Genuine passion comes from deep convictions. The conviction that Jesus is the only reliable foundation for life unites us with Christians throughout the world. We’re also not the first to believe these things — so we recognise our place in a line of believers throughout history.

What We Believe

Cornerstone is an Independent Evangelical church; independent in governance but united with Christians around the world and throughout history in upholding the gospel of Jesus Christ.

At Cornerstone, we are united in our conviction that God became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ, who was crucified and rose again to bring us forgiveness and new life, and that He is now gathering people to spend eternity with Him. To find out more about Christianity visit the two ways to live website.

We hold the Bible to be the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct and weigh all our teaching against its standard.

We stand with Christians throughout the ages in our understanding of those Scriptures. Specifically, our teaching is in line with the understanding expressed in the Christian creeds (including the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed). We don't hold these creeds as an authority over the Scriptures or on the same level as the Scriptures, but that they are faithful presentations of the Bible's teaching.

We hold to the Reformation teaching that God's rescue comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in the Person and work of Christ alone as revealed in the Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

We hold that Jesus instituted two sacraments - the Lord's Supper and Baptism - visible signs and seals of the gospel, effective when received with faith. Faithful Christians have differed on the appropriate age for baptism. We hold that the baptism of infants is a helpful and faithful expression of the gospel, but welcome those whose conscience differs on this matter.

We hold to the following summary of the Christian message as our Basis of Belief:

  • The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
  • The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgment.
  • The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
  • The universal sinfulness and guilt of all people since the fall, rendering them subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
  • Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
  • The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.
  • The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
  • The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone.
  • The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
  • The one holy universal Church which is the body of Christ and to which all true believers belong.
  • The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.