Biblical Beliefs
The following is a brief summary of doctrinal beliefs together with some of the Scriptural references upon which they are based
1. The true and living God; the first person of the Godhead is our heavenly Father, and He by His Son, Christ Jesus, created all things. (Matt. 28:18,19; 1 Cor. 8:5,6; Eph 3:9; Jer. 10:10-12; Heb. 1:1-3; Acts 17: 22-29; Col 1:16-18; John 1:1-4)
2. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead, and the eternal Son of God, is the only Mediator and Saviour from sin; and man's salvation is by grace through faith in him. (Matt. 28:18,19; John 3:16; Micah 5:2; Matt. 1:21; 2:5, 6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:11; Eph. 1:9-15; 2:4-8; Rom. 3:23-26)
3. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, is Christ's representative on earth and leads sinners to repentance and to obedience of all God's requirements. (Matt. 28:18,19; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:1-10; Eph. 4:30)
4. Through Christ, believers receive forgiveness of sins which are forsaken and confessed and for which, as far as lies in their power, restitution is made. (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14,15; 1 John 1:7-9; Isa. 55:6,7; Eze. 33:15; Matt. 5:23, 24;6:14, 15)
5. The Bible is God's inspired word, and is the full, sufficient, and the only basic rule of faith and practice. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Ps. 119:9,11,105,130; 1 Thess. 2:13; Isa 8:20; Jer. 15:16; Heb. 4:12)
6. All who enter the kingdom of heaven must have experienced conversion or the new birth, through which man receives a new heart and becomes a new creature. Thus, regardless of ethnic or social background, he becomes a member of "the whole family in heaven and earth" (See Matt. 18:3; John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eze. 36:26,27; Heb. 8:10-12; 1 Peter 1:23; 2:2; Eph. 3: 15; Acts 17:26).
7. Christ dwells in the regenerate heart, writing upon it the principles of God's law, leading the believer to delight to obey its precepts, and imparting power for such obedience. (2 Cor. 6:16; Ps. 40:8; Heb. 8:10-12; John 14:15; Col. 1:27; 3:16; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:14-21.)
8. Upon His ascension Christ began His ministry as high priest in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, which sanctuary is the antitype of the earthly tabernacle of the former dispensation. As in the type, a work of investigative judgement began as Christ earthly service by the Day of Atonement. This work of investigative judgement in the heavenly sanctuary began in 1844, at the close of the 2300 years, and will end with close of probation.(Heb. 4:14; 8:1,2; Lev.16:2,29; Heb.9:23,24; Dan.8:14; 9:24-27; Rev.14:6,7; 22:11.)
9.The second coming of Christ is the hope of the church, the climax of the gospel, and the goal of the plan of redemption, when Jesus will come literally, personally, and visibly, with all his holy angels. Many signs of the times testify that His coming is at hand. And the almost complete fulfillment of all the various lines of prophecy indicate that "He is near, even at the doors."(John 14:1-3; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 9:28; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 25:31 Luke 9: 26; 21:25-33; Matt.24:14,36-39,33, margin.)
10. The righteous dead will be raised to life at Christ's Second Advent. Together with the righteous living, they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and will go with Him to heaven, there to spend the one thousand years known as the millennium. (Rev. 1:7; John 5:25,28,29; Hosea 13:14; 1 Cor. 15:51-55;1 Thess. 4:13-18; John 11:24,25; 14:1-3; Rev. 20:6,4,5; Is. 25:8,9; Dan. 12:2)
11. The wicked who are living at the time of Christ's second advent will be slain by the brightness of his coming. These, with the wicked dead of all ages, will await the second resurrection, at the close of the one thousand years. (2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Jude 14,15; Rev. 20:5,12,15;John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; Is. 24:21,22)
12. At the end of the one thousand years, the following events will take place: (a) Christ and the righteous will descend from heaven, with the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 20:1,2,10); (b) The wicked dead will be resurrected for final judgement (Rev. 20:11,12); (c) The wicked will receive the final wages of sin when fire comes down from God out of heaven to consume them (Rev. 20:7-10,14,15); and (d) this fire, which destroys the works of sin, will purify the earth (2Peter 3:10-14; Mal. 4:1, 3; Rev.20:8,4). See also What the Bible says about Hell and The REAL Good News about Hell
13.The earth, cleansed by fire and renewed (recreated) by the power of God, will become the eternal home of the redeemed. (2Peter 3;9-13; Isa. 65:17-25; 35:1-10; 45:18; Matt.5:5; Mal.4:1-3; Prov.11:31.)
14. The seventh day of the week is the eternal sign of Christ's power as Creator and Redeemer, and is therefore the Lord's day, or the Christian Sabbath, constituting the seal of the living God. It should be observed from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. (Gen.2:1-3; Ex.16:23-31; 20:8-11; John 1:1-3,14 ;Eze.20:12,20; Mark 1:21-32; 2:27, 28; Isa.58:13; Luke4:16; 23:54-56; 24:1; Acts17:2; Heb.4:9-11; Isa.66:22,23; Lev.23:32.) See also Sabbath Pictures, The Law of God, The Mark of the Beast
15. The tithe is holy unto the Lord, and is God's provision for the support of his ministry. Freewill offerings are also part of God's plan for the support of his work throughout the world.(Lev.27:30-32; Mal.3:8-12; Num.18:20-28; Matt.23:23; Prov.3:9,10; 1Cor.9:13,14; 2Cor.9:6,7; Ps.96:8.)
16. Immortality comes only through the gospel, and is bestowed as a gift from God at Christ's second coming.(1Cor.15:21,22,51-55; Ps. 146:3,4; Eccl.9:5,6,10; 1Tim.1:10; 1John 5:11,12.)
17. The condition of man in death is one of unconsciousness. All men, good and evil alike, remain in the grave from death to the resurrection.(Eccl.9:5,6; Ps.115:17; 146:3,4; Job14:10-12,21,22; 17:13; John 11:-14; 1Thess.4:13; John 5:28,29;Eccl 12:7; Gen. 3:19; Gen. 2:7; Psalm 104:29; Ez. 18:4;Ps. 146:4; Daniel 12:2) See also Characteristics of Death
18. The Christian is called unto sanctification, and his life should be characterized by carefulness in deportment and modesty and simplicity in dress as laid out in the Biblical standard, and abstaining from the use of cosmetics, jewelry, and costly array. (1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:21; 3:3-5; Isa. 3:16-24;1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Tim. 2:9,10; Deut. 22:5 )
19. The Christian should recognize his body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. He will therefore honor God by caring for his body intelligently, partaking in moderation of that which is good and avoiding the use of that which is harmful, abstaining from all unclean foods, from the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco in any of its forms, and from the abuse or misuse of narcotics and all other drugs. (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 9:25; 10:31; 2Cor. 7:1; Gal. 5:17-21; 6:7-8; 1 Pet. 2:9-12; 1Cor. 10:1-11; Lev. 11:1-8; Ex. 15:26; Num. 11:31-33) See also "Wine" as used in the Bible
20. The church is to come behind in no gift, and the presence of the gift of the Spirit of prophecy is to be one of the identifying marks of the remnant church. (1Cor. 1:5-7; 12:1-28; Amos 3:7; Hosea 12:10-13; Rev. 12:17; 19:10) We recognize that this gift was manifested in the life and ministry of Ellen G. White. (More about tests of a Prophet)
21. The Bible teaches church organization. The members of this organization are to loyally support it, and to share in its maintenance. They are admonished not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. (Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 1:10-23; 2:19-22; 1Cor. 14:33, 40; Titus 1:5-9; Matt. 18:15-18; 1Cor. 12:12-28; 16:1-3; Heb. 10:25; Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-3) More about Tithes
22. Baptism by immersion typifies the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and openly expresses faith in His saving grace, and the renunciation of sin in the world, and is recognized as a condition of entrance into church membership. (Matt. 3:13-17; 28:19; Acts 2:38, 41-47; 8:35-39; 16:32-33; 22:16; Rom. 6:1-11; Gal. 3:27; Col. 3:1-3) More about Baptism
23. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper commemorates the Saviour's death; and participation by members of the body is essential to Christian growth and fellowship. It is to be preceded by the ordinance of Foot Washing as a preparation for this solemn service. (Matt. 26:26-29; 1Cor. 11:23-26; John 6:48-56; 13:1-7; 1Cor. 11:27-30)
24. In the Christian life there is complete separation from worldly practices, such as card playing, theatergoing (worldly TV, movies, etc.), dancing, and all other forms of secular entertainment, which tend to deaden and destroy the spiritual life. (2Cor. 6:15-18; 1John 2:15-17; James 4:4; 2Tim. 2:19-22; Eph. 5:8-11; Col. 3:5-10)
25. Through the study of the Word, God speaks to us, imparting light and strength; and through prayer the soul is united with God. These are Heaven's ordained means of obtaining victory in the conflict with sin and for the development of Christian character. (Ps. 19:7-8; 119:130; John 6:63; 17:17; 1Pet. 2:2; 1Thes. 5:17; Luke 18:1; Ps. 55:17; Is. 50:4)
26. Every church member is under sacred command from Jesus to use his talents in personal soul-winning work in helping to give the gospel to all the world. When this work is finished Jesus will come. (Matt. 25:14-29; 28:18-20; Rev. 22:17; Is. 43:10-12; 2Cor. 5:17-20; Rom. 10:13-15; Matt. 24:14)
27. In accordance with God's uniform dealing with mankind, warning them of coming events that will vitally affect their destiny, He has sent forth a proclamation of the approaching return of Christ. This preparatory message is symbolized by the three angel's messages of Rev. 14, and meets its fulfillment in the great Second Advent Movement today. This has brought forth the remnant, that are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Amos 3:7; Matt. 24:29-34; Rev. 14:6-10; Zeph. 3:13; Micah 4:7-8; Rev. 14:12; Is. 26:2; Rev. 22:14)
