Constitution

 

ARTICLE 1. Name

The name of this assembly shall be Cornerstone Bible Church

Founded as DENMARK BIBLE CHAPEL on December 11, 1994

Renamed as Cornerstone Bible Church on March 7, 2012

ARTICLE 2. Purpose

The purpose of this assembly: to glorify God in all things; to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in the Bible where God’s grace is expressed in the shed blood and finished work of Christ on the cross; to be a testimony to those around us and labor for the salvation of souls; to administer the Ordinances of the New Testament; to teach and disciple children, young adults, and adults in Biblical doctrines and standards of conduct; to support the worldwide evangelistic effort; to promote the fellowship of the saints in Christ.

ARTICLE 3. Doctrinal Statement

A.      The Holy Scriptures:

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God breathed, and completed during the Apostolic era. (2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13; Rev. 22:18-19)

B.      The Godhead:

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); Co-Creators of the universe in six literal days, co-equal in power and in glory, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature and having the same attributes and perfection. (Deut. 6:4; 2Cor 13:14; 1Pet. 1:2; John 1:1; Gen. 1:1,2,5,26)

C.      The Person and Work of Christ:

  1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, became Man, without ceasing to be God. We further believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:1-2,14; 1Pet. 1:3-5; Matt. 1:18)
  2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:23-25; 1Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1Pet. 1:3-5)
  3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 7:25; 9:24; Rom 8:34; 1John 2:1-2)
  4. We believe in the “Blessed Hope”, the personal, imminent, and pre-tribulation coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth with His saints, to establish His millennial kingdom. (1Thes. 1:9-10; 4:13-18; Zach. 14:4-11; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)

D.      The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:

  1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Jn. 16:6-11; Rom. 8:9; 1Cor. 12:12-24; 2Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
  2. We believe that He is the divine Teacher Who guides believers into all truth and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; Eph. 5:18; 1Jn. 2:20,27)

E.       The Total Depravity of Man:

We believe that man was created in the image and the likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, 12)

F.       Salvation:

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1Pet. 1:18-19; ref. C & D above)

G.     The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers:

  1. We believe that the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever. (Jn. 6:37-40; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; 1Cor. 1:4-8; 1Pet. 1:5)
  2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

H.     The Two Natures of the Believer:

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col 3:10; 1Pet 1:14-16; 1Jn. 3:5-9)

I.        Separation:

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasure, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1-2; 2Cor. 6:14; 7:1; 2Tim. 3:1-5; 1Jn. 2:15-17; 2Jn. 9-11)

J.        Missions:

We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by work the truths of the Holy Scriptures and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind, striving for total support rather than multiple partial support. (Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2Cor. 5:19-20)

K.      The Ministry and the Special Gifts:

  1. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of all His gifts; that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles came to an end as the Apostles’ authority became established, and as the inspiration and recording  of the Holy Scriptures was accomplished. (1Cor. 12:4-11; 13:8; 2Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12)
  2. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of the faithful, in accordance with His own will (in Jesus Name), for the sick and afflicted. (Jn. 15:7; 1Jn. 5:14-15; James 5:14, 16)

L.       The Church:

  1. We believe that the church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all true believers of this present age. (Jn 3:3,5,7; 1Cor. 12:12-24; 2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23)
  2. We believe that the establishment and the continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

M.    The Personality of Satan:

We believe that Satan is a living, angelic being, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall; that he is the open, declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Mt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

N.     The Eternal State:

  1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12, 13)
  2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Lk. 23:42; 2Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 1Thes. 4:16-17; Jude 6:7; Rev. 20:4-6)
  3. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when the spirit, soul, and body are reunited and appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. (Mt. 25:41-46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-26; 2Thes. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15

O.      Marriage and Sexuality:

  1. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as either male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God.
  2. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and  one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union.

P.      Sanctity of Human Life:

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139.)

Q.      Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct:

The statement of faith 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 Elders are Cornerstone Bible Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s application.

R.      Church Membership Agreement:

The membership of this Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and affirm the tenets of the Church Constitution, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations and this Constitution and Bylaws, and are actively pursuing and continuing in a vital fellowship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. The Elders of this Church shall have final authority in all matters of church governance, as set forth and described in the Bylaws.

S.      Ordinances:

  1. The Lord’s Supper: This ordinance shall be observed every worship day or as often as the Elders shall decide, and on special occasions, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. All who have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior and who are walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus shall be welcome to participate, unless they are under discipline of the church. (1Cor. 11:20-34; Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25)
  2. Water Baptism: Candidates at their request shall be baptized by immersion, who have personally acknowledged Christ as Savior, in obedience to the Scriptures, and exemplified by Christ’s own example. (Acts 8:36, 38, 39; 10:44-48)

Original Draft 12/20/1994              Current Revision “F”  07/24/2017              Printed 07/24/2017

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