The WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2 Timothy 3:16; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 10:35; John 20:31; Acts 20:32; 2 Peter 1:20-21.
THE TRINITY
We believe in one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct yet harmonious offices in creation, providence, and redemption. Matthew 28:19
We believe that God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that he concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all those who come to him through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians I:3; Gen 1:1,26; Matt 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 4:24; Rom 1:19-20; Eph 4:5-6.
We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Father's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, fully God and fully man. We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in his substitutionary, atoning death; his bodily resurrection; his ascension into heaven; and his continuing high priestly ministry for his people. We believe in his headship over his earthly body, the church, and his dominion over all the powers of hell. We believe he will personally and visibly return to earth in glory at the age's consummation. Colossians 1:15; Matt 1:18-25; Matt 20:28; Luke 1:26-28; John 1:1, 20:28, 20:30-31; Acts 1:11; Rom 5:6-8, 6:9-10, 8:46, 9:5; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 1:4; Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 2:21-23.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells all believers in Christ and constantly abides as a teacher, helper, and guide. We believe the Holy Spirit manifests through the distribution of his gifts, as he wills, to every believer for the building of the body of Christ. John 14:16; John 14:17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:9-14; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19, 12:4-11, 28-29; Gal 5:22-26.
HUMANITY
We believe God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders reflect God's image and nature. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God in His image for joyful fellowship with Him. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. Psalm 139:13,16
NEW BIRTH
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God. We believe that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are under condemnation because they are sinners by choice. They are thereby separated from God and are incapable of returning to God apart from the grace revealed through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that those who repent and turn from sin to follow Jesus Christ as Savior are “born again” spiritually, delivered from condemnation, and receive new and eternal life. We believe salvation is a gift from God, initiated by him, provided solely by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23,; Ephesians 2:4-5; Gen 1:26, 5:2; Gen 3; Gen 2:17; 3:19; Eccl 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Rom 5:12; 9:22; 2 Thes 1:9; Rev 19:3, 20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:18; Ps 51:7; Jer 17:9; Jam 1:14; Rom 3:19; Prov 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:1
THE CHURCH
The church is both universal (worldwide) and local, a living spiritual body with Jesus as its head and all believers as members. The local church consists of believers in Jesus Christ who have each been baptized after a credible profession of faith and are committed to worship, work, and fellowship together. God has entrusted the members of the local church with the three great calls: (a) To love God with all our hearts. (b) To love our neighbor as ourselves. (c) To make disciples of all nations. Ephesians 2:22; Eph 2:19-21; Acts 1:8; Eph 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Heb 10:23-25.
We believe all believers have a duty to be faithful and fruitful in the local congregation where the Lord has planted them, and, insofar as it depends on them, to seek to live in peace and brotherhood with all true believers in Christ. We believe the Father has children in all Christian denominations, everywhere, and that we are to be gatherers rather than scatterers, and, in that respect, to live in the light of Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17. John 17:20-21.
THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE
We believe all Christians should repent of all known sin, for God hates sin; walk in holiness—dead to their former way of life and alive to Christ; and live for the glory of God, according to the truths of Scripture. The believer should honor Christ as Lord of all, including every aspect of his or her life. We should honor God with our time, talents, and possessions and strive to be conformed to the image of Christ, both individually and as a church.
Children should honor and obey their parents. Parents should raise their children in the Lord's fear and instruction. Those who are single should walk in holiness, abstaining from sexual relations until marriage. Those who would marry should marry a believer.
The married should walk in holiness, striving to love and honor their spouse and to obey Scripture's commands for husbands and wives. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe God ordained marriage, and it reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church. We believe marriage is to be a lifelong commitment. We believe divorce is caused by sin and is a distortion of God’s original intent for marriage. We believe that all sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage are sin and are wholly incompatible with Christian teaching. We believe that any form of sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God. Gen 2:18-25; Lev 18:22, 20:13; Matt 15:18-20; John 14:15, 23-24; Rom 1:26-28, 12:1-3; 1 Cor 6:9-11, 10:31-33; 2 Cor 9:6-9, Eph 5:1-6:4; Heb 12:1-2, 13:4; 1 John 2:3-6
We believe every person deserves compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) We repudiate hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual, as they are not in accord with Scripture or the doctrines of Cornerstone Church.
THE ORDNINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe the local church is enjoined to practice the ordinances of baptism (Matt 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20). Baptism signifies repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), identifies the believer with Christ (Rom 6:3-8), and publicly initiates one into the Church (1 Cor 12:13). We believe baptism should normally be conducted by immersion (Mark 1:9) as a public profession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is an occasion to reflect on and celebrate Christ’s life and loving sacrifice (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26). Participation in the Lord’s Supper involves thanksgiving (1 Cor 10:16) and sober self-examination, with the confession of sins (1 Cor 11:20-22, 27-29). This is meant to emphasize the importance of Jesus’ death for us regularly, “until He comes” (1 Cor 11:26). Though Christ is not physically or supernaturally part of the bread and wine, as some teach, He is spiritually present in the celebration.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal blessing of the redeemed and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:15; 2 Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 4:5, 15; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev 20:4-6, 11-15
FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF FAITH AND CONDUCT
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Cornerstone Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Council of Elders is Cornerstone Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.