Scripture

We believe that the Bible is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. God has given us his word in the 66 books of the Old and New Testament writings. God spoke in former times through the prophets and in various other ways, but in the last days, he has spoken through his Son. Therefore, the Scriptures are essential for God’s former methods of revelation have now ceased. The Bible is verbally inspired by God and without error in its original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Heb. 1:1-4).

We believe the Scriptures are our final authority on all matters of faith and practice and is reliable in all matters addressed. God is the author of the Scriptures; therefore, the Scriptures must be received as the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Matt. 22:35, Proverbs 30:5).

We believe the Bible in the absolute sufficiency of Scripture. The Bible is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice. Because Scripture is sufficient, we do not need any further revelation. Neither modern psychology or philosophy contribute to or provide anything that is lacking in our understanding of God or man. This does not mean that the Bible is exhaustive in its treatment of the issues of life. Rather, the Bible is sufficient for life, salvation, and godliness (Ps. 19, 119, 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These Three, being one in essence, are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existing, and perform distinct but harmonious functions in creation, redemption, and providence (Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19-20, 2 Cor. 13:14).

Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit or foreseen faith in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ, in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified. Election does not contradict nor negate the responsibility of man to repent and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. All those whom the Father has elected, He will effectually call to Himself. Election is grounded in the sovereign will of God and should result in praise from his people (Rom. 8:28-30, 1 Cor. 1:27-29, Eph. 1:3-14, Rom. 9).

The Nature of Man

We believe that man was created by God in His image and likeness, free of sin, and morally responsible to his Creator. In Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will of God, man lost his innocence, incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. Man’s salvation is wholly dependent upon the grace of God through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:27, Gen. 1:31, Rom. 5:12, Rom. 8:7, Rom. 1:18, Eph. 2:1-3).

Jesus Christ

God was pleased in his eternal purpose to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only Son to be the mediator between God and humanity. He is our prophet, priest, and king, and to be head and savior of the church, the heir of all things, and the judge of the world. God gave to the Son a specific people from before the foundation of the world. In time these people would be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified (Ps. 2:6, Eph. 1:4, Heb. 1:1-4, Eph. 1:22-23, John 17:6, Rom. 8:28-30).

Jesus Christ is truly and eternally God. He is the image of the invisible God and the exact imprint of his nature. He is the same in substance and equal with him. He made the world and sustains and governs everything that he has made. In the fullness of time, he took on a human nature with all its weaknesses, yet without sin. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without converting one into the other or mixing them together to produce a different or blended nature. Jesus is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity. Jesus Christ was born under the law and perfectly fulfilled it. He died a substitutionary death in the place of all those who would believe. In his death, he fully satisfied the just wrath of God. He was crucified and rose from the dead on the third day He ascended back to the Father from where he now reigns over his kingdom and carries out his role as our Mediator. (John 1:14, Gal. 4:4, Rom. 8:3, Heb. 1:1-4,  Luke 1:27, 1 Tim. 2:5, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Cor. 15:3, Rom. 8:34, ).

Regeneration

We believe that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit whereby he gives life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins and renews their nature. Regeneration is instantaneous and accomplished by the sovereign power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, no one will believe in Christ. As a result of regeneration, one is enabled to believe in Christ for salvation (Ez. 36:25-27, John 3:3-7, 2 Cor. 5:17, 1 John 5:1, 1 Peter 1:23).

Repentance and Faith

We believe that regeneration produces repentance and faith. Repentance occurs when a person, awakened by the Holy Spirit, is made aware of the evil of his sin, detests and forsakes it, humbling himself with godly sorrow, turning from sin in repentance and toward Christ in faith. Faith is the only instrument of justification. It is through faith that we rest on and receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Faith is not the grounds of our justification. Rather, the merit of Jesus Christ is the grounds for our justification. Faith is only the instrument whereby receive the gift. Repentance and faith are not works of righteousness done by the believer, but rather both are a gift to the believer granted by God (2 Cor. 7:10, Rom. 2:4-5, Acts 2:37, Eph. 2:8-9, Phil. 1:29, Acts 11:18).

Justification

We believe that justification is an act of God whereby he declares the sinner to be righteous in His sight. Justification is a one-time act of God rather than a process. Justification consists in the believer’s full pardon of sins through the atoning death of Jesus Christ and the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to the sinner. There is a double imputation in God’s act of justification. Our sins are placed on Christ and His righteousness is credited to us. The instrument of justification is through faith alone apart from any works (Rom. 5:1-2, Rom. 8:33, Rom. 3:21-26, Gal. 2:16, 2 Cor. 5:21).

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is a necessary result of regeneration. Once a person has been born again, the Holy Spirit works progressively throughout the life of the believer to further sanctify, produce holiness, and conform them to the image of Jesus Christ. Sanctification includes the whole man yet remains imperfect in this life as the believer still battles against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Word of God is the instrument which he uses to further conform us to the image of Christ. The believer will only experience full sanctification on the day of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 4:22-24, Phil. 2:12).

Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere to the end and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, bringing reproach on the Church and temporal discipline on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. God saves those who are his fully and finally (Phil. 1:6, Rom. 8:28-30, Eph. 1:3-14).

The Church

We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into the church. We believe in the universal church, composed of all who are chosen in Christ and united to him by faith. We believe that it is God’s will that the universal church find it’s expression in local churches which is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. The local church is where believers gather to hear the Word of God proclaimed, engage in corporate worship, practice the one another’s of Scripture, hold each other accountable, and practice our spiritual gifts. We believe that through our union with Christ, the church is the true Israel, therefore, the one plan of God for the salvation of his people finds it’s fulfillment in the church. We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government (Eph. 2:11-22, Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Tim. 3:15, Gal. 6:16).

Baptism

We believe that the Lord gave two ordinances to his church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is by immersion following the believer’s repentance and profession of faith in Christ. Baptism signifies the believer’s union with Christ in his life, death, burial, and resurrection. We do not believe the waters of baptism have any salvific effect but rather symbolize outwardly the believer’s death to the old life and new life in Jesus Christ. While we do not believe that baptism saves, we do believe that baptism is commanded for each believer. Therefore, baptism is an act of obedience to Christ following salvation. As commanded by Christ, we baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-42, Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 8:12-13, Rom. 6).

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration and proclamation of the death of Christ, signifying the New Covenant in his blood until he returns. The elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ. Believers are nourished and built up in their faith as they partake of the Supper. This ordinance is for believers only and should only be participated in by those who have professed Christ and followed him in baptism. We are not to take the Supper in an unworthy manner; therefore, we confess our sins to God and one another, but then we come joyfully to the table of our Lord, anticipating the day when we will feast with him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (1 Cor. 11:28-32, Luke 22:14-23, Rev. 19:6-10).

*The Elder Affirmation of Faith is for those who serve in the role of elder only. Affirmation of this statement is not required for membership at Cornerstone Bible Church, but one should know that these truths will be consistently taught at CBC.