What We Believe

ARTICLE I- THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that it is in the sixty-six books the full, final and complete revelation of God’s will to man. We believe the Author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit, and by inspiration we mean the plenary, verbal inspiration, that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit as revealed in Second Peter chapter one. We believe that the King James Version (1611, Authorized Bible) is God’s preserved Word in the English language. We reject all modern translations and paraphrased versions, as these commonly alter or delete Bible doctrines, including the pure meaning of redemption and the virgin birth and deity of Christ. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. II Pet. 1:20-21; II Tim. 3:16-17; Matt. 5:1

We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God…

ARTICLE II- GOD THE FATHER

We believe and teach that there is one, and only one, true and living God. He is absolute in nature, perfect in attributes, and holy in character. He is the Creator of all things, animate and inanimate. He is immutable, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal and sovereign. Eph. 4:6; I Tim. 1:17; Ps. 147:4; Ex. 20:2-3; Rom. 11:33; Gen. 17:1; John 4:24; Ps. 90:2; Ps. 139:7-10

ARTICLE III- GOD THE SON

Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, and is the Second Person of the Trinity, divine, even as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He was virgin born and incarnate in flesh. He lived a sinless life and is the only true Saviour of mankind by His vicarious death on the cross. He resurrected physically from the tomb, ascended into Heaven, and is now the believers’ Great High Priest, ever interceding for them. Isa. 9:6; II Cor. 5:21; Gen. 3:15; Heb. 10:11-14; Isa. 53:5; John 1:1-5, 14; Heb. 4:12; Gal. 3:13; Col. 1:13-17; Heb. 2:17-18; I Peter 3:18; Heb. 1:2

ARTICLE IV- THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, the third Person of the Trinity. He is equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature, and is involved in all the works of God, from the creation. In relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled; He convicts of sin, judgment and righteousness; He is the agent of the new birth and indwells, seals, guides and empowers the Believer for service. John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26-27; Rom 8:16; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:26-27

ARTICLE V- CREATION

We believe the Genesis record of the creation week is literal, and not allegorical or figurative; that God Personally created the heaven and the earth in a direct act, that He brought forth all original matter out of nothing. We believe that man was created instantly and immediately, by divine power, in God’s own image, on the sixth creation day, and not through any evolutionary process. God’s established law says that all species shall bring forth “after their kind.” Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:23-26; Rom. 1:20; John 1:1-3; Heb. 11:3;Gen. 1:26-27

ARTICLE VI- THE DEVIL (SATAN)

We believe that Satan is an actual being and not an imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he through pride, ambition and self will betrayed God and as a result, brought down upon his head the judgment of God. He operates today as the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air; that he is the arch deceiver, and father of all lies; that he is the greatest enemy, tempter, and opposer of the saints. His final abode shall be the lake of fire which is the eternal place of punishment prepared for the devil and his angels. Isa. 14:12-15; Jude 6; I John 3:8; Ezek. 28:14-17; I Peter 5:8; John 8:43-44

ARTICLE VII- THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that man was created in innocence and purity, and by voluntary transgression of the Lord’s command, fell from the state in which he was created and as a consequence became a sinner alienated from God; in so doing, he brought upon himself and all mankind just condemnation. Man is now, by virtue of his fallen nature, void of holiness, positively inclined to evil and actually condemned to eternal ruin without excuse. Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 1:28

ARTICLE VIII- THE VIRGIN BIRTH

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of the Virgin Mary as no other man was born or can be born of woman. He is both the Son of God and God the Son; in His humanity, both wholly God and wholly man. Luke 1:35; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt 1:18-25; John 1:14; Mark 1:1 00000

ARTICLE IX- THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

We believe that the lost sinner- every mortal- is guilty and under just condemnation and is by nature alien to God and because of sin, condemned to die; that the atonement for sin was provided through the substitutionary work of the Son of God, Who by divine appointment freely took upon himself our nature, yet without sin, that He through obedience through His earthly walk personally honored the divine law by keeping it, and through His death on the cross actually satisfied the law for the penalty of sin. His obedience and sacrificial death made full and vicarious atonement for all sin, so forgiveness and salvation may be provided freely to all who believe. Rom. 3:25; I John 1:7; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:22; John 10:17-18; Heb. 12:2

ARTICLE X- GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN’S SALVATION

We believe and teach that salvation is by God’s grace and that salvation is free to all through the Gospel: that it is the duty of all to accept Christ, the Saviour, by faith; and those who voluntarily reject salvation and Jesus Christ will face eternal separation from God in a literal place of fiery punishment the Bible calls “hell.” When a sinner repents and receives Jesus Christ as Personal Saviour, that sinner also receives eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from divine wrath. The eternal purpose of God in salvation is first, that God be glorified; after this, to secure and preserve the believer forever in Christ; hence, the believer is saved and kept eternally, apart from works or human effort. It is also the eternal purpose of God that the believer conform to the image of His Son. This salvation, wrought by grace, assures us that we are preserved in Christ by the power of God and no man can pluck the saved from the Father’s hand. God’s Word teaches eternal security- “Once in Grace, always in Grace.”John 3:15-16; I Peter 1:4-5; John 1:12; John 10:27-30; Rom. 10:1-3; John 5:24; Rom. 8:28-29; 35-39; Rom. 11:29; Eph. 1:4-7; 12-14

ARTICLE XI- REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites for salvation; that they are necessary elements wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit; as the sinner is deeply convicted of his guilt and helplessness he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering himself wholeheartedly, and receiving Him as personal Saviour and Lord, he is immediately born again. Acts 3:19; II Cor. 7:9-10; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; Matt. 3:1-2; John 6:44 We believe and teach that all are sinners in need of this great salvation.

You need to be saved: Rom. 3:10; 3:23; Jn. 3:1-16
You cannot save yourself: Titus 3:5
God has provided for your salvation: Heb. 7:25
Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation: John 14:6
God wants to save you: II Peter 3:9; I Tim. 2:4
You must trust in Christ alone, repenting of your sins: Acts. 3:19; Rom. 10:9-10
God can save you now: Rom. 10:13

ARTICLE XII- THE RESURRECTION

We believe and teach that Jesus Christ arose literally and bodily from the grave. We also believe and teach that this resurrection assures all believers the same physical resurrection when the Lord returns for the Saints at the time of the Rapture. There will also be a resurrection of the unsaved to stand in judgment before the Lord, known in the Scriptures as the Great White Throne Judgment. Matt. 28:6-7; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:1-11, 42-52; Heb. 9:27-28; I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:11-15

ARTICLE XIII- THE CHURCH

We believe and teach that the local, visible assembly of Scripturally-baptized believers (ekklesia) is Christ’s body- the “one body” of Eph. 4:4- the only kind of “church” found in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal church. Although the family of God- all blood-washed, redeemed saints- is “invisible” in that sense, and heaven-bound, not all believers are joined to a Body of Christ- His local, visible assembly, which He called “my church.” The local New Testament Baptist church alone was authorized to carry out the Great Commission. The first New Testament Baptist church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own Personal ministry, using the “materials” prepared by John the Baptist; and membership in Christ’s Body- that local assembly, the manifestation of Christ in that locale- is by Scriptural baptism. We believe and teach that the local New Testament Baptist church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. All assemblies in the New Testament were independent, self-governing, self-financing, and self-propagating assemblies. Eph. 3:21; Acts 2:47; I Tim. 3:15; Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:24; Eph. 1:22-23; Acts 16:5; Acts 11:22; Acts 8:1

ARTICLE XIV- CHURCH ORDINANCES

We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances set forth in the Scriptures for observance in Christ’s visible assemblies. Scriptural Baptism began with John the Baptist. John’s baptism was Christian baptism; John was the first gospel preacher. Our Lord Jesus Christ accepted this baptism himself and accepted those that John baptized into the church that He organized during His own personal ministry.

A. Baptism – Believer’s baptism, to be Scriptural, must involve: 1) The Proper Candidate –one who has been born again. 2) The Proper Mode or Method –immersion of the believer in water. 3) The Proper Design or Motive – to show forth the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and spiritually, of the believer, to a new life in Christ; baptism also makes him a member of the Scriptural church into which he is baptized. 4) The Proper Administrator- a real, Baptist church, founded with church authority.

B. The Lord’s Supper – We believe the Lord’s Supper is a memorial supper administered by the authority and instruction of the local Baptist church. It symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and only members of the local church who are in a right relationship with God are qualified participants in the Lord’s Supper service. There is no saving grace communicated either through Baptism or the Lord’s Supper. They are pictures and memorials for believers in Scriptural churches to observe, as matters of obedience.Matt. 3:13-17; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-34; Acts 8:36-38; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 1:1-4; I Cor. 1:14-18

ARTICLE XV- THE GRACE OF GIVING

We believe and teach that God’s method of financing His work of spreading the Gospel is by the tithes and offerings of His people in and through the local New Testament Baptist church, which is the storehouse. The time to tithe is upon the first day of the week, and everyone is accountable to the Lord for one-tenth of his income. Tithing was instituted before the law, and by Christ in the New Testament Baptist church. Matt. 23:23; Lev. 27:28-34; I Cor. 16:1-2; Luke 6:38; II Cor. 9:6-15; Gen. 14:17-20; Mal. 3:7-10; II Cor. 8:1-8

ARTICLE XVI- THE WORK OF MISSIONS

We believe that all missionary endeavor should be carried on through and ministry, and under the authority of the local church; that mission boards and mission hierarchies tend to corrupt and usurp the authority of the local church. The Great Commission was given to the local New Testament Baptist church; therefore, the authority to preach, baptize and teach rests solely with the local church, and not with any educational institution, mission board, denomination, or other religious organization. It is therefore the responsibility of local, Scriptural assemblies to train those who go forth to spread the Gospel, and to supervise their labors under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We do believe that it is the privilege and right of local churches to cooperate with each other in carrying out the Great Commission. This cooperation should be carried on in such a manner as to preserve the sovereignty and autonomy of each local body in all matters of faith and practice. Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 9:1-15; II Cor. 8:1-6; I Cor. 16:1-3

ARTICLE XVII- SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

The original intent of our founding fathers was to keep civil government in its proper perspective. We believe civil government should be influenced by the prayers, preaching, teaching and involvement of all believers in Christ. We believe Christians should be actively involved in the electoral and legislative processes, and working to promote godly government. The requirements of license, certification and taxes on the church of Jesus Christ are unconstitutional and non-Biblical. The churches’ ministers are God-ordained and need no man’s approval or control. The Holy Spirit calls and maintains the work of God. The state is not above- nor equal to- God. The state is to be a “servant of God” to the people for good; it is accountable to God for its acts. God is the Supreme Sovereign, and as such is the Ultimate Authority, and should be obeyed above any other delegated authority. We believe that we should, “as much as lieth in us,” live peaceably with all men. However, we will resist peaceably all efforts of civil governments to control the churches of Jesus Christ. There is nothing in the first amendment to the United States Constitution which supports the idea of “separation of church and state.” The original intent was clear: our founding documents clearly prohibit the establishment of a state religion and guarantee the free exercise of religious belief. The division between church and state is one of function; it is a division of labor; the church is to be a minister of grace; the state is to be a minister of justice. Both are divinely-established institutions, and both are to serve the Lord God. God never intended for church and state to exist independently and separately. The church is to influence the state to godly and righteous rule. The state is to protect the good and prevent the evil. We, therefore, exhort our members to be active in praying and working for Scriptural, godly civil government. I Tim. 2:1-2; Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 5:29; Matt. 22:15-21; Prov. 8:15-17; Ex. 18:11; Rom. 12:17-18; I Peter 2:13-20; Job 34:24

ARTICLE XVIII- EVENTS OF THE END TIMES

We believe and teach that Jesus Christ is coming again, and that God has a plan still future for this world and all that dwell therein, both saved and lost. Jn. 14:1-3; I Thess. 3:13; I Cor. 15:51-55; Rev. 19:11-16; Jude 14-15; Zech. 14:1-5; Titus 2:13

The Rapture- “Catching Away”- of the Saints

We believe and teach that Jesus Christ shall “catch away” all believers before the Tribulation. All true believers will be caught up together, along with the dead in Christ- the deceased bodies of saints who have died through the ages- to meet the Lord in the air. The time of the rapture is imminent. I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-55; II Thess. 2:1-12; Mark 13:27-31; Luke 21:25-31; Luke 21:8-19

The Tribulation- 7 Years of Anguish

We believe and teach that the Rapture will immediately be followed by a 7-year Tribulation, described in many Bible texts, here on the earth. This will be a time of turmoil, trouble, and death, as Antichrist is revealed and during the latter 3 ½ years, God pours out His wrath on an unbelieving world. Dan. 12:1; II Thess. 2:1-12; Matt. 24:21; Luke 21:25-26; Rev. 6:16-17; Rev. 16:11-21; Rev. 14:1-16

The Conversion of the Jews

We believe and teach that God still has a plan for physical Israel: God will raise up 144,000 Jewish witnesses to preach the gospel during the Tribulation, and all Jews who survive the Tribulation will believe on Christ when He appears in the heavens in the Second Advent. Zech. 12:10-14; 14:1-9; Romans 11:25-27; Matt. 24:38

The Battle of Armageddon

We believe and teach that when Jesus Christ comes at the Second Advent, that, accompanied by all the saints in heaven, He will meet the armies of His enemies at the Battle of Armageddon, and defeat them in a moment with the word of His mouth. At this time, He will establish His physical kingdom on this earth. Rev. 16:11-21; Ezek. 38:1-23; Zech. 12:1-4

The Millennium

We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, in His glorified body, will literally rule and reign on the earth, after the Tribulation, for 1,000 years, from David’s Throne in Jerusalem. He will rule the nations with a rod of iron, and will execute justice and righteousness on the earth.Rev. 20:1-6; Jer. 23:5; Rev. 11:15-17; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:9; Isa. 2:1-5

The Final Judgment

We believe and teach that after the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, there will be a brief, final rebellion, culminated by the Great White Throne Judgment, the judgment of all the lost of all the ages, at which time they will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Rev. 20:1-15

The Eternal State

We believe and teach that after this final judgment, “eternity” begins. The saints will live forever with the Lord in heaven, eternally praising and worshiping Him and fellow-shipping together with the saints forever and ever. Rev. 21:1-7; 9-27; Rev. 22:1-21

ARTICLE IX- END TIMES APOSTASY

Whereas “the last days” are set forth in Scripture as perilous times, and recognizing that these days are upon us, and seeing a departure from the Word of God, be it resolved that we, the members of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Jamestown, North Dakota, make the following declaration of our Biblical position:

We declare ourselves to be Bible-believing Baptists and oppose the interdenominational and New Evangelical trends of our day. We hold to the Faith once delivered to the saints and oppose modern liberalism. We stand opposed to the modern charismatic movement with its unscriptural practices, as well as ecumenical unification of religion. In this day of apostasy, we determine, by God’s grace, to stand for truth from the inspired Scriptures, until Christ comes to take the saints home to be with Him! I Cor. 13:1-13; I Cor. 14:22-34; Heb. 2:1-4; I Tim. 4:1-3; II Tim. 3; II Tim. 4:1-4; Jude 3; Col. 2:8