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.

The Bible

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, Psalms 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 1:2-24; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 1:1-3, 22:16-20.

God

We believe in one God, the great living Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. He is spirit, unique, omnipotent, 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 one 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

God the Father

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 17:6; 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.

God the Son

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is God, the Living Word:

1. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary when she was still a virgin, and is truly God and truly man.
2. We believe in his sinless life, and his miracles. He is the full and final revelation of God and God’s nature.
3. He died as the propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. His shed blood and resurrection provide the only ground for justification and eternal salvation
4. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of the Lord Jesus Christ. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God as High Priest, Lord and Advocate.
5. We believe in the personal visible return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that his coming again is the "Blessed Hope" set before us for which we should be constantly looking.

References: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 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

God the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the source and power of all acceptable worship and service; 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 possessed by every child of God, permanently indwelling us, and his illumination is needed to have spiritual and growing understanding of the Word of God. He is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with his gifts, our experiences or ourselves. He convicts, regenerates, indwells, guides, instruct, and empowers the believer for spiritual worship, godly living and service.

References: Judges 14:6; Psalms 139:7; Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 12:28;; Luke 4:1,18-19; 12:12; John 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 7:55,56; 13:2; 19:1-6; 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.

Mankind

We believe that God created mankind in his image and likeness (having rational, moral, relational, and spiritual capacities) to fellowship with Him and give Him glory. Every human being therefore possesses inherent dignity and moral worth, and are thus distinct from all other life on earth. Adam and Eve, the first human beings, chose to rebel against God and fell out of their sinless state by an act of disobedience. As a result, all of mankind became separated from God, the image of God in mankind is now distorted, and the sinful nature is passed on to all their offspring.

We believe that all have sinned and are lost, already under condemnation and unable to save themselves or earn the favour of God. An eternal punishment is prepared for those who do not accept 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

Salvation

We believe that all who repent of their sins and trust the personal call of God in the gospel are saved by grace alone. Trusting in Jesus Christ as their Saviour they become Children of God. They pass out of spiritual death and into everlasting life, justified by faith alone, accepted by the Father, loved as Christ is loved and united to him by the Holy Spirit.

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

Discipleship

We believe that Jesus Christ calls us to discipleship, to take up our cross and follow Him. Through the gift of God's saving grace, we are empowered to be disciples of Jesus, filled with his Spirit, following his teachings and his path through suffering to new life. As we are faithful to his way, we become conformed to Christ and separated from the evil in the world.

References: 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.

Stewardship

We believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. We therefore have a duty to serve Him with our time, talents, and material possessions; and we recognize all these as entrusted to us – we are stewards not owners – 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.

Heaven

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, at death immediately pass into His presence. They remain with Him in conscious happiness until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body reunited shall be with Him forever in glory.

References: Job 19:26,27; Psalm 49:15; 73:23-26; 84; Matthew 22:32; 25:21,23; Luke 16:20-22; 23:43; John 14:1-4; 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 4: 17,18; Revelation 7:14-17;

Satan

We believe in the personal existence of the Devil or Satan, who is a fallen angel and the enemy of God and of all His children. The eternal fire (Hell) is reserved for the future punishment of the Devil.

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.

The Church

We believe in one, holy, universal Church, born when the Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost. 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 He has given the Church responsibilities in obedience to Him and his Word.

References: Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 12:12,13; Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:19-22; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18;; Revelation  21:2-3,9-10.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both ordinances are 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.