About Cornerstone
Cornerstone History
Cornerstone Beliefs
The Free Methodist Denomination
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What We Believe
GOD
I. The Holy Trinity
A/101. There is but one living and true God, the maker and preserver of all
things. And in the unity of this Godhead there are three persons: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in eternity, deity, and
purpose; everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.
II. The Son
His Incarnation
A/103. God was himself in Jesus Christ to reconcile people to God. Conceived
by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, He joined together the deity of God
and the humanity of humankind. Jesus of Nazareth was God in flesh, truly God and
truly human. He came to save us. For us the Son of God suffered, was crucified,
dead and buried. He poured out His life as a blameless sacrifice for our sin and
transgressions. We gratefully acknowledge that He is our Savior, the one perfect
mediator between God and us.
His Resurrection and Exaltation
A/104. Jesus Christ is risen victorious from the dead. His resurrected body
became more glorious, not hindered by ordinary human limitations. Thus He
ascended into heaven. There He sits as our exalted Lord at the right hand of God
the Father, where He intercedes for us until all His enemies shall be brought
into complete subjection. He will return to judge all people. Every knee will
bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
III. The Holy Spirit
His Person
A/105. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Proceeding from
the Father and the Son, He is one with them, the eternal Godhead; equal in
deity, majesty, and power. He is God effective in Creation, in life, and in the
church. The Incarnation and ministry of Jesus Christ were accomplished by the
Holy Spirit. He continues to reveal, interpret, and glorify the Son.
His Work in Salvation
A/106. The Holy Spirit is the administrator of the salvation planned by the
Father and provided by the Son's death, Resurrection, and Ascension. He is the
effective agent in our conviction, regeneration, sanctification, and
glorification. He is our Lord's ever-present self, indwelling, assuring, and
enabling the believer.
His Relation to the Church
A/107. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon the church by the Father and the
Son. He is the church's life and witnessing power. He bestows the love of God
and makes real the lordship of Jesus Christ in the believer so that both His
gifts of words and service may achieve the common good, and build and increase
the church. In relation to the world He is the Spirit of truth, and His
instrument is the Word of God.
THE SCRIPTURES
IV. Authority
A/108. The Bible is God's written Word, uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit.
It bears unerring witness to Jesus Christ, the living Word. As attested by the
early church and subsequent councils, it is the trustworthy record of God's
revelation, completely truthful in all it affirms. It has been faithfully
preserved and proves itself true in human experience.
The Scriptures have come to us through human authors who wrote, as God moved
them, in the languages and literary forms of their times. God continues, by the
illumination of the Holy Spirit, to speak through this Word to each generation
and culture.
The Bible has authority over all human life. It teaches the truth about God, His
creation, His people, His one and only Son, and the destiny of humankind. It
also teaches the way of salvation and the life of faith. Whatever is not found
in the Bible nor can be proved by it is not to be required as an article of
belief or as necessary to salvation.
V. Authority of the Old Testament
A/109. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New. Both Testaments bear
witness to God's salvation in Christ; both speak of God's will for His people.
The ancient laws for ceremonies and rites, and the civil precepts for the nation
Israel are not necessarily binding on Christians today. But, on the example of
Jesus we are obligated to obey the moral commandments of the Old Testament.
The books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1
Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel,
Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
VI. New Testament
A/110. The New Testament fulfills and interprets the Old Testament. It is the
record of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is God's
final word regarding humankind, sin, and salvation, the world and its destiny.
The books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1
Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1
Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews,
James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.
HUMANKINDVII. Free Moral Persons
A/111. God created human beings in His own image, innocent, morally free
and responsible to choose between good and evil, right and wrong. By the sin
of Adam, humans as the offspring of Adam are corrupted in their very nature so
that from birth they are inclined to sin. They are unable by their own
strength and work to restore themselves in right relationship with God and to
merit eternal salvation. God, the Omnipotent, provides all the resources of
the Trinity to make it possible for humans to respond to His grace through
faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. By God's grace and help people are
enabled to do good works with a free will.
VIII. Law of Life and Love
A/112. God's law for all human life, personal and social, is expressed in
two divine commands: Love the Lord God with all your heart, and love your
neighbor as yourself. These commands reveal what is best for persons in their
relationship with God, others, and society. They set forth the principles of
human duty in both individual and social action. They recognize God as the
only Sovereign. All people as created by Him and in His image have the same
inherent rights regardless of sex, race, or color. All should therefore give
God absolute obedience in their individual, social, and political acts. They
should strive to secure to everyone respect for their person, their rights,
and their greatest happiness in the possession and exercise of the right
within the moral law.
IX. Good Works
A/113. Good works are the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ, but works cannot
save us from our sins nor from God's judgment. As expressions of Christian
faith and love, our good works performed with reverence and humility are both
acceptable and pleasing to God. However, good works do not earn God's grace.
SALVATION
X. Christ's Sacrifice
A/114. Christ offered once and for all the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of
the whole world. No other satisfaction for sin is necessary; none other can
atone.
XI. The New Life in Christ
A/115. A new life and a right relationship with God are made possible through
the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ. God, by His Spirit, acts to impart
new life and put people into a relationship with Himself as they repent and
their faith responds to His grace. Justification, regeneration, and adoption
speak significantly to entrance into and continuance in the new life.
Justification
A/116. Justification is a legal term that emphasizes that by a new relationship
in Jesus Christ people are in fact accounted righteous, being freed from both
the guilt and the penalty of their sins.
Regeneration
A/117. Regeneration is a biological term which illustrates that by a new
relationship in Christ, one does in fact have a new life and a new spiritual
nature capable of faith, love, and obedience to Christ Jesus as Lord. The
believer is born again and is a new creation. The old life is past; a new life
is begun.
Adoption
A/118. Adoption is a filial term full of warmth, love, and acceptance. It
denotes that by a new relationship in Christ believers have become His wanted
children freed from the mastery of both sin and Satan. Believers have the
witness of the Spirit that they are children of God.
XII. Entire Sanctification
A/119. Entire sanctification is that work of the Holy Spirit, subsequent to
regeneration, by which the fully consecrated believers, upon exercise of faith
in the atoning blood of Christ, are cleansed in that moment from all inward sin
and empowered for service. The resulting relationship is attested by the witness
of the Holy Spirit and is maintained by faith and obedience. Entire
sanctification enables believers to love God with all their hearts, souls,
strength, and minds, and their neighbor as themselves, and it prepares them for
greater growth in grace.
XIII. Restoration
A/120. Christians may be sustained in a growing relationship with Jesus as
Savior and Lord. However, they may grieve the Holy Spirit in the relationships
of life without returning to the dominion of sin. When they do, they must humbly
accept the correction of the Holy Spirit, trust in the advocacy of Jesus, and
mend their relationships. Christians can sin willfully and sever their
relationship with Christ. Even so by repentance before God, forgiveness is
granted and the relationship with Christ restored, for not every sin is the sin
against the Holy Spirit and unpardonable. God's grace is sufficient for those
who truly repent and, by His enabling, amend their lives. However, forgiveness
does not give believers liberty to sin and escape the consequences of sinning.
God has given responsibility and power to the church to restore penitent
believers through loving reproof, counsel, and acceptance.
THE CHURCH
XIV. The Church
A/121. The church is created by God. It is the people of God. Christ Jesus is
its Lord and Head. The Holy Spirit is its life and power. It is both divine and
human, heavenly and earthly, ideal and imperfect. It is an organism, not an
unchanging institution. It exists to fulfill the purposes of God in Christ. It
redemptively ministers to persons. Christ loved the church and gave himself for
it that it should be holy and without blemish. The church is a fellowship of the
redeemed and the redeeming, preaching the Word of God and administering the
sacraments according to Christ's instruction. The Free Methodist Church purposes
to be representative of what the church of Jesus Christ should be on earth. It
therefore requires specific commitment regarding the faith and life of its
members. In its requirements it seeks to honor Christ and obey the written Word
of God.
XV. The Language of Worship
A/122. According to the Word of God and the custom of the early church, public
worship and prayer and the administration of the sacraments should be in a
language understood by the people. The Reformation applied this principle to
provide for the use of the common language of the people. It is likewise clear
that the Apostle Paul places the strongest emphasis upon rational and
intelligible utterance in worship. We cannot endorse practices which plainly
violate these scriptural principles.
XVI. The Holy Sacraments
A/123. Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacraments of the church
commanded by Christ. They are means of grace through faith, tokens of our
profession of Christian faith, and signs of God's gracious ministry toward us.
By them, He works within us to quicken, strengthen, and confirm our faith.
Baptism
A/124. Water baptism is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord,
signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ to be
administered to believers, as declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior.
Baptism is a symbol of the new covenant of grace as circumcision was the symbol
of the old covenant; and, since infants are recognized as being included in the
atonement, they may be baptized upon the request of parents or guardians who
shall give assurance for them of necessary Christian training. They shall be
required to affirm the vow for themselves before being accepted into church
membership.
The Lord's Supper
A/125. The Lord's Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death. To
those who rightly, worthily, and with faith receive it, the bread which we break
is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a
partaking of the blood of Christ. The supper is also a sign of the love and
unity that Christians have among themselves.
Christ, according to His promise, is really present in the sacrament. But His
body is given, taken, and eaten only after a heavenly and spiritual manner. No
change is effected in the element; the bread and wine are not literally the body
and blood of Christ. Nor is the body and blood of Christ literally present with
the elements. The elements are never to be considered objects of worship. The
body of Christ is received and eaten in faith.
LAST THINGSXVII. The Kingdom of God
A/126. The kingdom of God is a prominent Bible theme providing Christians
with both their tasks and hope. Jesus announced its presence. The kingdom is
realized now as God's reign is established in the hearts and lives of
believers.
The church, by its prayers, example, and proclamation of the gospel, is the
appointed and appropriate instrument of God in building His kingdom. But the
kingdom is also future and is related to the return of Christ when judgment
will fall upon the present order. The enemies of Christ will be subdued; the
reign of God will be established; a total cosmic renewal which is both
material and moral shall occur; and the hope of the redeemed will be fully
realized.
XVIII. The Return of Christ
A/127. The return of Christ is certain and may occur at any moment,
although it is not given us to know the hour. At His return He will fulfill
all prophecies concerning His final triumph over all evil. The believer's
response is joyous expectation, watchfulness, readiness, and diligence.
XIX. Resurrection
A/128. There will be a bodily resurrection from the dead of both the just
and the unjust, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; they
that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. The resurrected body
will be a spiritual body, but the person will be whole and identifiable. The
Resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of resurrection unto life to those who
are in Him.
XX. Judgment
A/129. God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness in accordance with the gospel and our deeds in this life.
XXI. Final Destiny
A/130. Our eternal destiny is determined by God's grace and our response,
not by arbitrary decrees of God. For those who trust Him and obediently follow
Jesus as Savior and Lord, there is a heaven of eternal glory and the
blessedness of Christ's presence. But for the finally impenitent there is a
hell of eternal suffering and of separation from God.
A/131. The doctrines of the Free Methodist Church are based upon the Holy
Scriptures and are derived from their total biblical context. The references
below are appropriate passages related to the given articles. They are listed
in their biblical sequence and are not intended to be exhaustive.
