.
This Statement of Faith is merely a fallible human summary of what The Corner Church believes. Essentially we recognise the fallibility of man and the infallibility of God, and his Word. As stated in the first point, the Bible is the only reliable source and authority on what we believe.
God has revealed and reveals Himself in the Bible. We believe that all Scripture (i.e. the 66 books of the Bible) is given by inspiration of God, is inerrant, infallible, possessing plenary inspiration in the original writings, and has been preserved with full integrity so that its teaching is absolute, final and our sole authority. The Bible is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
References: Deuteronomy 6:1-3, Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11, 89; Isaiah 40:8; Jeremiah 36:1; Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; 17:17; 20:30-31; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12-13; James 1:22-24; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 1:1-3, 22:16-20.
We believe in One God, the living Creator and Sustainer
of all things. He is compassionate, merciful and
gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. He is spirit, unique, omnipotent,
omniscient, omnipresent, and eternally existing in three persons - the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal, and co-eternal, and are
sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. These three are the one and
only God, the Holy Trinity existing in perfect unity, having the same nature
and perfection.
References: Genesis 1:1, Exodus 34:6-7, Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:3-4, Job 37:22-23, Psalm 145:8-9; Proverbs 3:19-20; 30:3-5, Isaiah 40:28, 42:5-8, 43:3,15, Daniel 4:34-35, Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 4:24, 10:30, Act 4:24, 14:17; Romans 1:19-20; 16:33-36, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:3-5
We believe in God the Father who is the beginning of all divine activity, and the fountain and wellspring of all things; He is actively seeking worshippers and drawing them to his Son. He has sent the Son into the world, and He gives us the Holy Spirit. The Father is made known to us by the Son.
References: Matthew 11:27, John 4:21-23; 5:26; 6:32-37, John 14; John 17:1,5-6, 21-25; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:3, 14-15; Galatians 4:4- 6, Ephesians 1:3, 3:14-21, 2 Peter 1:3, 17, 1 John 3:1, 4:9,14.
We believe in God the Son, who became Man, the Lord Jesus Christ:
References: Isaiah 7:14; 52:13 – 53:12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 11:27; 16:27; 17:5; Matthew 27, Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 24:36-43, John 1:1-18,29; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 13:38,39; 20:28, Romans 1:1-4, 3:23-26; 5:6-11; 8:1-3,34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 2:14,15; 4:14-15; 7:25-27; 9:24, 28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:19-21; 2:21-25; 1 John 1:7; 3:2; 4:9-15; Revelation 1:5; 5:9
We
believe in God the Holy Spirit. He is the third Person in the Trinity, the
source, and power of all worship and service that is acceptable to God; without
whose regenerating power the preaching of the cross is foolishness, and without
whom no one can say "Jesus is Lord". He is the anointing, permanently
indwelling every saved person, and his illumination is needed to have spiritual
and growing understanding of the Word of God. He is always present to testify
of Christ and drawing us to Christ and not to his gifts, nor our experiences nor
to ourselves. He convicts, regenerates, indwells, guides, instructs and
empowers the believer for spiritual worship, godly living and service.
References: Genesis 1:1-2; Psalms 139:7; Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 12:28; 28:19-20; Luke 4:1,18-19; 12:12; John 4:23-24, 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:3-13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6; Revelation 22:17
We believe that God created Adam and Eve as male and female in his
image and likeness (having rational, moral, relational, and spiritual
capacities) to worship Him, have fellowship with Him and give Him glory. Each
person has a body, a soul and a spirit.
We believe that human life begins
at conception, and that every person has inbuilt value, dignity and moral
worth, and is thus distinct from all other life on earth. But the image of God
in humankind is now broken. Adam and Eve, the parents of all, chose to rebel
against God and fell out of their innocent state by an act of disobedience. As
a result of their sin, a sinful nature is passed on to all their descendants, all
people became separated from God, subjected to death, and the whole creation is
cursed.
We believe that all have sinned and are lost, spiritually
dead, already under condemnation and unable to save themselves or earn the
favour of God. An eternal punishment is the consequence for those who do not
accept salvation: God's provision for their sins.
References: Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7,18-22; Genesis 3; 5:1, 8:21, 9:6; Psalms 8:3-6; 51:5, 139:13-16; Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:36; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-23; 7:14-25; 8:8; 1 Corinthians 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-13
.We believe that we are accountable stewards not owners
of God’s creation. God created everything and made humans stewards of His
creation. Since the Fall, the relationship with God is broken, the earth is broken,
and we fail in managing His earth.
We believe that God is the source of all blessings, earthly
and spiritual; all that we have and are, we owe to Him. We therefore have a
duty to serve Him by his guidance and as his co-workers with our time, talents,
and material possessions; all these are entrusted to us to use for the glory of
God and for helping others. .
References: Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:17,18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-34,42-44; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:33-35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 9:13-14; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 5:1-4.
We believe that marriage is defined solely
as the lifelong, exclusive union between one man and one woman, as outlined in
Scripture. This understanding of marriage traces back to the creation of the
first human pair—Adam and Eve.
We
believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a husband and a wife. Sexual immorality is any form of sexual intimacy
outside of marriage and is sinful and offensive to God.
We believe that marriage displays the nature of God in
the sacrificial love Christ has for his bride the Church: “Christ loved the Church
and gave Himself for her.” We are called to this love relationship in our lives.
References: Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Isaiah 54:5, Maleachi 2:13-16, Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-12, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Ephesians 3:8-11, Ephesians 5:25-33, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Peter 3:7; Revelation 21:9-11, Psalm 51, John 4:16-18
We believe that
everyone needs to be saved because we are all sinners and will receive eternal
punishment. The Lord Jesus came to save us when we were lost in sin, enemies of
God and unable to save ourselves. If we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus
Christ as our only Saviour, we will be saved and become children of God. We
have passed out of spiritual death into everlasting life and are justified by
faith alone – not by our good deeds. We will be holy and blameless in God’s
sight, accepted by the Father, loved as Christ is loved, and united with Him by
the Holy Spirit.
We believe that our
salvation is the work of the full triune God: the Father planned it, the Son
died for us and the Spirit enables us and guarantees our eternal salvation.
We
believe that salvation has three aspects. Firstly, we are saved the moment we
put our trust in Christ. Secondly, we are continually being saved through the
ministry of the Holy Spirit, who guides, helps, and protects us in holy living.
Finally, we will be saved when we receive a new body and are finally free from
the presence of sin.
References: Luke 24:47; John 1:10-13, 5:24; Acts 2:37-40; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; Romans 1:16-17; 2:4; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6:23; 8: 28-39; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians1:3,4; 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:14,15; 5:8-9; 1 Peter 1:20-23; 1 John 5:1,2
We
believe that the Lord Jesus calls us to be disciples (followers, Christians) and
invite others to become Jesus’ disciples. His followers listen, obey, and live
according to His will.
We
believe that all Christians are called to holy living through sanctification. Sanctification
is the process where the Holy Spirit works with us and changes us to be more
Christ like and enables us to daily walk with God. Holy living and good works
are the outcome of the Holy Spirit living in us.
We
believe that we are born again to a new life through faith in Jesus Christ, we must
deny our old self to follow Him. We are ambassadors of God and God’s Kingdom
here on earth.
References: Isaiah 50:4; Matthew 16:24,24; 28:19-20; John 15:1-16; Acts 11:26; 13:52; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 6:14-7:1; Philippians 3:8-10; 4:8,9; Hebrews 13:20,21; 1 Peter 2: 1-12; 2 Peter 1:3-8. Gal 5:16-18, 2 Thess. 2:13,14
We believe that God is eternal, He exists
outside time and space and He created humankind to share eternity with him. Our
destiny in eternity is determined here on earth before physical death – every
person will die once and then comes judgement resulting in eternal life or
eternal punishment. There is no end to eternity: time will cease, but we will
continue.
We believe that at death the souls of
those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation immediately pass
into His presence. They remain with Him in conscious happiness until the
resurrection of their body at His coming, when soul and body shall be reunited and
be with Him forever in glory. Knowing Him and being with Him is eternal life.
We believe that after death those who
rejected God’s salvation in their lifetime will face eternal separation from
God and all His blessings, spending eternity with regrets and suffering in the
prison created for Satan: Hell.
We believe that the current universe –
including Heaven and Earth – are corrupted by sin. God will replace this with a
new perfect creation – a new Heaven and a new Earth – where there is no sin.
References: John 5:25–29, Psalm 115:16, Revelation 21:1–5, 2 Thess 1:6-10, 2 Cor 5, Ecclesiastes 3:11, John 17:3, Matthew 25:46, Philippians 1:23, Mark 9:43-48, Jude 1:7; 1 Cor 3:11-17
We believe that God created spirits, “angels” as his messengers and servants.
We believe that the devil or Satan, a fallen created angel,
became the enemy of God and of all His children. He is the deceiver and the
father of lies. The eternal fire (Hell) is reserved for the future punishment
of the Devil.
Note: the term angel does not describe their nature but their office – the
Bible uses the word messenger/angels also for humans. [e.g .Malachi 3:1, Revelation 2:1)
References: Job 1:6; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Matthew 13:39; 25:41; John 8:44; Hebrews 2:14,15; 1 Luke 22:31,32; John 3:8; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:2,10.
We believe that God is calling people from all nations
and cultures and making them one in Christ as His Church. All who repent of
their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour are regenerated by the Holy
Spirit and form the living body of Christ, of which He is the head and of which
we are all members.
We believe that God’s Church is a completely new
creation, the Holy Spirit formed it at Pentecost after the death and resurrection
of Christ. It is the body of Christ, His bride, a holy temple, a holy nation, a
royal priesthood and His household and family.
We believe that the purpose of the Church is to know
Him and to worship and serve God, to preach to all people repentance to
salvation in Jesus Christ. The local Church, the community of believers, is welcoming
people to worship God and to learn to obey Him. We are responsible to teach and
uphold God’s righteousness in our Church community and proclaim it in our locality.
References: Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:22-2:22 ;3:4-11, 4:11-16, 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:14-15
We believe that the Lord
Jesus Christ gave two ordinances to the local Church community: baptism and the
Lord's Supper. Both ordinances are symbolic and in remembrance of God’s love, the death of our Redeemer, his resurrection, the
new life of the believer, and in anticipation of his second coming.
References: Matthew 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:12-16; 8:35-39; 10:47,48; 16:15, 30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:23-29; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21.