Beliefs

Cornerstone Family Church is a church founded upon the belief that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God.

The Scriptures

The Scriptures – The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We accept the New Covenant as recorded in the New Testament as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. God’s Word is THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH! (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Pet. 1:19-21, John 17:17)

The Godhead

The Godhead - Our God is one; manifested in three persons. The Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit are coequal (Philippians 2:6). God the Father is greater than all. He is the sender of the Word, and He is the begettor of the Son (John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14). The Son, Jesus Christ, is the Word made flesh. He is the one begotten and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1, John 1:14 and 18). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from the Father, was sent by the Son and He is eternal (John 15:26).

The Virgin Birth

The Virgin Birth - Jesus Christ is The Word made flesh. He was born of a virgin according to the will of the Father. (John 1:14, Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14)

The Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ - The scriptures plainly declare that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God as well as the son of man. He is referred to by God the Father as His Son (Matt. 3:17, Matt. 17:5, Luke 3:22). He is declared to be the first begotten and only begotten of the Father (Acts 17:28, Heb. 1 :6, John 1: 14). Jesus Christ is The Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22-23, CoI. 2:18) and is The Head over all principalities and power (Col. 1:16). He is the image of God (Col 2:15) and in Jesus Christ, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells (Col. 2:9). His sinless life is a fact. His temptations were real, and He overcame them all, thus qualifying him to serve as our merciful and faithful high priest (Heb. 4:15, Heb. 2:17). His substitutionary work on the cross and resurrection is the heart of the gospel. Had Christ not died for the sins of the people, there would be no hope of salvation. If He had not been raised from the dead, His death would have been in vain and we would still be in our sins (1 Cor. 15:14). Jesus Christ has been exalted to the right hand of the Father in heaven and He ever lives to make intercession for all men. He is the hope of all believers and is confirmed by many infallible proofs (Phil. 2:6-11).

Man, his fall and Redemption

Man, His Fall and Redemption – Man is a created being; made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Man lost the dominion on the earth that God had given him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil and undo them. He gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. In that redemption man also had his God given authority reinstated (Rom. 3:10, Rom. 3:23, 1 John 3:8, Gal. 3:13). Salvation is a gift of God to man, separate from works and the law. It is made available to all men. Salvation is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and produces works acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 10:9-10)

Hell and Eternal Retribution

Hell and Eternal Retribution – The one who dies in his sins without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire. He therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used in describing the duration of the existence of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of the endless existence used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy that the saints will have in the presence of God. (Heb. 9:27, Rev. 19:20)

Eternal Life and The New Birth

Eternal Life and the New Birth – Man’s first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow for sin that leads to repentance. The New Birth is necessary for all men. When experienced, it produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5). The New Birth is appropriated by confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ, through belief based on God’s Word. It becomes effectual as one allows the Word of God to govern his speech and behavior (Rom. 10:9-10, James 1 :22, 2:17).

Water Baptism

Water Baptism – Baptism in water is by immersion. It is a direct commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4, CoL 2:12, Acts 8:36-39). The following recommendation regarding water baptism is adopted as each believer is being immersed; “upon the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I now baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Baptism in the Holy Ghost

Baptism in the Holy Ghost – Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers. It is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit Himself gives the utterance. (Matt. 3:1 I, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 2:4, 38-39 and 19:1-7)

Sanctification

Sanctification - The Bible teaches that without holiness, no man can see God. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification. It is a definite yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of the New Birth and continuing until the consummation of our salvation at Christ’s return. (Heb. 12:14, 1 Thess. 5:23, 2 Pet. 3:18, Phil. 1:6, 3:12-14, 2 Cor. 3:18, 1 Cor. 1:30, 1 John 3:2-3)

Divine Healing 

Divine Healing – Healing is for the physical ills of the human body. It is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Healing is a part of our redemption and was purchased by Jesus’ blood. Healing belongs to every believer today. (1 Pet. 2:24, Matt. 8:17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-16, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:9)

The Lord's Supper

The Lord’s Supper – This ordinance symbolizes the broken body and shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is an acknowledgment of and a participation in the benefits of His atoning death and the covenant which He sealed with His own blood. It represents our union with Him, who is the sustenance of our spiritual and physical life. It is a memorial of His death and looks forward to His return. This is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ Himself. We are commanded to observe it, and when we do, we are to examine ourselves carefully and search our hearts diligently in respect to our conduct and understanding of Christ’s body. (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:23-32, Matt. 26:26-27, Heb. 9:16-18, Rom. 8:17, Titus 2:13)

The Resurrection of the Just and Return of Our Lord

Resurrection of the Just and the Return of our Lord – The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “… this same Jesus…. shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent! When He comes, “… The dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air..” (Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16-17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with His saints who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)