Jesus Christ died as the propitiation for the sins of the world, according to the Scriptures (i.e.; as the representative and substitutionary sacrifice that appeased the justice of God). (Isaiah 53:4-12; John 14:6; Romans 3:25,26; 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3,22; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:17; 4:15,16; 9:22; 1 John 2:2; 3:5; 4:10)
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7. NorthRidge believes that all, who believe in and receive by faith Jesus Christ, are born again by the Holy Spirit, and thereby become children of God and heirs of eternal life (“Believers”). All Believers are justified on the basis of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. For this reason, after physical death, all Believers live eternally in God’s holy presence. In contrast, all who do not believe in and do not receive Jesus Christ by faith are not justified before God (the “Lost”). Upon physical death, the Lost will live eternally separated from God, and after the Great White Throne Judgment, will be tormented in the Lake of Fire (Hell) as described in the Scriptures. (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26,27; Matthew 13:36-43; 25:31-46; John 1:12,13; 3:5-8,16,36; 5:24; 14:1-6; 17:3; Romans 1:8-17; 3:20-26; 4:5-8,25; 5:1,18-21; 6:23; 8:9,14-17,19-23,33; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8,17; Galatians 2:16; 3:1-7,11; Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 5:9; 6:19,20; 1 John 2:2; 3:2; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:11-15; 21:8,27).
   
   
8. NorthRidge believes that Jesus Christ’s physical, crucified body was resurrected from the dead after three days; that after His resurrection and forty day ministry on earth, He ascended into Heaven; that He is presently acting as the High Priest, representing Believers before God; and that He is presently the advocate for Believers. We believe Jesus is the Name above every name, and that every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess Him to be King of kings and Lord of lords. (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:23-40; John 14:18; 20:1-29; Acts 1:1-11; Romans 10:9; 14:11; 1 Corinthians 15:12-23,35-37; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:15; Hebrews 4:14,15; 5:1-10; 7:25; 8:1,2; 9:11-15,24; 13:5; 1 Peter 3:22; 1 John 2:1).
   
   
9. NorthRidge believes that Jesus Christ will return to the earth in glorified form. (Matthew 24:22,24,29-51; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 1:11; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:7, 13; 4:13; Revelation 19:11-16).
   
   
10. NorthRidge believes in the bodily resurrection of all people, the Lost and the Believers; the everlasting conscious suffering of the Lost in the Lake of Fire; and the eternal fellowship of Believers in Heaven. (Matthew 13:36-43; 25:31-46; John 14:1-6; Philippians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Hebrews 6:19,20; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:11-15; 21:8,27).
    
    
11. NorthRidge believes in the existence of the devil, also known as Satan. Satan is a liar, seeking to deceive men and turn them from God. Satan, all his angelic hosts, and all the Lost, those who have not received Christ as their Lord and Savior, will be eternally separated from God and tormented in the Lake of Fire. (Genesis 3:4,13,14; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1-2; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:1-11; 13:39; Mark 3:22; John 8:44; Acts 5:3; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:3,14; Ephesians 2:2; 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 9:11; 12:9,10; 19:20; 20:10,14,15).
    
    
12. NorthRidge believes that all Believers comprise the “Church.” The Church’s mission is to preach, teach, declare, and make known the Scriptures to all the world, through the formal proclamation of the Scriptures and through the Believer’s complete, transformed, and consistent lifestyle. (Matthew 5:13-16; 16:15-19; 18:20; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41,42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:15-32; 3:8-10; 4:15,16; Colossians 1:10-28; 2:19; 3:15).
    
    
13. NorthRidge believes that, within the local body of Believers (“Local Church”), God provides a team of Pastor(s), Elders, Deacons and other workers who are to guide and enable the congregation to develop spiritual maturity. (Acts 6:1-7; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17; Titus 1:5-16; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
    
    
14. NorthRidge believes each Believer is commanded by God to exercise care and consideration with regard to all the time, all the possessions, and all the wealth which God has entrusted to each Believer. (Matthew 6:19-21; 20:1-16; Luke 16:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2; 9:17; 10:31; 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Ephesians 5:15,16; Philippians 4:10,14-19; Colossians 1:25,26; 3:17; 4:5; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10).
    
    
15. NorthRidge believes in two ordinances of the Church, given by Jesus Christ:
    
    • Baptism: NorthRidge believes that baptism by immersion is commanded of all Believers as an act of obedience, signifying the death, burial, and resurrection “in Christ” of the Believer. NorthRidge does not believe in baptismal regeneration, nor does it believe that baptism is necessary to be a Believer; and
      
    • the Lord’s Supper: NorthRidge believes that the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience by which Believers memorialize the death of Jesus Christ until He returns. (Baptism: Matthew 3:13-16; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21,22; John 3:22,23; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12,13,35-39; 16:15; 18:8; Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21.  Lord’s Supper: Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16,17,21; 11:17-34)