The Bible: We teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation, and all 66 books of the Bible were given to us by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We teach that, while there may be several applications of Scripture, there is only one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the illumination of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20).
God: We teach that there is one true God (Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
God the Father: We teach that God the Father the first Person of the Trinity, orders all things according to His own purposes and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is also Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9). As Creator He is Father to all who believe (Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18).
God the Son: We teach that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies, and in these He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9). We teach that in the incarnation, Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. In His incarnation, the eternally existing second Person of the Trinity accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God Man (Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9).
We teach that Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness (Micah 5:2; John 5:23; 14:9-10; Colossians 2:9). We teach that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:26-35); that He was God incarnate (John 1:1, 14); and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God, redeem men, and rule over God’s kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:29; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
We teach that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross and that His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24).
We teach that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Romans 4:25; 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1).
God the Holy Spirit: We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2), the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), the written revelation (2 Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7). The broad scope of His divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He also glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, which includes, transforming believers into His image which in Latin is described as the Imago Dei (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
Man: We teach that man was created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9). God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, while also enjoying God’s fellowship. (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).
We teach that in Adam’s sin of disobedience, man incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no power to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man’s salvation is wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8).
Marriage / Sexuality: We believe marriage is between one man and one woman as established in scripture. Marriage paints a picture of the union between Christ and His Church. It provides the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to the biblical standard and God’s means for procreation. We believe God ordained marriage and the family as the foundational institution of human society, and that only legitimate marriage is a sacred and permanent covenant relationship between one man and one woman, symbolizing the union of Christ and his Church.
The husband is to be the servant leader in the home and is to love his wife as Christ loves the church.
That the wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-25).
We believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity is to be engaged in outside of the marriage of a man and a woman. Any form of child molestation, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, bisexuality, incest, pedophilia, or pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. We believe God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance (Genesis 2:22-24; 19:5,13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2;1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; Gal. 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). As such anyone who continues to engage in these activities would be excluded from becoming a member of Cornerstone Church, as this would be a violation of the express will of God as revealed in the Scripture.
Salvation: We teach that salvation is wholly of God which is brought to man by grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not by human merit or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Church: We teach that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47), made up of those born-again by the Spirit of God (Acts 2:38-41). Committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), through the true preaching of the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2-5), the proper administration of the sacraments (Acts 2:38;41; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29), and the faithful exercise of discipline (Matthew 18:15-18). The church fulfills these responsibilities for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Pastors and Deacons: We teach that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders also called bishops, pastors (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11), and deacons.
These church officers lead, rule, or serve as slaves of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17-22).
The Lord’s Table and Baptism: We believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Water baptism by immersion is for those who have been born again which is a divine work of the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not produce regeneration but is an outward sign of an inward circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11).
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial service, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers, and only believers, should share in it (Matthew 3:16; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32).
Last Things: We believe in the visible and personal return of Jesus Christ to culminate history. At the appointed time, the dead shall be raised (John 5:28-29), and all mankind shall appear before the Lord to give an account (1 Corinthians 3: 11-13; Revelation 20: 11-15). Believers in Christ will be transformed and enjoy everlasting life in the presence of their Lord. Unbelievers will be condemned to everlasting, conscious punishment, forever separated from the gracious and comforting presence of God.
Religious Liberty: We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that Cornerstone Church is independent and free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.