WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Bible is God’s Word. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is “God breathed” (inspired), it is the truth without error. It is the source of truth for Christian belief and living. II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6, Proverbs 30:5

God is the creator and sovereign ruler of all things. He has eternally existed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:2, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, I Peter 1:2, II Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ was virgin-born and is the only Son of God while at the same time, being God Himself. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5, 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ as their Savior. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation, providing power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for obeying God. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. II Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13, 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18

Genesis, chapters one and two, records the literal story of the creation of the world. Man was created directly in God’s own image; it was not a matter of evolution. God created all that is in the world in six days. Genesis 1 & 2, John 1:3, Hebrews 11:3, Revelation 4:11

People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the object of God’s creation, although every person has tremendous potential for God, all of us are marred by an attitude of rebellion which is called sin. Every person also commits acts of disobedience against God. Our rebellion against God is the root cause of all the problems from which human beings suffer. Genesis 1:27, 3:6, 24, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:10-19, 23, Isaiah 59:1-2

Salvation is God’s free gift to us. It includes: the forgiveness of our sins; acceptance in God’s spiritual family; a new life and nature; His presence within us; and assurance of our eternal life in heaven. While it is free to us, it was paid for by Jesus’ suffering on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness is the only way anyone can be saved from the penalty of sin. When we repent from our self-ruled life to Jesus in faith, accepting His forgiveness, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ by faith. Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6, 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If a person is genuinely saved, salvation cannot be lost. Salvation is given and sustained by the grace and power of God, not by self-effort. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives a believer security. John 10:29-30, II Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25, 10:10-14, I Peter 1:3-5, Ephesians 1:13-14

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to her husband as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from God. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage and teach them spiritual and moral values. Through loving discipline, parents are to lead their children to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. Genesis 1:26-28, 3:2; 2:15-25; 3:1-20, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Joshua 24:15, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Psalms 51:5, 78:1-8, 127, 128, 139:13-16, Proverbs 1:8, 5:15-20, 6:20-22, 12:4, 13:24, 14:1, 17:6, 18:22,22:6, 15, 23:13-14, 24:3, 29:15,17, 31:10-31, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 9:9, Malachi 2:14-16, Matthew 5:31-32, 18:2-5, 19:3-9, Mark 10:6-12, Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21, 1 Timothy 5:8,14, 2 Timothy 1:3-5, Titus 2:3-5, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Peter 3:1-7

Cielo Vista Church believes we should protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life. The most innocent of all is the child in the mother’s womb. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. This includes pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally disabled, and every other stage of condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. We believe and affirm that life begins at conception, at which time the full genetic blueprint for life is in place. Accordingly, we believe that our expression of love and service to God requires that we work to protect and honor life in all stages of creation. Furthermore, we believe and affirm that God’s calling upon us commands that we make special efforts to protect the most vulnerable among us. We view life from conception through birth to be uniquely vulnerable and therefore work to protect and defend life in these early stages. God cares about the unborn and desires for us to do the same. Psalm 127:3, 139:13-15, Isaiah 44:2, Jeremiah 1:5

We are committed to biblical faith and ethics. As a result, our church submits to the authority of Scripture and God’s truth as central to our lives. What the Bible says about marriage is clear, definitive and unchanging. We affirm biblical, traditional, natural marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Scripture’s teachingon marriage is non-negotiable. Consequently, we will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court. We will not recognize same-sex “marriages”, our church will not host same-sex ceremonies, and we will not perform such ceremonies. While we affirm our love for all people, including those struggling with same-sex attractions or confused about their biological identity as male or female, we cannot and will not affirm the moral acceptability of homosexual behavior or any other behavior that deviates from God’s design for males and females made in His image, including His plan for marriage. Our first duty is to love and obey God, not man. Acts 5:29, Mark 13:31

We believe that God created only two genders, male and female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Accordingly, our communication with our church family and all other persons reflects the reality of God’s created order. We use male pronouns to refer to those persons who were created biologically male and female pronouns to refer to those persons who were created biologically female. Church bathrooms are designated to be used according to the sex assigned by God at birth. This is consistent with and required by God’s Word, which sets forth the distinctiveness of the male sex and female sex as Jesus Christ taught. Colossians 2:7, 2:21-23, Matthew 19:4, Genesis 1:27

Cielo Vista Church believes that God has given the responsibility of shepherding the church to men as stated in Scripture. Therefore, only men will hold the office of Pastor(s), Elders, and Deacons at Cielo Vista Church. We also believe that God has gifted women to equip others in the church with their teaching and leadership. Under the authority of the Elder Board, women have the freedom to teach in various venues within Cielo Vista Church. 1 Timothy 2:12-14, 2:12-14, 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, Judges 4:4-5, 18:26, Romans 15:14, 1 Corinthians 14:28,29,31, Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:16

Since the inception of Cielo Vista Church, we have held to a biblical worldview. The implications from this worldview mean that God’s Word speaks, and we adjust our lives and not ask God to adjust His Word. One demonstration is our devoted and unwavering support of Israel. We love all people because God loves all people, but we also give unique attention to Israel because God does this in what is described as the Abrahamic Covenant. We do not teach replacement theology, which states that the church has replaced Israel. God chose the Jewish people and gave the land to Israel, and still has a plan for Israel. God is the creator of everything, and He can give the land to whomever He chooses. God, the landowner, gave the land to Israel, therefore, Israel is not “occupying” the land. Israel owns the land. The following sections of the Bible make the claim of God gifting the land to Israel. Genesis 12:1-3, Isaiah 45:12, Job 38:4, Psalm 24:1, Exodus 19:5, Psalm 50:12, Leviticus 25:23