Statement of Faith

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, 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.

Go​d

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

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 17:1,5-6, 21-25; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:3, 14-15; Galatians 4:4- 6, Ephesians 3:14-21, 2 Peter 1:17, 1 John 3:1, 4:9,14.

God the Son

We believe in God the Son, who became Man, the Lord Jesus Christ:

• He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary when she was still a virgin, and is truly God and truly man.
• We believe in his sinless life, and his miracles. He is the full and final revelation of God and God’s nature. He is God, the Living Word
• He died as the propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. Only His shed blood and resurrection provide justification and eternal salvation
• 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.
• 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. At his return He will reveal Himself as the rightful Judge and King of the whole earth

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

God the Holy Spirit

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

Humankind (People/Person)

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

Stewardship

.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.

Marriage

We believe that marriage is a lifelong, faithful union between one man and one woman, as taught in the Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve. 

We believe that God designed sexual intimacy to be shared only between a husband and wife within marriage. Any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful and displeasing to God. 

We believe that marriage reflects God’s very nature: a relationship of love. This is also shown in the sacrificial way Christ loves His Church. We are called to live out this same kind of love, both in our marriages and lives.   

References: ​Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Isaiah 54:5, Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew 5:32, 19:3-6; Mark 10:5-12, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, 7:39; Ephesians 5:25-33, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:9-11, John 4:16-18

Salvation

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

Discipleship and Christian Life

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

The Church, body of Christ

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