What we believe? (Statement of Faith)

Section 1 – The Bible

We believe in and teach the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the inerrant, inspired Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20).

Section 2 – God

We believe in and teach the Scriptural doctrine of the one true living God, who is perfect, infinite, and eternal; and who co-exists in three persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Is. 43:10; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor.12:4-6).

Section 3 – Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. That He came in the flesh and took upon Himself the form of man, being born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might redeem us through His vicarious suffering and death on the cross of Calvary, that He was raised from the dead for our justification and is now at the right hand of God interceding for us (John 1:14; Luke 1:35; 1 Pet. 2:24; Rom. 8:34; Rom. 4:25).

Section 4 – The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity whose ministry is to convict of sin, regenerate the soul, indwell and empower the believer in order that he might be a witness of the glorious gospel of Christ (John 16:5-8).

Section 5 – Humankind and Sin

We believe that man in his natural state is depraved and in need of a Divine Redeemer (Jer. 17:9, Romans 3:23). This separates us from God and upon death, destines us to condemnation in the lake of fire (Romans 6:23; Rev. 20:15).

Section 6 – Salvation

We believe that faith (which is belief) in Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from the consequences of sin (John 3:14-18). We believe that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and freely gives us eternal life. This salvation comes by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9) and is not dependent upon one’s own merit or effort (Gal. 2:16). Salvation is the work of God in man, and is eternally secure (Jn. 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

We are declared righteous (justified) in God’s sight because we have been covered by the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:26; 4:5)

We are made alive by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) who gives us;

a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4), and

a new understanding (1 Cor. 2:10-12), and

a new relationship with God (Jn. 1:12)

We believe God has now set us apart to be holy (Heb. 10:10-14; Eph. 4:22-24), we are to lay aside sinfulness and live righteously. Sanctification takes place as we allow the Holy Spirit to work through the Word of God to conform us to the image of Christ (Eph. 5:1-18). We await the future glorification when we will be separated from sin and our bodies transformed (Phil. 3:21; 1 Jn. 3:2).

Section 7 – The Church

We believe in the church of God as a fellowship of true believers in Jesus Christ, for the building up of which the Lord has called ministers, deacons, and other servants of God (Eph. 4:11-16).

Section 8 – Christ’s Return

We believe in and teach the personal, visible, imminent, premillennial return of Christ, the resurrection of the just, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost (Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:1-6; Rev. 20:11-15).

Section 9 – Outreach and Missions

We believe that the church of God has been divinely commissioned to evangelize the world through personal witnessing to the lost (Acts 1:8).

Section 10 – Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct

The Doctrine and Principles and Constitution 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 Bible Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastors, Deacons, and Council is Cornerstone Bible Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. The FEBC Doctrinal Council is also to be sought out for advice on any such decisions not defined in this Constitution.