Biblical Beliefs

The Holy Scriptures, comprising the Old and New Testaments, constitute the written Word of God, transmitted by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Through this Word, God has communicated to humankind the knowledge necessary to attain salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of the divine will. They are the standard of character, the criterion for evaluating experience, the authoritative revelation of doctrines, and a trustworthy record of God’s acts throughout history (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12).

There is only one God, who is a unity of three co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This one and triune God is immortal, almighty, omniscient, supreme over all, and omnipresent. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet He can be known through His own self-revelation. He is eternally worthy of reverence, worship, and service from all creation (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 14:7).

God the Eternal Father is the Creator, Origin, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just, holy, merciful, and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers of the Father are also manifested in the Son and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; 1 Corinthians 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Timothy 1:17; Exodus 34:6-7; John 14:9).

God the Eternal Son is one with the Father. Through Him all things were created; He reveals God’s disposition, accomplishes the salvation of humanity, and judges the world. Although He is truly God, eternal, He also truly became man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptations as a human being, but perfectly exemplified God’s justice and love. Through His miracles, He manifested God’s power, and these testified that He was God’s promised Messiah. He willingly suffered and died on the cross for our sins and in our place, rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father to minister in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf. He will return again in power and glory to definitively liberate his people and restore all things (John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 1:15-19; John 10:30; 14:9; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 2:9-18; 8:1-2; John 14:1-3).

God the Eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the authors of Scripture. He empowered the life of Christ. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond, He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son, He is always with His children, distributing spiritual gifts to the church, empowering it to bear witness for Christ, and in harmony with Scripture, guiding it into all truth (Genesis 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:11-12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-13).

God is the Creator of all things, and He has revealed through Scripture an authentic record of His creative activity. The Lord made “the heavens and the earth” and every living creature that inhabits them in six days, and He rested on the seventh day of the first week. In this way, He established the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial of the completion of His creative work. The first man and woman were made in God’s image as the crown of creation; they were given dominion over the world and the responsibility to care for it. When the world was finished, it was “very good,” for it declared the glory of God (Genesis 1:2; Exodus 20:8–11; Psalms 19:1–6; 33:6, 9; 104; Hebrews 11:3).

Man and woman were made in the image of God, with their own individuality and the capacity and freedom to think and act for themselves. Although created as free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent on God for life, breath, and everything else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence on Him and fell from the exalted position they held under God’s rule. The image of God was marred in them, and they became subject to death. Their descendants share in this degraded nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies toward evil. But God, in Christ, reconciled the world to Himself, and through His Spirit, He restores the image of their Maker to repentant mortals. Created for the glory of God, they are invited to love the Lord and to love one another, and to care for the environment that surrounds them (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; Psalms 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Genesis 3; Psalms 51:5; Romans 5:12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Psalms 51:10; 1 John 4:7-8, 11, 20; Genesis 2:15).

All humanity is embroiled in a conflict of extraordinary proportions between Christ and Satan concerning the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with free will, exalted himself and became Satan, God’s adversary, and instigated a portion of the angels to rebel. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve to sin. Sin resulted in the distortion of God’s image in humanity, the disruption of the created world, and its subsequent complete devastation at the time of the universal flood. Observed by all creation, this world became the battleground of the universal conflict, at the end of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To help his people in this conflict, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them on the path to salvation (Revelation 12:4-9; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18; Genesis 3; Romans 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Genesis 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 1:14).

Through the life of Christ—his perfect obedience to God’s will, his sufferings, death, and resurrection—God provided the only valid means to atone for humanity’s sin, so that those who accept this atonement by faith may have access to eternal life, and all creation may better understand the Creator’s infinite and holy love. This perfect atonement vindicates the justice of God’s law and the kindness of his character, for it condemns our sin and at the same time makes provision for our forgiveness. Christ’s death is vicarious and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. Christ’s resurrection proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement, it assures them of final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee will bow in heaven and on earth (John 3:16; Isaiah 53; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 19-21; Romans 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3-4; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Galatians 2:15; Philippians 2:6-11).

With infinite love and mercy, God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we feel our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, as our Substitute and Example. This saving faith comes to us through the divine power of the Word and is a gift of God’s grace. Through Christ, we are justified, adopted as sons and daughters of God, and freed from the dominion of sin. Through the Spirit, we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, inscribes God’s law of love on our hearts, and empowers us to live holy lives. By remaining in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and at the time of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; John 3:16; Galatians 1:4; 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Galatians 3:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21-22; Romans 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23-24; Ephesians 2:5-10; Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 8:7-12; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 8:1-4; 5:6-10).

The church is the community of believers who confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. As successors of God’s people of the Old Testament, we are called to come out of the world; and we gather to worship and fellowship with one another, to receive instruction in the Word, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to serve all humanity, and to proclaim the gospel throughout the world. The church derives its authority from Christ, who is the incarnate Word, and from the Scriptures, which are the written Word. The church is the family of God: we are adopted by him as children and live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ himself is the head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died so that he might sanctify and purify her. When he returns in triumph, he will present it to her as a glorious church, namely, the faithful of all ages, purchased by his blood, without spot or wrinkle, holy and immaculate (Genesis 12:3; Acts 7:38; Ephesians 4:11-15; 3:8-11; Matthew 28:19-20; 16:13-20; 18:18; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1:22-23; 5:23-27; Colossians 1:17-18).

The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in these last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called to keep God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the hour of judgment, proclaims salvation through Christ, and announces the nearness of His second coming. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the hour of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reformation on earth. Every believer is invited to participate personally in this worldwide witness (Revelation 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 21:1-14).

The church is a body made up of many members from every nation, race, language, and people. In Christ, we are a new creation; differences of race, culture, education, and nationality, between high and low, rich and poor, men and women, should not cause divisions among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has united us in fellowship with him and with one another. We must serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, we share the same faith and the same hope, and we go forth to bear the same witness to all. This unity has its origins in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as his children (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Psalms 133:1; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Acts 17:26-27; Galatians 3:27, 29; Colossians 3:10-15; Ephesians 4:14-16; 4:1-6; John 17:20-23).

Through baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we bear witness to our death to sin and our commitment to walk in newness of life. In this way, we acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Savior, become his people, and are received as members of his church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is performed by immersion in water and is intimately linked to an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance from sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and the acceptance of their teachings (Romans 6:1-6; Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matthew 28:19-20).

The Lord’s Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Savior. In this experience of communion, Christ is present to meet with His people and strengthen them. By participating in it, we joyfully proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and confession. The Master ordained the washing of feet to signify renewed cleansing, express a willingness to serve one another with Christian humility, and unite our hearts in love. All Christian believers may participate in the communion service (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-30; Matthew 26:17-30; Revelation 3:20; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17).

God bestows spiritual gifts upon all members of His church in every age, to be used in loving ministry for the common good of the church and humanity. Granted through the operation of the Holy Spirit, who distributes them to each member according to His will, these gifts provide all the ministries and abilities necessary for the church to fulfill its divinely ordained purpose. According to Scripture, these gifts include ministries such as faith, healing, prophecy, preaching, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and selfless service and charity to help and encourage our fellow human beings. Some members are called by God and gifted by the Spirit to fulfill roles recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic, apostolic, and teaching ministries, particularly necessary to equip members for service, build up the church so that it reaches spiritual maturity, and promote unity in the faith and knowledge of God. When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s many graces, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrines, grows through a development that comes from God, and is built up in faith and love (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:9-11, 27-28; Ephesians 4:8, 11-16; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is a distinguishing characteristic of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a permanent and authoritative source of truth, providing comfort, direction, instruction, and correction to the church. They also clearly establish that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be evaluated (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:14-21; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 12:17; 19:10).

The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purpose regarding human conduct and relationships, and they are in effect for all people in every age. These precepts form the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard of divine judgment. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they point out sin and awaken the need for a Savior. Salvation is by grace alone and not by works, but its fruit is obedience to the commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. Obedience by faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives and therefore strengthens Christian testimony (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalms 40:7-8; Matthew 22:36-40; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Matthew 5:17-20; Hebrews 8:8-10; John 15:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3; Romans 8:3-4; Psalms 19:7-14).

The benevolent Creator rested on the seventh day after the six days of creation and instituted the Sabbath for all humankind as a memorial of His creative work. The fourth commandment of God’s unchanging law requires the observance of the seventh day as a day of rest, worship, and ministry, in harmony with the teachings and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of pleasing fellowship with God and with our brothers and sisters. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of sanctification, a demonstration of our loyalty, and a foretaste of our eternal future in the kingdom of God. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of the everlasting covenant between Him and His people. The joyful observance of this sacred time from evening to evening, from sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive work (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isaiah 56:5-6; 58:13-14; Matthew 12:1-12; Exodus 31:13-17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Hebrews 4:1-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Leviticus 23:32; Mark 1:32).

We are God’s stewards, entrusted with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and the blessings of the earth and its resources. We are accountable to Him for their proper use. We acknowledge God’s ownership of all things through our faithful service to Him and our fellow human beings, and through the return of tithes and offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and for the support and growth of His church. Stewardship is a privilege God has granted us so that we may grow in love and achieve victory over selfishness and greed. The faithful steward rejoices in the blessings that others receive as a result of his faithfulness (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Malachi 3:8-12; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Romans 15:26-27).

We are invited to be godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with heavenly principles. In order for the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord, we partake only of that which produces purity, health, and Christian joy in our lives. This means that our recreation and entertainment will be in harmony with the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While we recognize cultural differences, our dress should be simple, modest, and neat, as befits those whose true beauty lies not in outward adornment, but in the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should care for them wisely. Along with proper exercise and rest, we should adopt the healthiest diet possible and abstain from unclean foods identified as such in Scripture. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we will also abstain from them. Instead, we will dedicate ourselves to everything that brings our thoughts and bodies into harmony with the discipline of Christ, who wants us to enjoy health, joy, and all that is good (Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:6; Ephesians 5:1-21; Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 6:14 – 7:1; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 10:31; Leviticus 11:1-47; 3 John 2).

Marriage was established by God in Eden and confirmed by Jesus as a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For Christians, marriage is a commitment to both God and one’s spouse, and this step should be taken only by those who share the same faith. Mutual love, honor, respect, and responsibility are the warp and weft of this relationship, which should reflect the love, holiness, intimacy, and enduring nature of the relationship between Christ and his church. Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that a person who divorces, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery. Although some family relationships may fall short of ideal, partners in marriage who are fully committed to one another in Christ can achieve loving unity through the guidance of the Spirit and the loving care of the church. God blesses the family, and it is his purpose that its members help one another to reach full maturity. Parents should raise their children to love and obey the Lord. Through precept and example, they should teach them that Christ lovingly disciplines, is always tender and caring for His creatures, and wants them to become members of His body, the family of God. Growing family intimacy is one of the hallmarks of the latest gospel message (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:21-33; Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Proverbs 22:6; Malachi 4:5, 6).

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord erected, not man. In it, Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He became our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at His ascension. In 1844, at the close of the prophetic period of 2,300 days, He entered the second and final phase of His atoning ministry. This work is an investigative judgment, part of the final removal of sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In the symbolic service, the sanctuary was cleansed by the blood of animal sacrifices, but heavenly things were cleansed by the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to the heavenly intelligences who among the dead sleep in Christ and are therefore deemed worthy in Him to participate in the first resurrection. It also clarifies who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus, and therefore will be ready to be translated into His eternal kingdom. This judgment vindicates God’s justice in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who remained loyal to God will receive the kingdom. The conclusion of this ministry of Christ will signal the end of the probationary period given to human beings before his second coming (Hebrews 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17; Daniel 7:9-27; 8:13-14; 9:24-27; Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6; Leviticus 16; Revelation 14:6-7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12).

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the great culmination of the gospel. The Savior’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected and, together with the righteous living, will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the wicked will die. The fact that most prophecies are reaching their full fulfillment, coupled with current world conditions, indicates that Christ’s coming is imminent. The time when this event will occur has not been revealed, and therefore we are exhorted to be prepared at all times (Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:14; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:43-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8; Revelation 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).

The wages of sin is death. But God, the only immortal one, will grant eternal life to his redeemed. Until that day, death is a state of unconsciousness for all who have died. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified, and all together they will be caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the wicked, will occur a thousand years later (Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; Psalm 146:3-4; John 11:11-14; Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:1-10).

The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with his saints in heaven, extending between the first and second resurrections. During this time, the wicked will be judged; the earth will be completely desolate, without human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At the end of this period, Christ and his saints, along with the Holy City, will descend from heaven to earth. The wicked dead will then be resurrected, and together with Satan and his angels, they will surround the city; but the fire of God will consume them and purify the earth. In this way, the universe will be freed from sin and sinners forever (Revelation 20; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Revelation 21:1-5; Malachi 4:1; Ezekiel 28:18-19).

In the new earth, where the righteous will dwell, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for life, love, and endless joy, and for learning in His presence. For there God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will end forever. The great controversy will be over, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love, and He will reign forever and ever. Amen (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 35; 65:17-25; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11:15)