OUR BELIEFS
Cornerstone Bible Church of Sonora
Section 1 - Systematic Theology
God - We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
The Bible - We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12
The Human Condition - We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God's saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed.
Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10
Jesus Christ - We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
Isaiah 53; John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 5:9-11
The Work of Christ - We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
John 1:12; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9
The Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
The Church - We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 5:1-3
Christian Living - We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God's Word, the Spirit's power, and fervent prayer in Christ's name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ's commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Matthew 5:13-16
Christ’s Return - We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Matthew 24:30-44; 25:31-46; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Titus 2:13-14; Revelation 1:7; 3:3; 19:11-21
Response and Eternal Destiny - We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
John 1:12; 14:1-6; 20:31; Acts 2:37-38; 16:31; 17:31; 20:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 1:6,12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20-22
Section 2 - Practical Theology
In keeping with our commitment to the veracity of the Scriptures and their application to all areas of faith and practice as previously stated in this Article, we affirm the following:
Baptism - We believe that baptism is to be an outward expression (Acts 8:26-40) of an internal faith (Romans 6:1-4). Upon request any individual who is trusting Jesus as Savior will be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Lord’s Supper - We believe the Lord’s Supper (also called Communion) will be regularly observed with bread and juice in remembrance of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:25). All who profess a genuine faith in Christ may participate.
Church Discipline - If any member shall conduct himself in a manner which, in the studied opinion of the Elder Board is not in harmony with scriptural principles and for which they do not show evidence of repentance, he shall be interviewed and counseled by the pastoral staff and/or the Board after the manner clearly indicated in the Word of God: Matthew 18:15-17 and Galatians 6:1. The motivation behind the disciplinary process is the glory of God, the purity of His church, and love for the erring brother or sister in Christ. The process of discipline is halted at any time by a confession on the part of the erring member and a commitment to turn from his/her sin. Confrontation of a member in sin is primarily with the goal of restoration to a restored relationship with God and the church family. (contact CBC for the specific steps)
Marriage - We believe God established and ordained marriage. Cornerstone Bible Church of Sonora defines “marriage”, consistent with the clear teaching of Scripture, as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union may be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with this definition of marriage. Because of this plain teaching, we will not perform, recognize, or accommodate “same sex marriages”. Since the Bible teaches that believers should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, elders will not perform weddings where one party is a professing believer, and the other is not. Scriptural support includes but is not limited to:
Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-25,3:1-24; Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:4-9; Romans 1:26-27, 7:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:22-33.
Family - We believe that the roles of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and children are clearly stated in the Scriptures, including the principles of discipline, instruction, and correction (Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21). When found to conflict with laws and/or social norms, we will follow the biblical principle.
Human Sexuality - We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
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
Psalm 139
Tolerance - We believe that love and respect are due, and to be offered, to all people, as we’re all created in the image of God. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the Scripture (Matthew 22:35-40). However, when the Scriptures speak against other philosophies, belief systems, and behaviors, we will be true to the Scriptures and will speak the truth but will do so in love.