What We Believe

The Bible is the Word of God, the unique and special means of God revealing himself to humanity in written form. God the Holy Spirit moved in and through human authors to select the very words and to produce the entire text of Scripture. The Bible is free from error in the original documents, meaning that Scripture in the original documents does not affirm anything that is false. The Bible alone teaches a complete Christian worldview and is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks (Prov. 30:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).

There is only one God, eternally self-existent in three co-equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sharing in infinite wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, love and truth, the triune God is the almighty Source of all that exists, sovereignly sustaining and ruling over all creation for his glory (Gen. 1:1-2; Ex. 34:6-7; Deut. 6:4; 1 Chron. 29:10-13; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30-33; 15:26; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9; 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:15; 2:9; Heb. 1:2-3).

God the Father is the Designer of the all-encompassing plan for his creation. Out of love and grace, he chose from eternity to redeem and adopt a people for himself, for which purpose he sent the Son and the Spirit into the world (Ps. 33:8-11; John 6:37, 39; 15:26; 16:5-8; 17:2, 6; Acts 2:32-33; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:4-6, 11).

God the Son has existed eternally in the form of God; all things were made and are sustained by him. At the incarnation, he took the form of a servant and became the God-man, Jesus Christ – the only flawless human Image of God. He was virgin-born and without sin. He died a vicarious and atoning death to redeem his people. He was bodily resurrected in victory over sin and death, ascended to the right hand of the Father, intercedes for his people, and will return in power and glory to consummate his kingdom (John 1:1-14; Acts 1:11; Rom. 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 15; Eph. 1:20-22; Col. 1:15; 2:9; Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Heb. 4:15; 9:26-28; 1 Pet. 2:22).

God the Holy Spirit has existed eternally in the form of God. He has had a vital role throughout the biblical story, beginning with creation and empowering certain people during the Old Testament era. He inspired the authors of the Bible. He empowered the ministry of Jesus. After the ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon God’s people in order to witness powerfully of Jesus Christ as Redeemer and King. He works in God’s people by regenerating, illuminating and transforming them into the image of Christ (Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14; Acts 1:8; 5:3-5; 10:38; Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Cor. 2:10-16; Gal. 5:16-25; Titus 3:5-6; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

The triune God of the Bible created everything out of nothing by the power of his Word. God created the universe with design and intentionality and placed creation under the stewarding care of humanity. All things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, physical and spiritual, were created by him and for him (Gen. 1-2; Ps. 8:6-8; 33:6, 9; 104:24; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 4:11).

The spiritual realm is inhabited by spiritual beings who have been created by God. Some of these beings (including angels and cherubim) serve God, while others (including Satan and demons) are in rebellion against him. These spiritual beings are distinct from both God and humanity, and they possess moral judgment, high intelligence, and great wisdom (Ps. 8:4-5; 103:20-21; 148:1-5; Col. 1:16; 2 Pet. 2:4).

Angels are God’s servants, ministering as God directs them. The word angel comes from the Greek word meaning “messenger.” Accordingly, angels most often function in the biblical story as messengers from God to humans, communicating with and assisting them in various ways. (1 Kings 19:4-8; Ps. 91:11-12; Luke 1:11-20, 26-38; 2:8-15; Acts 10:1-8; 12:6-11; Heb. 1:3-14).

Satan is a real being who was created by God and is under God’s authority. However, he rebelled against God and led other spiritual beings and humans to join him, bringing both them and himself under God’s judgment. He first appears as a serpent in Genesis 3. Satan has been given limited authority over unredeemed humanity for a time, but he has been decisively defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus. The final destination of Satan and his demons is the Lake of Fire which has been prepared for them (Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-2; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; 5:19; Rev. 20:2).

Humans were created both male and female in God’s image, to know him and make him known in and over all creation. When the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against God’s good rule, this sin brought about spiritual and physical death and corruption to all creation. Humanity became enslaved to sin and sinful desires. This helpless, hopeless, shameful condition darkens and distorts every aspect of our relationships to God and each other, perverting worship and service to God, marriage and family, and de-humanizing fellow humans based on class, race, gender, age, or level of physical or intellectual development. Thankfully, our triune God took the initiative to correct all that has gone wrong. The Father sent the Son into the world, in the power of the Spirit, with the intent to ultimately restore humanity and all creation. This is the heart of the gospel message (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:16-18; 3:3-19; 6:5; Rom. 1:18-32; 5:6-10; Eph. 2:12; 4:17-19; Titus 3:3).

The gospel message that God is redeeming all creation through Jesus Christ must be proclaimed so that people will be called out of darkness into his light. They must be born again by the Spirit, turning in faith and repentance to Christ as the only way of salvation. Those united with Christ are declared righteous (justified), delivered from the guilt, shame and penalty of sin, freed from slavery to sin, and given eternal life. They are made holy by the Holy Spirit, who progressively transforms them into Christ’s image (sanctified). When Christ returns, true Christians will be fully restored from the effects of sin (glorified). Salvation is of the Lord, guaranteeing the eventual triumphant outcome (Mark 1:14-15; John 3:3-8, 16-21; 8:12; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:21-26; 6:1-23; 8:10-23, 28-30; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:17-21; Eph. 2:4-10; Col. 1:15-23; 1 Thess. 5:23-24).

The church is the body of Christ and the dwelling place for God by the Spirit, comprised of all humanity who have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The universal church is expressed in various times and places through local churches. The mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations. The church is built up as each member draws near to God in worship and praise and seeks to live in obedience to the “one another” commands of the New Testament (e.g., John 13:34; Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:12-13; Heb. 10:24-25; etc.). Cornerstone practices two sacraments as given in the New Testament: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Elders and deacons are the two primary leadership offices given for leading, serving, and protecting the local church (Ps. 95:6-7; Matt. 16:18; 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:18-22; 4:11-16; 1 Tim. 3:1-13).

The ascension of Jesus Christ inaugurated his kingdom and the “last days,” and he sent the Spirit to empower the process of gathering his people from all nations. The promise of new creation has already begun to be fulfilled in his people, though not yet in its fullness. Jesus Christ currently reigns as head of his body, the church. The full consummation of the Kingdom of God awaits Jesus’ bodily, visible return to earth, when he will reign over all creation in power and glory. Upon his return, all the dead will be raised bodily, and all humanity will face him as judge. His believing people will share in his reign and glory forever, but unbelievers will experience just punishment for their rebellion in the Lake of Fire forever. Following this final judgment, the promise of new creation will be fully realized in the new heavens and new earth, freed from sin, death, and all of its effects, where God’s people will live with him in righteousness and peace forever (Matt. 25; John 6:40; Acts 2:17-36; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Eph. 1:17-22; 2 Pet. 3:9-13; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-10, 22-27).