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Man
Salvation
Justification
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Grace
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Resurrection
Return
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Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
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CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH

CORE VALUES

  1. We center all we do on Christ. In all things, we seek to give Christ the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18, Revelation 4:11, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
  2. We submit to God’s Word. Above all, we want to please God and stay true to His Word. We would rather be biblical than be popular. (2 Timothy 3:14-17, Acts 5:29, 2 Timothy 1:13)
  3. We engage with the gospel. The truths of God’s Word apply equally to every generation and every background. Sharing the life-changing truth of the gospel is the most compassionate and important endeavor in which we can be involved. (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Timothy 2:3-6)
  4. We enjoy serving Jesus. We enjoy church life. Serving God is not simply a duty. It is fun, so we serve together with joy and passion. It is the outflowing of Christ in us. (Psalm 100:2, Nehemiah 8:10)
  5. We live by faith. We believe God is able. We strive to be excellent. We sacrifice, believing God will replenish. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, Philippians 3:13-14, Daniel 6:3)

CORE BELIEFS

The following are the core beliefs of Cornerstone Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry are rooted in and flow out of these Biblical doctrines.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of God. We hold that the Scriptures are verbally and plenarily inspired, inerrant in the original writings, and preserved by God as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21). We believe the Word of God is infallible, eternal, and sufficient, revealing God’s will for salvation, doctrine, and holy living. It is truth without mixture of error and shall remain the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions are tested. We affirm that the Bible is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), and that through it God still speaks to His people today.

God

We believe that God is a person, eternally existing as a Trinity in unity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three persons and yet one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 26:19; I Corinthians 8:6). We believe there is only one living and true God who is eternal, infinite, uncreated and perfectly righteous and sovereign. The Scriptures declare that God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, perfect in all His attributes. He is one in essence yet exists in three persons, defined as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal roles but without division of nature, essence or being (Mathew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Corinthians 13:14), and each equally deserving worship and obedience. We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the gap theory, the day-age theory, theistic evolution, and intelligent design not attributed to God as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis 1–2; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 45:12; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17)

Father

God the Father is fully and truly God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Scripture reveals Him as the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1), the sustainer of life (Acts 17:28), and the One who sovereignly rules over heaven and earth (Psalm 103:19). Jesus Himself affirmed the Father’s deity when He declared, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), showing that the Father shares the same divine essence as the Son. He is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), the holy and righteous Judge (1 Peter 1:17), and the loving Father who sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might have eternal life through Him (John 3:16). To confess the Father as God is to acknowledge His absolute holiness, His infinite wisdom, His perfect love, and His eternal glory.

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God the Father, eternally existing, who became a sinless man in order to redeem us. He is fully and truly God and fully and truly man, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:30-55; John 1:1-15; Philippians 2:5-8)

  • His eternal existence. (Genesis 32:30; John 1:1-3, 15; 8:58; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:10)
  • His virgin birth. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-27)
  • His sinless life. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22)
  • His miracles. (Matthew 11:4-5; John 5:36; John 10:37-38)
  • His vicarious death. (Matthew 26:39; John 10:17-18; Romans 5:8; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
  • His blood atonement. (1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10; Hebrews 9:12-14, 22; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14-20; Revelation 1:5)
  • His bodily resurrection. (Acts 1:2-3; Matthew 28:9-15; Luke 24:1-8)
  • His ascension. (Acts 1:9; Luke 24:51)
  • His deity. (John 1:1, 14; John 5:17-18; John 10:30; John 14:9-11; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:16)
  • His physical premillennial return. (Titus 2:13; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:27, 37, 39; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 20:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10-14)
  • His eternal reign. (Luke 1:32-33; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 11:15; 22:3-5)

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence or a force, but fully and truly God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. Scripture reveals His deity in both His attributes and His works. He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), and omnipotent (Luke 1:35). He was active in creation (Genesis 1:2) and is the giver of life (Job 33:4). The apostles recognized Him as God when Peter declared to Ananias, “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? … thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3-4). As God, the Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), sanctifies (2 Thessalonians 2:13), seals us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8). To confess the Spirit as God is to acknowledge His divine personhood, His eternal presence, and His essential role in our salvation and Christian life.

Sin and Salvation

We believe all men were born with an inherited sin nature received from our common ancestor, Adam. We believe that because of this nature, man is a sinner by choice, and he is totally incapable of reforming himself or ceasing from his sin by his own power. We believe the only hope of deliverance for man is a total change of mind concerning his sinful condition and inability to change it, and a turning to Jesus Christ as the only Saviour. We believe that only through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross can a man be delivered from his sin. We believe that all those who reject Jesus Christ as their Saviour are already condemned to an eternity in the lake of fire. (Genesis 5:1-5; Acts 4:19; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:6-12; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6; Revelation 20:11-14) We believe in eternal security. Once a sinner is saved, he/she is always saved. (John 3:16; 5:24; 10:27-28; Romans 8:1, 38; Titus 1:2)

The Church

We believe that the church began with the calling out of the twelve apostles by Jesus Christ and was empowered on the day of Pentecost. We believe the local church is composed of members who have been saved and baptized according to the command of Christ and have voluntarily united together for the purposes of worship, fellowship, service, and the observance of the ordinances of baptism and communion (Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41–43; Acts 11:15; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58; Ephesians 1:12–14; Ephesians 5:25–30; 1 Timothy 3:4–15). We believe church membership is God’s will for every Christian (Acts 2:47; 5:14; 11:24). We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. Although every Christian is joined to the spiritual Body of Christ, every believer is called to be a part of a local assembly for the purposes of accountability, discipleship, Christian service, hearing God’s Word, corporate worship, prayer, and being equipped for the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42–46; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:11–14).

Baptism

We believe baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ, calling every believer to identify with His death, burial, and resurrection by being fully immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–4). This ordinance is an outward sign of giving oneself to God and walking in the newness of life found in Christ (Acts 2:38). We believe that baptism is the first step of obedience for every believer after salvation. In the New Testament, those who received Christ were immediately baptized, and through baptism they were publicly identified with His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3–5). Baptism is more than a personal testimony; it is the God-ordained means by which new believers are visibly united with the local body of Christ. In Acts 2, those who believed were baptized and then “added unto” the church, showing that baptism is the entrance into church membership. The Great Commission itself establishes this order—first making disciples, then baptizing them, and then teaching them to observe all things (Matthew 28:19–20). For this reason, the New Testament presents no category of unbaptized believers being received as members of a local church. Baptism is the front door into the family of God’s people, and the Lord’s Supper is the ongoing family meal for those already inside (Acts 2:41–42). Therefore, baptism by immersion upon profession of faith is required for church membership and precedes participation in the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper

We believe the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ, expressed by the eating of bread and the drinking of the cup for the sake of remembering the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. It is designed to commemorate His death, creating a heart of thanksgiving and joy in the believer (Matthew 26:26–29; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). It is a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41–42), a proclamation of His death, and should be observed until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:28–32). In partaking, believers are called to examine themselves, confess sin, renew their commitment to Christ, and rejoice in His finished work of redemption. The Lord’s Supper points both backward to the cross and forward to His coming kingdom. The elements of communion are representatives of the flesh and blood of Christ. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so He is truly present, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16). We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance open exclusively to those who have repented, put their faith in Christ, been baptized, and belong to a local church membership (1 Corinthians 11:18–33).

End Times

We believe in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures in their grammatical and historical context. We believe in the imminent return of Christ, which Scripture repeatedly commands believers to eagerly await with great diligence (Matthew 24:36–51; Matthew 25:1–30; Titus 2:12–13; Philippians 3:20; 2 Peter 3:12–14). We believe in a literal seven-year judgment known as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:9–11; Zephaniah 1:14–15; Daniel 9:27; Joel 2:1–2). We believe that after the Day of the Lord, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31–33; Acts 1:10–11; Acts 2:29–30) and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth (Revelation 20:1–7). During this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (Ezekiel 37:21–28; Daniel 7:17–22; Revelation 19:11–16). This 1,000-year reign comes after the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet and after the removal of Satan from the world (Daniel 7:17–27; Revelation 20:1–7). Following this 1,000-year reign is the Great White Throne Judgment and then the new heaven and new earth where Christ will reign as King for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:51–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–9; Revelation 19–22). The heavenly city will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy eternal fellowship with God and with one another (John 17:3; Revelation 21–22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24–28), that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Human Sexuality

  1. We believe that God created humanity as distinctly and exclusively either male or female from the beginning, and that He blessed His created design as very good. We believe that every human’s true gender identity is identical to the genetic, biological sex with which they were born. We believe that God blesses submission to and acceptance of His created design. We believe God disapproves of and forbids any and all attempts to alter one’s gender through surgery, medicinal manipulation, appearance, or expression contrary to His created design. (Genesis 1:26-28, 31, 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6)
  2. We believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God, given to represent His love for the church, to continue the human race, and to bless humanity. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one biological male and one biological female in a covenant commitment before God. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 10; Ephesians 5:22-33)
  3. We believe that God has commanded that there should be no intimate sexual activity outside of a marriage. We believe that any relationships or activities involving homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, or pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
  4. In keeping with our beliefs regarding the purpose of the church and regarding human sexuality, as expressed in this statement of faith, our doctrine necessitates the following:
  5. All people are welcome to attend our regular worship services, for we believe that all people need and deserve to hear the truth of the Gospel.
  6. Those who attend may not display and promote behavior that demonstrates violations of the sinful behaviors listed in this section in church services, on the church grounds, or at church functions.
  7. Church representatives shall enforce the doctrinal position of this church but shall not display overt disrespect for those who condone or display the sinful behaviors listed in this section.
  8. The pastor of the church will consistently preach against all forms of sinful sexual behavior, as well as other sinful behaviors.

Family Relationships

  1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
  2. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through consistent lifestyle examples and appropriate discipline (abuse is not discipline, we do not tolerate any hurting of children in any way), including Scriptural corporal correction. (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

Sanctity of life

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

Protection of Children

We believe that children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:3) and are to be loved, nurtured, and protected. In light of Christ’s warning, “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6), we affirm that any form of abuse, neglect, or harm against children is a grievous sin against God and against His creation. Therefore, we will not tolerate in any way the hurting of children — physically, emotionally, spiritually, or sexually — by anyone within the church. We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for all children, providing protection, care, and teaching that honors Christ and reflects His love.