The following are the core beliefs of Cornerstone Church - IL based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe there is only one true and eternal God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:1 • Deuteronomy 6:4 • Psalm 2:7 • Matthew 3:16-17 • John 1:1-18 • John 14:9-17

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is our final authority for faith and practice, entirely truthful and trustworthy. It must be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 • Psalm 119:160 • Romans 15:4 • Hebrews 4:13 • 2 Timothy 2:15 • 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We believe God created humankind in the divine image. Through Adam’s fall all became sinful, lost and condemned. Each human being, by deliberate choice, participates in sin and is in need of a relationship with God made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection.

Genesis 1:26-30 • Ephesians 2:1-22 • Romans 1:19-32 • Romans 5:12-21

We believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son, fully divine and fully human, the eternal and pre existent Creator. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered, died and rose again for the salvation of humankind.

Isaiah 53 • Philippians 2:5-11 • Hebrews 1:1-3 • Hebrews 4:14-15 • John 1:1-3 • John 1:14 • John 20:24-31

We believe God, because of His great love for us, offers forgiveness of sin and the opportunity to live in right relationship with Himself. We do not earn God’s forgiveness by good behavior. This salvation is received by human beings as God’s unearned gift when they choose to turn from sin and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Doing this makes one a citizen of God’s Kingdom, both now and in the everlasting future. It also enables believers to grow increasingly more Christ-like.

Matthew 26:28 • Luke 24:45-47 • John 3:16-18 • Romans 5:8-11 • Romans 6:1-7 • Romans 10:9-13 • Ephesians 2:8-9

We believe the Church is a community of faith consisting of believers with Christ as Lord. Such believers claim a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ; follow the Lord in baptism; share in the Lord’s Supper; and gather regularly for worship.

Matthew 16:15-19 • Acts 16:30-33 • 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 • Ephesians 1:22-23 • Hebrews 10:23-25

We believe loyalty to Christ and compassion for our neighbors compels us to invite persons to receive salvation and follow Jesus as His disciples. As disciples, we seek justice for all persons and seek to transform society through Christ’s love.

Micah 6:8 • Matthew 5:13-16 • Matthew 28:19-20 • Acts 1:8 • James 1:27 • James 2:8

We believe Jesus Christ will return visibly, at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God as they participate in the fullness of His eternal reign, while unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God.

Matthew 24:29-31 • Matthew 25:31-46 • 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 • Revelation 20:4-6 • Revelation 11-15

God is sovereign. Mankind has been given freedom to choose. Though these two statements create an apparent irreconcilable paradox, both are absolutely true. Though we do not claim to have it all figured out and we definitely do not wave a banner, we come from the perspective that says, “I may not fully understand ‘that,’ but I do know God is sovereign. To God be the glory!”

Salvation by God’s grace through faith involves a changed identity, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. All three are absolute and irrevocable. Only the individual can know if he or she has truly believed and confessed, however, over time the fruit of one’s life reveals.

Only the Father knows the time frame of Jesus’ Second Coming. There are three legitimate systems of interpretation for the related biblical teachings: Pre-Millennialism, Post-Millennialism, and A-Millennialism. Though “pre” has been the popular teaching of our day (ex. the “Left Behind” series), all three are viable interpretations.

Maleness and femaleness equally display the image of God. By God’s sovereign design, He chooses and assigns each person’s gender before they are born. In marriage, one male and one female unite to become one flesh. In the home, husbands are instructed to lead by exercising sacrificial love (as Jesus died for His bride, the Church). Wives are to exercise sacrificial service (as Jesus submitted to His Father). Correspondingly, all leading and serving at Cornerstone is done under the auspices of our (male) Elders. There is much freedom for all members of our family to exercise gifts (including teaching and leadership) under covering of our Elders.

Tongues is the utterance of a prayer or a message glorifying God, typically spoken to God, in a language that is unlearned by the speaker. Tongues are not to be forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:39) but are not uncontrolled (1 Corinthians 14:27-28, 39-40). Tongues, as with all spiritual gifts, are given as the Holy Spirit desires. Thus, tongues are not a “proof” of salvation. Because of the specific biblical requirements (1 Corinthians 14) for public manifestations of tongues, we do not invite worshipers to express this gift in our large weekend gatherings.

We are grateful for the rights and freedoms we have in our country. We encourage you to be involved in the political process as much as you desire, and it is good to have strong convictions (Romans 14:5). However, we are first of all citizens of God’s kingdom and make that our top priority. Have political convictions but do not be divisive. Cornerstone does not endorse one political party. We believe you have been given the tools to make your own decision.

God uses both natural and supernatural means to heal today. God instructs us to pray for healing and graces some with the gift of healing. However, these prayers and this gift do not result in the healing of every illness.

Christianity and science have often been viewed as opposing ideas. This does not have to be and, in fact, should not be the case. Our God is not a god of chaos but a god of order. He created the laws of science including, but not limited to, physics, biology, and chemistry. The scientific laws which govern existence and are observable in nature exist because He ordained it to be so and holds all things together through His indomitable will. In many cases, scientific knowledge may be thought of as illustrating some of the methods God uses to accomplish His will... a glimpse into the mind of God regarding His creation.