CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
I. The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible to be that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation which, as originally written, was objectively the very Word of God; that it was written by men who spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit; that it is verbally and plenarily inspired; that it is truth without any error; and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete, sufficient and final revelation of the will of God to men; the true centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be evaluated.
1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Samuel 23:1,2; John 17:17;
Psalm 119:160; Hebrews 1:1,2; Psalm 119:89; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20
II. The Trinity
1. We believe that there is one, and only one, living eternal and true God; an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Creator and the Supreme Ruler of all creation, inexpressibly glorious in holiness; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service or obedience, as creatures they owe to their Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons: the Father - who is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son - eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit - eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son; all three subsistences, one in substance, equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct and harmonious offices in the work of redemption.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 147:5; John 4:24; Hebrews 1:2;
Revelation 19:6; Exodus 15:11; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6;
John 15:26; John 1:14,18; Ephesians 1:13,14
2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity; that He is truly and eternally God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit; that He for our redemption, when the fullness of time was come, took upon Himself the nature of unfallen man, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of human nature, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man; that being tempted in the flesh He lived a sinless life; that He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; that the third day He arose bodily from the tomb and manifested Himself for forty days to his disciples; that in His glorified body He ascended to the Father; that as High Priest He ever lives to make intercession for His own; that according to His promise He will come again in person, visibly, with power and great glory.
John 1:14; Galatians 4;4; Hebrews 2:14, 16, 17; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5;
John 1:18; John 1:1; John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 8:3; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 4:15; John 19:13-16; Matthew 28:6; John 20:27; Acts 1:3; Acts 1:8,9; Philippians 3:20,21; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7; Titus 2:13,14; Matthew 24:30;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
3. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in creation ; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and in testimony; that He is the agent of regeneration; that He dwells in every believer from the moment of his conversion; that every believer is baptized in the Spirit by Christ; that every believer is commanded to be filled/controlled by the Spirit, so that the characteristics of Christ likeness will be evident in their confession and life lived, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their life. The Holy Spirit enables the spreading of God’s Word in testimony, preaching and practical living.
Acts 5:3,4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:32; Titus 3:5; John 3:3-6; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Matthew 3:11; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 8:1-8;
Galatians 5:22,23; Gal 5:16; John 15:26-27.
III. The Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan is a person; that he is the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world; that he is man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints; that, being a liar and the father of lies, he is the author of all false religions, the inspirer of all apostasy, and the chief of all the powers of darkness; that he with his principalities is overcome by our appropriation of Christ’s victory on Calvary; that he along with his hosts is destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to suffer eternal punishment in a place prepared for him and his angels.
Matthew 4:3; James 4:7; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Genesis 3:1-15; Zechariah 3:1,2; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:1-9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 John 3:8; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:15; Luke 10:17-19; Revelation 19:19-21; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41
IV. The Creation
We believe in the Biblical six, twenty four hour days account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after his own likeness; that man’s creation was not by evolution or change of species of development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal life and vegetable life were effected by special creation, and God’s established decree was that they should bring forth only “after their kind”.
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:4; Hebrews 11:3; Acts 17:24-26; Genesis 1:26,27; Genesis 2;7;
Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11,12,21,24,25
V. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Creator, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state; in consequence of which all men are now sinful, and all are sinners not only by constraint but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse; that man in his fallen state is in a condition of total depravity which is his utter incapacity to receive the things of the Holy Spirit of God apart from the quickening grace of the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans 5:12,19; Romans 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1;20,28,32; Galatians 3:22; Romans 3:10; Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 6:44
VI. The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; that it is through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honoured the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and propitiatory atonement for our sins; that his atonement consisted in the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, bearing the penalty of God’s Holy Law, shedding His precious blood; the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the cross; that having risen bodily from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all sufficient Saviour and eternal High Priest for us who believe.
Ephesians 2:8,9; Acts 13:38; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3;16; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2;14-17; Romans 3:25; 1 Peter 2:24; John 10:17,18; Galatians 3:10-14;
1 Peter 1:18,19; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:5-7; Hebrews 10:12-22; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 7:25,26;
Hebrews 4:14-16
VII. Election
We believe that election is the eternal act of God’s sovereign grace by which He chooses, calls, justifies and glorifies a specific group of sinners from among all people of all time; that it is effectuated by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word in drawing sinners to Christ so that their wills are freely brought into compliance with God’s elective purpose; that it excludes all human boasting; that it is demonstrated in believers by their personal faith in Christ, their love to God and their desire for holiness; that it is the ground of the believer’s assurance and promotes humility and service.
Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:16; Romans 11:5; John 6:37,44; Acts 13:48; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 3:24-27; Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 3;12; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-7; 2 Peter 1:5-11;
Romans 11:27-36; Romans 8:33; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
VIII. The New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved a sinner must be born again; this new birth is instantaneous and not a process; that such who is dead in trespasses and sins is divinely given a new nature or holy disposition to the mind so as to effect belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and thereby receives eternal life as a gift of God; that such is kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation and shall never perish; that the new birth is brought about in a miraculous manner wholly and solely by the will and grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth; that its proper evidence appears in the fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
John 3:3,5,7; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 5:24; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:28-30; John 3:7,8; John 1:12,13; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:10,11; Ephesians 4:22-24
IX. Justification
We believe that justification is the great blessing by which God accepts, accounts and declares man as righteous; that it includes pardon from the guilt and condemnation of all his sin, the gift of eternal life on principles of divine righteousness; that it is bestowed by grace through faith solely upon the grounds of Christ’s perfect life, and propitiatory death whereby the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believing sinner.
Romans 3:24,28; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 5:1; Acts 13:38,39; Romans 1:17; Philippians 3;9;
Romans 4:4,5; 2 Corinthians 5:21
X. Sanctification
“Sanctification” is a translation of the Greek word hagiasmos, meaning “holiness” or “set apart”. We believe there are three “phases” of sanctification in the believer.
-We believe that every believer is firstly sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be positionally holy through faith in Christ. This positional sanctification is instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification.
Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2,30; 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10,14; 13:12;
1 Peter 1:1b-2
-We believe that every believer is secondly progressively sanctified, as God guides us to maturity by His Spirit, through His word. This progressive sanctification is an inward work wrought by God, demonstrated in the fruit of changed desires, attitudes and obedience to the will of God as expressed in His Word.
John 17:17,19; Romans 6:1-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Ephesians 5:26
-We believe thirdly and finally that this work of God will culminate in the glorious and eternal state of entire sanctification at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-3
XI. The Local Church
We believe that the church is a congregation of baptized believers organized according to the New Testament pattern, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, and observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws, and exercising the rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are elders and deacons and whose qualifications and responsibilities are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that the true mission of the church is found in our Lord’s commission, namely: to evangelize, to baptize, and to teach believers to observe all that the Lord commanded; that the church has not only the freedom under Christ, but the responsibility and right of self government, free from any outside interference, and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, acting through the Holy Spirit in harmony with the Word of God; that in all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline or benevolence, the will of the church is final; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in the furtherance of the Gospel and in contending for the faith, and that each church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation.
Acts 2:41,42,47; 1 Corinthians 11:2,23-26; Acts 1:1,2; Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 20:17,28;
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Philippians 1:1; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 15:22,25,28; Revelation 1:12-20; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7; Acts 15:22-31; 2 Corinthians 8:23,24
Xll. The Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism
We believe the Lord has ordained/commanded baptism with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). Baptism with water is therefore an ordinance of the Christian church, and the elders of the church are responsible to ensure that baptisms are administered in a scriptural fashion, and the proper signification of water baptism preserved and maintained. We affirm that water baptism signifies union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-7), the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), the washing away of sin (Acts 22:16), the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5), the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:6; Acts 10:44,47), and the circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11-12)
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper to be ordained also by Jesus Christ (Luke 22:19) as a remembrance of the body and blood of Christ. Christians should regularly eat at this table, as long as they are not under the discipline of God, or God’s people (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). On the night of His arrest, Jesus took the bread and wine of the Passover meal and instituted what is known as the Eucharist, or communion, which symbolizes and calls our attention to the atonement made on the cross for our sin. This celebration is one in which we look back on the finished work of Christ in thankfulness, and proclaim his death until he comes again. (Matt 26:26-30; 1 Cor 10;16; 11:23-30; 2 Peter 2:13)
XIII. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is divinely appointed for the interests and good order of society; that the individual should fulfill faithfully his responsibilities as a good citizen; that magistrates should be conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except in things opposed to the revealed will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience; that the church should remain distinct and separate from the state in the exercise of authority and decision making; and government of all levels has no authority over the church but the church will ensure that governing officials be aware of their accountability before God for the decisions that are finalized and implemented.
Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:13; 1 Peter 2:13,14,17; 1 Timothy 2:1,2; Acts 5:29; James 4:12; Acts 5:29; Matthew 22:21
XIV. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is an essential difference in the nature, belief and practice of the righteous and the wicked; that those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and set apart by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous before God positionally, and those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked in His sight and under the curse; that this distinction holds even after death; that the righteous depart to be with Christ, and are in a state of conscious blessedness awaiting the resurrection of the just and the receiving of their glorified bodies; that the wicked depart to Hades where they are in conscious torment until the final resurrection and judgment; at which time the righteous enter into everlasting joy and service to the living, eternal God in Heaven and the wicked into everlasting conscious suffering in the lake of fire.
Malachi 3:18 Romans 6:6,8,18; 1 Peter 4:18; Romans 1:17; Acts 10:34,35; 1 John 2:29; John 3:18,36;
2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23; Matthew 7:14; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Peter 3:19,20; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; Revelation 22:3-5
XV. The Roles of Men and Women
This church accepts the 10 Affirmations of the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood.
The Danvers Statement:
The “Danvers Statement” summarizes the need for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and serves as an overview of our core beliefs. This statement was prepared by several evangelical leaders at a CBMW meeting in Danvers, Massachusetts, in December of 1987. It was first published in final form by the CBMW in Wheaton, Illinois in November of 1988.
Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:
1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).
2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).
3. Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).
4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16). In the home, the husband’s loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife’s intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.
In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.
5. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).
6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.
In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership (Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).
In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15).
7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).
8. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God’s will.
9. With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).
10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.
We grant permission and encourage interested persons to use, reproduce, and distribute the Danvers Statement. Copyright © 2004 The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Visit The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.