Our Statement of Faith

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Each person of the Trinity are equally divine and possesses all of the attributes of Deity.  God is the creator of all things visible and invisible and is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. (Genesis 1:1-2; Colossians 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Mark 1:10-11; Matthew 28:19)

We believe in God the Father, an almighty and infinite personal Spirit, who mercifully concerns Himself in the affairs of men.  We believe that He hears and answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all that come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  (2 Corinthians 6:18; Matthew 6:9; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 64:8; John 10:29)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.  We believe that He is both fully God and fully man.  We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, teaching and miracles, death on the cross, resurrection, ascension into heaven, and future personal return to earth.  (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30-33; 19:30; 20:27-28; Mark 2:7-12; Hebrews 2:14-18; Isaiah 9:6, 53:1-12; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 28:18; Revelation 5:12; 22:12)

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son.  The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, sanctifies, and empowers all that place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.  The Holy Spirit is an abiding helper, teacher, comforter, and guide.  (Galatians 4:6; 5:25; John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-8, 13-14; Ephesians 4:30)

We believe that the Bible is the very Word of God and as such is fully inspired by God through the agent of men.  The Scriptures communicate the nature of God, His plan for humankind – preeminently our salvation by grace through faith in Christ, and how we should live.  The Scriptures are the final authority for faith and life.  (John 10:35b; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

We believe God created people in His own image and free from sin.  Because of Adam’s fall each individual is born in sin and, therefore, is by nature and choice a sinner.  Sin is manifested most clearly in our propensity towards ‘self-rule’ rather than living under the loving leadership of Christ.  We cannot justify ourselves before God.  Each individual must place their faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as the atoning work for the forgiveness of sin.  Authentic faith is always wed to a changed life.  Having placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior we are spiritually born again and are thereafter children of God and members of His family forever.  (Genesis 1:27; 3:6-24; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 5:22-33; 1 John 4:19-20; John 3:3, 16)

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all those who place their faith and trust in Christ are members.  We believe the universal church has its expression in the local church where believers unite to worship God, encourage and minister to each other, equip each other for ministry, and share the Gospel with our world.  We believe that the local church should be led by Elders who are Godly men.  (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-7; Acts 20:28)

We believe that God has given His church two ordinances to practice until His return – Baptism and Communion.  Baptism symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.  Water baptism is an act of obedience that follows repentance and saving faith.  It is also a symbol of the baptism with the Holy Spirit that occurs at the time of conversion.

Communion is a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.  The bread symbolizes Christ’s body and the juice symbolizes His blood.  In partaking of the elements believers look back at Christ’s death as their means of salvation, consider their present relationship in living consistent with this grace, and look to the future for His return.  (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.  Because God creates each individual as either male or female, any rejection or attempt to change genders is a sin.  
(Gen. 1:26-27)
We believe that God instituted marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman.  The original intent for the marriage union is for this relationship to be monogamous and for a lifetime.  We believe God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other, therefore any sexual activity outside of marriage is against God’s will. (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4) 

We believe there will be the future personal return of Jesus Christ where He will judge all people who have ever lived.  All people from all time will be bodily resurrected.  To those whose names are in the book of life they will spend eternity in the presence of God.  They will also be rewarded based on the things they have done while on earth.  Those whose names are not in the book of life will suffer eternal separation from God and their judgment will be based on their deeds.  (Revelation 20:12-15; 21:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Luke 12:46-48; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

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 Christian Fellowship’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Board has the responsibility to interpret and apply God’s word for our church. In order to model and abide by God’s standards, all employees and those serving as volunteers in ministry leadership roles agree to hold to these beliefs, conduct their lives consistently with these beliefs, and willingly submit themselves to the Cornerstone Elders. (Matthew 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22; Hebrews 13:17)