At the heart of what unites us as a Church is the truth of God’s Word that we believe, cherish, and proclaim together. While the Bible is our only infallible rule of faith and practice, we are also committed—and accountable—to a specific statement of faith that represents a summary of the teaching of Holy Scripture on key points of doctrine essential to the beliefs, conduct, and witness of our members.
As you read through our statement of faith and practice our aim is not to simply define doctrine but rather by the grace of God to invite worship. Our prayer as you look through these next paragraphs, is that you can sense the invitation to worship a glorious, gracious and inspiring Holy God. We pray these statements kindle affections and propel worship.
To learn more click one of the headings below.
We study the Bible in context and expound from the scripture truth bringing into view that which appears closed, make plain what is obscure and unfold what is tightly packed.
We preach through books in concession - chapter by chapter exploring the whole intent of the letter as well as individual verses.
Our songs, our encouragement, our prayers and our worship exalt Christ as the catalyst, the joy and the strength for holy living.
We emphasize Christ finished work on the cross as our hope, our source, our wisdom and our purpose for Christian living.
We focus on our rest in His perfect work of redemption bringing all things unto Himself.
We vocalize our poverty of spirit, mourn sin and confess our dire need for righteousness in Christ alone.
Being Reformed is to allow our thinking, (Confessions), our living (Community), and our worshiping (Celebration) to be reshaped by the Word of God. - Always reforming.
Practice ordinary means of grace, as taught in the Bible and church history.
Spirit shaped faith from hearts stirred by truth in unscripted expression of joy.
Our songs are our confession and so we seek to:
Be Clear - in what we sing - not vague
Look Vertical - in keeping Jesus as the object of our worship
Be Expressive - in the work of Christ and the mission of the church
Historical Christianity has found its meaning and understanding of God, humanity, and the world through the overarching storyline of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. God in His divine wisdom chose to make this storyline known to us through Holy Scriptures. This historical redemptive narrative (the Bible), which at its core is the working of God through Jesus Christ, helps us understand and communicate our own stories. Furthermore, there is an undeniable connection between story and doctrine.
The Biblical story both raises and helps us answer the big questions of life such as: Who am I? Why am I here? Why is the world broken? How can the world be made right? Doctrines are the convictions that arise out of asking these questions as we live in God’s story. Simply put, doctrine is what we believe about what God has revealed concerning Himself, His people, His plan, and His world. Our doctrinal convictions help us understand the story and keep it from becoming a mere history. In this way, foundational doctrines provide meaning for the present and hope for the future.
He is a self revealing God: Communication is the heart and nature of our triune, eternal, transcendent and holy God. God is both creator and sovereign over His creation and through His words has graciously revealed His character and attributes so that we may worship Him in Spirit and truth.
He speaks through His Word: All of Scripture is breathed out by God, being accurately delivered through various human authors through the inspiration and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments as the perfect, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. These Scriptures were written to make known to us through divine revelation given in Christ and his completed redemptive work. We hold that no new normative revelation will or need be given until Christ returns.
Authority of Scripture: The Word of God is therefore necessary and wholly sufficient for knowing the Father’s love in Christ, experiencing his glorious plan of redemption, and being instructed in the way of fruitful and godly living. Scripture alone is our supreme and final authority and the rule of faith and life. As the Scriptures are preached and read, the Spirit delights to illuminate our minds so that we understand, cherish, and obey his Word.
God lacks nothing: There is only one true and living God, who is infinite in being, power, and perfections. God is eternal, independent, and self-sufficient, having life in himself with no need for anyone or anything. He is spirit, transcendent and invisible, with no limitations or imperfections, immutable, and everywhere present with the fullness of his being. His knowledge is exhaustive, including all things actual and possible, so that nothing—past, present, or future—is hidden from his sight. God is not divided into parts, but his whole being includes all of his attributes: he is entirely holy, loving, wise, just, good, merciful, gracious, and truthful. Our God is the infinite fountain of being who created all things, and all things exist by him and for him. He is supremely powerful to perform all his holy and perfect will, ruling over his creation with total dominion, righteousness, wisdom, and love. In his transcendence, God is incomprehensible in his being and actions, yet he reveals himself such that we can know him truly and personally.
Dwelling in Unity: The one true God eternally exists as three persons —Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God, sharing the same deity, attributes, and essential nature, yet there is but one God. Each person is distinct, yet God is not by this distinction divided into three parts, natures, or gods. The Godhead thus exists in a perfect unity, indivisible as to nature and substance, yet inseparably distinguished as persons who enjoy a fullness of fellowship and love.
Creator and Sovereign: In the beginning, the triune God freely created out of nothing the universe and everything in it by the word of his power, all for his own pleasure and the display of his glory. God declared the entirety of his creation to be very good. As supreme Creator, God is separate from and transcendent over all he has made. As sovereign Lord, he is present with his creation to sustain all things, govern all creatures, and direct all circumstances in accord with his holy and loving will. In everything God supremely acts for his glory and for the good of his people in Christ, granting us great comfort and unshakable hope in God’s love, wisdom, and faithfulness to us in this life and in eternity.
The crown of creation: Men and women are both made in the image of God and are equal before him in dignity and worth. Gender, designated by God through our biological sex, is therefore neither incidental to our identity nor fluid in its definition, but is essential to our identity as male and female. Men and women reflect and represent God in distinct and complementary ways, and these differences are to be honored and celebrated in all dimensions of life.
Created by design: God instituted marriage as the union of one man and one woman who complement each other in a one-flesh union that ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his church. This remains the only normative pattern of sexual relations for humanity. Husbands are to exercise headship sacrificially and with humility, and wives are to serve as helpers to their husbands, willingly supporting and submitting to their leadership. Together these complementary roles bring joy and blessing to each other and display the beauty of God’s purposes to the world. Single men and women are no less able to enjoy and honor God and no less important to his purposes. They also are to give expression to God’s image in distinct and complementary ways, flourishing as his image bearers and bringing him glory in their singleness.
Original Sin: God originally created man innocent and righteous, without stain or corruption. In this state, Adam and Eve enjoyed a fullness of life in communion with God, delighting in him and his righteous will yet capable of transgressing. Despite these privileges, they were led astray by Satan and willfully sinned against their Creator by doing what he had forbidden. Man’s trespass brought separation with God and the curse of death. Because God had established Adam as the representative head of the human race, his sin was imputed to all his descendants, bringing guilt, condemnation,and death to humanity. Therefore, we are all by nature corrupt and as soon as they are capable of moral action become actual transgressors.
Fully God and Fully Man: In the fullness of time God the Father sent his eternal Son, into the world as Jesus the Christ. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, taking on himself a fully human nature with all its attributes and frailties, yet without sin, is fully God and fully man, able to be our all-sufficient savior and the only mediator between God and man.
God’s appointed Messiah: Anointed by the Holy Spirit, Christ lived a sinless life in complete obedience to his Father. Jesus entered into full human existence, enduring the common infirmities, temptations, and sufferings of mankind. He perfectly revealed the character of God, taught with divine authority and utter truthfulness,extended God’s love and compassion,and demonstrated his lordship through the working of miracles and the exercise of divine prerogatives.
Obedient unto death, glorious in resurrection: He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, dying a substitutionary death for the sins of his people. He was buried and arose bodily from the dead on the third day, vindicating his identity and saving work as God’s Messiah and guaranteeing the defeat of death, our future resurrection, and the glorification of our physical bodies. Forty days later Jesus ascended bodily to heaven, where he is now enthroned at the right hand of God, reigning over all things, and interceding for his people as their Great High Priest. One day he will return to judge all people and angels, putting all his enemies under his feet and dwelling with his people forever.
The Gospel: The good news of Jesus Christ is the gospel, a full revelation of God’s plan of redemption, that the God of the Bible would pursue His rebellious and guilt-filed children to adopt them as redeemed and restored. It isHis plan to redeem His children from death and the wrath of God by pouring out this wrath on His own son so that through faith alone the elect of God receive the grace of God making it our joy to live a life that reflects the glory of Jesus and our pleasure to carry this light into broken places and to broken people.
Justification: Those whom God effectually calls to himself, he justifies in Christ, forgiving all of their sins and declaring them righteous and acceptable in his sight. This declaration is judicial, addressing not our nature but our status with regard to God’s law; it is definitive, being neither gradually gained nor able to be lost; and it is gracious, a free gift of God’s righteousness based on nothing worked in us or by us, but received freely by faith. The sole ground of our justification is the righteousness of Christ, whose life of perfect obedience is imputed to us and whose substitutionary death on our behalf completely satisfies the demands of God’s justice toward our sins.
Adoption: Those whom God justifies, he adopts into his family, granting them the full status, rights, and privileges of beloved sons. As God’s children, we receive his name, enjoy access into his presence, experience his care and discipline, and eagerly await the glorious inheritance he promises his own.
Sanctification, Perseverance, and Glorification: As the all-sufficient Savior, Christ also sanctifies his people, cleansing them from the impurity of sin and setting them apart for God and his service. The renewing work of the Holy Spirit breaks their bondage to sin and Satan and raises them to new life, enabling believers to put sin to death and grow in likeness to Christ. Sanctification is therefore both a definitive act of God and a progressive work of the Spirit. The ultimate goal of sanctification is our full conformity to Christ’s image, which will finally come when believers are raised physically with Christ in glory, freed from sin and exulting in the presence of God forever.
Our Helper: The Spirit manifests God’s active presence in the world, giving life in God’s creation and new creation. The Spirit works in the life of the believer bringing about the revelation of Jesus Christ as God’s Messiah, convicting the sinner of their unrighteousness, making salvation effective in people’s hearts through the gift of regeneration. He illuminates God’s Word to his people, assures them of God’s love, comforts them with his presence intercedes on their behalf, and sanctifies them in conformity to the image of Christ. The Spirit is the bond of our union with Christ, the seal of our salvation, the firstfruits of our redemption, and the guarantee of our inheritance. Without whom we would not be able to live a righteous and holy life.
Be Full of the Spirit: The Spirit transforms hearts by the miracle of regeneration and indwells all believers at Salvation. To be filled with the Spirit is to be more fully under his influence, more aware of his presence, and more effective in his service. The filling of the Spirit brings to God’s people a deeper knowledge of Christ, an increased desire for holiness, a stronger commitment to unity and love, a greater fruitfulness in ministry, and a deeper gratitude for our salvation, bringing us to continually seek to be filled with the Spirit.
The Spirit brings gifts: Christ loves the church, his body, and provides for its health and growth through the Holy Spirit. In addition to giving new life, the Spirit sovereignly bestows gifts on every believer. Spiritual gifts are those abilities and expressions of God’s power given by his grace for the glory of Christ and the building up of the church.
Abide in Christ: All believers, by virtue of their union with Christ, are progressively transformed into his image.Although the ruling power of sin in our lives has been broken, remnants of corruption remain in our hearts that we will fight throughout our lives. This lifelong process of growth takes place as the Spirit empowers us to abide in Christ and strive for holiness in every area of life. Resting in Christ’s finished work never renders our effort unnecessary but rather enables the joyful pursuit of loving and pleasing God. Compelled by grace, believers grow in the knowledge of God, obey Christ’s commands, walk by the Spirit, mortify sin, and pursue God’s priorities and purposes. Although such actions are not the ground of our salvation, they demonstrate the authenticity of our salvation and are a means by which God keeps us faithful to the end. Among the many public and private means of grace, the Word of God, prayer, and fellowship are primary instruments of our sanctification, fostering communion with God and training us together to glorify him, love others, and testify to Christ in the world.
Ordinances of the Church: By faithfully practicing the ordinances of God in both believers' baptism and the Lord’s Table, often known as communion, signifying the benefits of the gospel, confirming its promises to the believer, and visibly distinguishing the church from the world.
As we wait: Living the Christian life involves longing and waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although believers are new creations in Christ and presently enjoy the blessings of his resurrection power, their sanctification remains partial and incomplete in this life. Furthermore, they continue to live in mortal bodies in a creation subject to futility, opposed by the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Word of God assures us that we are his beloved children, yet such an assurance does not remove the reality of suffering, sorrow, and persecution in this present age. The gospel enables us to rejoice in the midst of tribulations, assured that his purposes are working for our good even in circumstances we do not understand. Fixing our eyes onJesus, we endure in faith and abound in hope,confident that a day is fast approaching when sin and sorrow will be no more.
LAST THINGS
When we die: Death entered God’s good creation as a result of Adam’s sin, and now all people are subject to death. Yet believers have no need to fear, because Christ has conquered death and delivered us from its dominion. Although our bodies return to dust for a time, death for the Christian has become a doorway to paradise, where our souls enter immediately into God’s presence to behold and enjoy our Savior and to rest from our labors as we await the redemption of our bodies and our full and final salvation. The souls of the unredeemed, however, are cast immediately into hades to experience torment as they await final judgment for their sins.
Christ’s Return: At the appointed time known only to God, Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power and glory as Judge and King to whom every knee will bow. Christ’s personal, physical, and visible return is the blessed hope of all who trust in him. At the end of the age the just and the unjust will be raised as their souls are reunited to their bodies: the just to a resurrection of life, the unjust to a resurrection of judgment. When the dead in Christ are raised, their perishable bodies will be redeemed and made like Christ’s imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual body. Those in Christ who are alive shall likewise be changed, and thus will all God’s glorified people forever bear the image of their Savior.
The Church exists as a community of regenerated believers
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers." - Acts 2:42
The early church was marked by these key characteristics. They were devoted to the apostles' teaching, they gathered often as a community, and they were steadfast in prayer, not because they had to but because their regenerated hearts wanted to. The church is primarily a community of likeminded believers in fellowship, worship, eating and praying yet often unbelievers and outsiders participate. The door of community isn't relegated only to believers, as we hope that our actions are harmonious with God's work to produce repentance and regeneration in those non-confessing of the Lordship of Christ. Thus children are also welcomed, loved and served so as to lay a foundation for future regeneration. The Church itself, the Body of Christ, is the local contextualized expression of the Trinitarian Godhead, and is only made up/comprised of confessing believers who are justified by faith and made new by the spirit.
Is organized and lead by competent, qualified Christ-centered leaders
The Church is led by Jesus Christ. He is our Senior Pastor. He has called undershepherds who under divine calling and provision lead the local assembly of believers. He also calls senior (spiritually mature) human leadership consisting of men who have been qualified in accordance with scripture, who have expressed, answered and display the evidence of God's calling and biblical obedience. These men work to provide complementarian leadership, preparing and sending people on mission, teaching doctrine, preaching, and the overall spiritual health of the local church.
The Bible also describes leaders (deacons) who coordinated specific areas of ministry led by both men and women. These men and women leaders witnessed and participated in many evangelistic history making events, yet did not rest on experience-based Christianity. They devoted themselves to the study of Scripture and had a keen awareness of their dependence on the Holy Spirit and Scripture for understanding, not just for information but as a means of transformation that permeated their whole life. They, too, must be biblically qualified and chase to complete the church’s vision and mission.
Regularly gathers with distinct contextualized expression
The purpose of the Church is to reflect the glory of God by echoing the revelation of who God is, responding in worship, repentance, prayer and resting in the imputed righteousness of Christ. Therefore, we seek to:
Regularly observes the Lord’s supper and baptism
As a church, during regular Sunday morning gatherings, we observe communion and baptism. These expressions are an act of worship, surrender and renewed commitment to the Lord in recognition of His sovereign authority over our lives. There is nothing mystical that occurs but rather are public displays of a regenerated soul.
Is one in ministry and united in movement
We are one in ministry through the confession and shared life of Jesus Christ and through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit to reveal knowledge and infuse the Church with power. As a body, we seek oneness under the authority of Christ and unity in our movement in ministry. This unity is expressed in concrete axioms.
Provides discipline for holiness
As regenerated souls God sets obedience in our hearts. This is often fulfilled through the work of discipline, the root of discipleship. All scripture is God-breathed, profitable for teaching, discipline and training to produce righteousness in us, and thus we regard scripture as a complete authority for Christlikeness.
Salvation
Salvation is a term used by the church to signify God's providence to rescue His people from the curse of death and the power of sin.
The Old Testament demonstrates salvation as God's powerful hand of deliverance for His people from their enemies so that they may be separate, distinct and a blessing to the nations. The New Testament demonstrates salvation as God's power over sin, death and the grave. It is through the Gospel that we know and understand salvation.
The Gospel
The Gospel is the message of the self-revealing God of the Bible who pursues His rebellious and guilt-filed children to adopt them as redeemed and restored. It is the plan to redeem His children from death and the wrath of God by pouring out this wrath on His own Son so that through faith alone the elect of God receive the grace of God making it our joy to live a life that reflects the glory of Jesus and our pleasure to carry this light into broken places and to broken people. It is the God man, the third member of the triune Godhead Jesus Christ who lived a sinless and pure life obeying the Father’s will and offering Himself as the atonement for our sins. As our sacrificial lamb, He died in our place bearing in His body the penalty of our sins. As our high priest He carried His blood into the Holy of Holies and offered it upon the mercy seat for the propitiation of sin. As our soon coming King, He will return for a spotless bride to carry her home to a place that He has prepared for all eternity.
What are we being saved from?
Some think that mankind is in need of being saved from the devil or from eternity in hell. These are often common misconceptions of the Bible. The issue with mankind is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23). As a result of Adam and Eve's rebellious actions in the garden all of mankind has been born under the curse of sin. Because we have all been born sons and daughters of Adam and Eve we are all sinners by nature. As we begin our journey in life this sin nature quickly leads us into sinful actions and thus we are sinners both by nature and by choice. It's not just that we have been born into sin, we actively choose sin over a self-revealing, just and Holy God.
It is quickly in the Bible that we see that mankind needs to be saved from our fallen sin nature (Romans 4.24) because God’s wrath will be poured out on sinners.
What is Sin?
Sin is the self-pleasing, God-ignoring, pride-exalting actions of the fallen man. As a result of man's self-pleasing, God-ignoring, pride-exalting actions (sin), mankind received the penalty of these actions: death and separation from God. And so we find ourselves under the wrath of a thrice Holy God, condemned to death and eternal separation from God.
How then is one saved?
Here lies a great problem. Because of man's sinful and rebellious nature and separation from God's holiness we do not know, understand nor see our sinful condition. The Bible often uses the language of death to demonstrate how deep the lack of awareness to our condition really is. The First step in salvation is that we need the knowledge and understanding that we need saving.
How will I know that I need saving?
Before a person can be saved there must be an awareness of their sin against God and their inability to remedy their predicament. Through God's wisdom and divine providence He has made this revelation known to all men.
How has God made known to a sinner his/her sin?
Through general revelation - This revelation is given to all men and displayed through creation, which makes known His power and holiness. This revelation clearly reveals God our creator as well as the wrath of God against mankind for their rebellion against His holy decrees and thus, mankind stands righteously condemned. Because of the wickedness inherent in man our response to this revelation is not gratitude and repentance but we hide, rebel, and suppress the truth.
Special revelation - This revelation is given to the sinner through another person speaking the words of Scripture or through the sinner reading Scripture themselves. This revelation is special because it makes known the plan of salvation through the person and work of Jesus Chris, by the leading of the Holy Spirit and is sufficient for the work of salvation in the heart of the one who by faith believes.
How then is one saved?
Jesus clearly stated that the heart of God is not that sinners would die in their sin but that they would turn and repent from their sin and be saved. Salvation is a gift from God that upon His mercy He would have pity upon mankind for their sorrowful condition. Second step in salvation is when His mercy brings forth His grace, which He extends to the sinner undeserved favor. The Third Step is that simply by faith, believing in Christ alone as the One who gave His life in place of theirs, atoning for the sins of the sinner, and justifying them before a Holy God. That Jesus through His penal (paid the penalty) substitutionary (in our place) atonement (satisfied the demands) on the cross paid in full the penalty of their sin satisfying the wrath of God.
How does one have faith?
The Bible shows us that to each believer a measure of faith has been given. This faith is a gift by the Holy Spirit to work in the life of the sinner bringing a realization of their broken fallen condition, an understanding that their sin offends and grieves God because of His holiness and righteousness. The Holy Spirit works to bring knowledge in the heart of the sinner that Jesus Christ died a sacrificial death to redeem sinners and moves the will of the sinner to confess and repent.
How do I know that I am saved?
Peter tells us in his second letter that salvation is founded upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the sovereignty of God and is revealed to us through His Holy Word. This work in the believer will produce faith and fruit and by these two means we will know we are saved.
Can I loose my Salvation?
Jesus plainly stated in the Gospel of John 10:9 "if anyone enters by me, he will be saved"... V11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep"....V27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. V28 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
Click one of the headings below for answers to each question.
Cornerstone Community Church functions as a non-denominational church. All decisions affecting the spiritual direction of the church are made by the Elder Body.
We don’t want people to contribute because of cultural pressure. Instead, we encourage you to be intentional and thoughtful when you give. There are wooden churches located on either side of the stage and in the back of the worship center near the exit. You can also give online by CLICKING HERE
We believe an essential component for spiritual growth is living in a Christ-centered community. Growing as a follower of Christ is a lifelong process that is designed to occur with others. Home Groups are designed so that families can engage in community together.
Expository preaching elevates God’s Word by making it the foundation and the focus of church life. Clear and solid exposition of the meaning of a passage puts the authority where it belongs– on the Word of God rather than the pastor. Finally, expository preaching forces us to deal with topics, themes, and passages that we wouldn’t otherwise readily and willingly choose to deal with. But there they are in the text, and so we must preach them!
We are so glad you asked. Cornerstone is always growing and adding new people to our church. Once a month we offer a Discover Cornerstone meetup where you get to meet our Elders and staff. This is a great time to ask questions and learn about opportunities to grow in Christ with Cornerstone Community Church.
Yes. Every six months we offer our Expectation for Church Membership and Statement of Faith class. This class is a 4 week dive into who we are as a church, our mission, distinctives, core values, doctrine, governance and much more. Ask our Pastor or an Elder for more information.
Our campus address is 182 Cornerstone Dr. Bunswick, GA 31523. We are located off of HWY 341 across the street from Tractor Supply.
Worship Service 10.30 AM
Home Groups - Site Specific
Discovery Boys/ Girls - 6.30 PM
Youth/Adults - 6.30 PM
Men's Bible Study - 6.30 AM