Statement of Faith
What we believe and operate by.
God-breathed scripture
We believe that God alone, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is the author of the Holy Scriptures in the original autographs through the direction of the Holy Spirit written by men.
We believe that it was God-breathed. We believe the manuscripts have been protected by God, Himself, to be without error and infallible. It is the only rule for faith and practice and is the thoughts of God's heart for all generations.
Church Organization
We believe the organization of the church can be dynamic by adapting to the culture and the needs of the local body.
We are structured with Elder-led congregational rule with the final vote being in the hands of the membership. Deacons and Ministry Directors oversee various aspects of ministry and service, with the Pastor and Elders providing spiritual oversight and assuring the doctrine of this fellowship aligns with Holy Scripture.
True Man,
True God
We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, that He was and is true man and true God, born of a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and suffered under Pontius Pilot according to the New Testament and prophesied in the Old Testament. We believe that He voluntarily submitted to crucifixion by the Romans at the urging of the Sanhedrin (Jewish Leaders). He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and became the acceptable sacrifice for mankind. Those who believe in Him shall be justified.
By Faith Alone
We believe that mankind is justified before God by God's will and desire alone, and that we receive by faith alone the imputed righteousness of Christ. We believe salvation is in Christ alone. We trust in the words and works of Christ and that this salvation is by grace: a gift of God, a gift of unmerited favor. We did not earn it and have no expressed right to it.
We believe that we must confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is who He says He is- The Son of God. Our belief gives us the right to be called children of God, We become spiritually "born again" into a new life, a new creation, and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. In His fullness we are given a covenant by God, of our promised salvation.
One God,
Three Persons
We believe in the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. God exists eternally in three distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the same in essence yet distinct in substance and workings.
God is eternal; He possesses all power and all knowledge.
Rose to Life
We believe that the dead and entombed body of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rose to life on the third day by His own power, and He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father this moment interceding on behalf of all believers.
Baptism
We believe in believer's baptism by immersion in water, that symbolizes the spiritual washing of sins. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward condition of saved souls. We baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the Lord Jesus Christ commanded and demonstrated.
Universal and Local Church
We believe that the church has two facets, universal and local. The universal church consists of all believers, the full body of Christ including those who believe in the deity of Christ Jesus and have trusted Him for their salvation based upon the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God.
The Local church is that expression of the body of Christ Jesus that worships, studies, and ministers together under the ordinances of the Holy Scriptures as defined in the Old Testament and being compiled together and fulfilled in the New Testament. We are governed by the words and works of Christ, and led by the Pastor, Elders, and Deacons, who exercise the privilege of leadership while listening to and asking for the will of the membership, yet discerning from scripture and prayer to determine the will of God.
Christ's Return
We believe that Christ will one day return in power to the earth to take His children home with Him to heaven. We believe that there will one day be a Great White Throne Judgement for all mankind. Those redeemed by Jesus Christ will enter into the kingdom he has prepared. Those who did not receive Him as Savior and Lord in this life will be cast into a literal Hell, a lake of fire with Satan, the devil, for eternity. We believe the reality and personality of Satan and his demonic realm.
Fall of Mankind
We believe that each person falls short of God's desire for perfection and holiness. This is the result of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Each person will have a physical death and a spiritual death. The spiritual death separates us from God the Father and the only way to the Father is through belief in His Son, Jesus. Each person becomes accountable to God.
Author of Faith
We believe that at an age where one knows right from wrong and can understand the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on his or her behalf, he or she then enters into this personal accountability to respond to the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit. We believe that we are not saved by our works but by the very name and person of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
Local Government
We believe in citizenship and submission to the civil government of the United States of America to the extent that the laws of that government are in harmony with God's Word, the Great Commission, and respect the autonomy of the church of Christ Jesus.
Autonomy
We believe in the autonomy of the local church. The church has the right by scripture to self-government, independent of all other churches and denominations, all other persons, all other organizations, presenting it wholly free from human authority; civil or religious. The church has one head and that is Jesus Christ. The church has one source of law for moral behavior and spiritual understanding which is the Holy Bible. We further believe that the local church should and at the discretion of the leadership, cooperate with other New Testament churches either home or abroad for the furtherance of the gospel.
John Quay
Pastor
John and his wife, Josie, came to Cornerstone in 2024. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.
John graduated from Philadelphia College of Bible with a B.S.
in Biblical studies and from Biblical Theological Seminary with an MDIV. John served in
the U.S. Air Force (1980-1992), as the pastor of a non-denomination church (1995-
1999), the senior pastor of an EFCA church (1999-2010), and as a U.S. Navy Chaplain
from 2010 until his retirement in 2025. During this time, he served as the chaplain for
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN (2018-2021) and Electronic Attack Wing Pacific (2022-2025).
John and Josie enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, and spending time
with their children and grandchildren.
- pastor@cornerstonecoupeville.com