Cedar Grove CHURCH BELIEF STATMENT

The Holy Bible

The Holy Bible is the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God. The Holy Bible is our highest authority for establishing doctrine, reproving, instructing, convicting of sin, correction of error, and training in righteousness, faith, and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Trinity

There is one God who eternally exists as three persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17).

• God: God the Father is self-existent. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Psalm 90:2; Psalm 104; Genesis 1:1). He is the one true God, and there is no god besides Him (Deuteronomy 32:39). He is a God of justice and will ultimately judge the world, but He is also merciful demonstrating His love for mankind by sending His only Son as the final atoning sacrifice that the world might be saved through Him (Isaiah 2:4; Psalm 86:16; John 3:16).
• Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God who became flesh being born of a virgin as part of God’s redemptive plan (John 1:14; Luke 1:26-38; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He lived a sinless life and was crucified on a cross as the atonement for the sins of mankind (1 John 3:5; Romans 8:1-4). We believe Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the grave, and He ascended back to heaven to intercede for His people (Romans 8:34). We believe Jesus Christ was fully God being the exact representation of the Father. Jesus Christ was fully man having willingly emptied Himself of His deity in order to make propitiation for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:6-8). We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. There is no other way to salvation except through belief in Him (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
• Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower in ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:16-18; John 16:7-11). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ. He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide (Acts 2:38-39; John 16:13-15). We believe Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service (Acts 1:7-8; Acts 19:1-7). We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the exercise of all biblical gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the body and for ministry to the world. (Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12-14). 

Salvation

All humanity, because of the fall of man, has inherited a sinful nature which separates us from God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ephesians 2:1-6; Romans 5:12-14). But God, in His mercy and because of His great love, made a way for all people to be reconciled to Him through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ died in our place, bore our sins in His own body, and rose again on the third day after His death demonstrating His victory over sin and death and completing the plan of salvation (Romans 5:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 14:9).  Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation, and no one is saved apart from a conscious and personal decision to trust in Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10). Salvation is received by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ and apart from any human merit, works, or ritual (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Baptism and Communion (Lord’s Supper)

The two ordinances recognized by Cedar Grove Church are Baptism and Holy Communion (Lord’s Supper). 

Baptism

We believe in water baptism for any who have repented of their sins and confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16). 

Communion (Lord’s Supper)

Communion is an act by which Jesus' death and sacrifice for mankind is remembered as instructed in Luke 22:19-20.  The elements, the bread and wine, are symbolic of Christ's body and blood and received as a reminder of what He has done to secure our salvation and that He is coming again (Matthew 26:26-29; 

1 Corinthians 10:16-17).  Communion is open to all; recipients are encouraged to carefully examine themselves before receiving the elements as instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:27-33.

Dedication of Children

Parents may bring young children or infants before God and His people for prayer, for parents to make a vow to raise them according to His will, and for the congregation to make commitment to teach, encourage, and support them into spiritual maturity (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 4:11-16).   

Heaven and Hell

Man was created as an eternal being and will live forever either in union with God through forgiveness and salvation or eternally away from God in hell, described in the Bible as the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Heaven and hell are literal places, and the eternal destination of each person is final (Revelation 21:10-27; Revelation 21:7-8; Luke 16:26). For this reason we are motivated with an urgency to reach out to those in our community and beyond with the Good News of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the literal and visible return of Jesus Christ to the earth as He promised where He will abolish evil, set up His kingdom, and dwell with His people (John 14:1-3; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 21:1-4). Each person must appear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ to be judged according to what he has done whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).  Those who have received Jesus as their Savior will inherit everlasting life and enter into the Kingdom of God. Those who have rejected the work of the cross will be condemned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire outside of God’s presence (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-5).

Sanctity of Life

All human life is sacred and created by God in His image (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 9:6). Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other state or condition from conception through natural death. We are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Psalm 139:1-18; Matthew 22:37-39).

Marriage

God created marriage to be exclusively the lifelong union of one biological man and one biological woman (Genesis 2:21-25), and intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union (Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). Husband and wife are to love each other unconditionally and sacrificially, just as Jesus Christ loves the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Gender

God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female reflecting the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God in that person. Altering one’s gender, as revealed at birth, through surgery, medicine, appearance, or otherwise, is a violation of God’s creative order. (Romans 12:1-2; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Psalm 139)