Cornerstone Baptist Church stands for the historic faith founded in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His inerrant, authoritative Word (the Bible). Below is a detailed summary of our beliefs.
I. Concerning the Scripture
We believe the sixty-six Books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written, were verbally inspired of God and therefore, wholly without error. We believe the Bible is the supreme revelation of God’s will for man and is our only rule of life and practice.
II Timothy 3.16 II Peter 1.19-21 Hebrews 4.12
II. Concerning the true God
We believe in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, manifesting Himself in three Persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory, yet executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Exodus 20.2-3 I Corinthians 8.6 I Peter 1.2
III. Concerning the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person possessing all the attributes of personality and of deity. He is equal with the Father, and with the Son and is of the same nature. His relation to the unbelieving world is that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. His work among believers is that He seals, indwells, fills, guides and teaches the way of righteousness. Whereas the Canon of Scripture is now complete, we believe the authenticating sign gifts (tongues, healings, miracles) have ceased.
John 14.16-17, 26 Hebrews 9.14 Ephesians 1.13-14 I Corinthians 13.10
Hebrews 2.3-4 I Corinthians 14.22
IV. Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (in a divine manner). He is very God of very God, being “God manifest in the flesh”. He lived a life of absolute sinlessness. In His death He made full atonement for our sins (dying not a martyr’s death, but as a voluntary substitute in the sinner’s place). He rose again from the dead on the third day and ascended bodily into heaven. He is coming again to this world to establish His kingdom and to set up the throne of David. His coming is imminent, and will be personal and pre-millennial.
Isaiah 7.14 Matthew 1.18-25 John 1.1 I Peter 2.22
I Peter 3.18 John 14.3 Matthew 28.6 I Thessalonians 4.16
Acts 15.16
V. Concerning Man
We believe the Scripture teaches that man was created by God in innocence. By voluntary transgression he fell from his sinless state. As a consequence, all men are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defence or excuse.
Genesis 1.27 Isaiah 53.6 Romans 3.10-12 Romans 3.23
VI. Concerning Salvation
We believe the Scriptures teach that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial work of the Son of God; it is wholly apart from works and is upon the sole condition of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: that in order to be saved the sinner must be born again, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit and becoming the recipient of a new nature; that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification which includes pardon of sin and the impartation of divine righteousness solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood: that having exercised personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is completely justified and is in possession of a salvation which is eternally secure.
Ephesians 2.8-9 John 3.3-6 II Peter 1.4 Acts 13.39
John 10.28-29
VII. Concerning the Church
We believe the Scriptures teach that, while all believers are part of the invisible, universal Church, the visible, local church of Christ is a congregation of baptised believers, joined in the faith and fellowship of the Word, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising spiritual gifts for the edification of the body. Its Scriptural offices are: bishops/elders or pastors, and deacons; qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.
Matthew 26.19,20 Acts 2.41,42 Titus 1 I Timothy 3
VIII. Concerning Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe the Scriptures teach there are two observances commanded for the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer to publicly declare faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour. It pictures death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the remembrance of His death until He comes. It is an observance for believers who have examined their relationship with God. Neither baptism nor the Lord’s Supper imparts grace to the participant.
Acts 8.36-39 Romans 6.3-5 I Corinthians 11.23-28
IX. Concerning the Eternal State
We believe the Scriptures teach that all those who, through faith, are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will spend eternity in full enjoyment of God’s presence. Those who, through impenitence and unbelief, refuse to accept God’s offer of mercy will spend eternity in everlasting punishment.
Psalm. 16.11 John 14.2 Matthew. 25.46
X. Concerning Satan
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a literal devil who is “the god of this age; the prince of the power of the air.” Full of all subtlety, he seeks continually to frustrate the purposes of God and to ensnare the sons of men.
Ephesians 2.2 II Corinthians 4.4 Revelation 12.9 II Corinthians 11.13,15
XI. Concerning the End Times
We believe the Scriptures teach that the return of Christ will be premillennial. It is an event which can occur at any moment – all believers, both dead and living, will be caught up (or raptured) to meet the Lord in the air. Following this will come seven years of severe Tribulation on the earth. The Tribulation will culminate with the revelation of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial kingdom on earth.
I Thessalonians 4.13-18 I Corinthians 15.42-44 I Corinthians 15.51-54 Philippians 3.20-21
Revelation 3.10 Daniel 9.25-27 Matthew 24.29-31 Luke 1.30-33
Isaiah 9.6-7 Isaiah 11.1-9 Acts 2.29-30 Rev. 20-1-4, 6
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