1. Holy Scriptures:
The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given
by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge
necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation
of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the
authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts
in history. (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6;
Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.)
2. Trinity:
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal
Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever
present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through
His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service
by the whole creation. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6;
1 Peter 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 14:7.)
3. Father:
God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of
all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers
exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father.
(Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; 1 Cor. 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ex.
34:6, 7; John 14:9.)
4. Son:
God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things
were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity
is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also
truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born
of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being,
but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles
He manifested God's power and was attested as God's promised Messiah. He
suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place,
was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary
in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His
people and the restoration of all things. (John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-19;
John 10:30; 14:9; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Phil.
2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Heb. 8:1, 2; John 14:1-3.)
5. Holy Spirit:
God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation,
incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled
Christ's life with power. 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 to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to
the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the
Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Gen. 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38;
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26,
27; 16:7-13.)
6. Creation:
God is Creator of all things, and has revealed in Scripture the authentic account
of His creative activity. In six days the Lord made "the heaven and
the earth" and all living things upon the earth, and rested on the seventh
day of that first week. Thus He established the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial
of His completed creative work. The first man and woman were made in the
image of God as the crowning work of Creation, given dominion over the world,
and charged with responsibility to care for it. When the world was finished
it was ``very good,'' declaring the glory of God. (Gen. 1; 2; Ex. 20:8-11;
Ps. 19:1-6; 33:6, 9; 104; Heb. 11:3.)
7. Nature of Man:
Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and
freedom to think and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible
unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent upon God for life and breath and
all else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence
upon Him and fell from their high position under God. The image of God in
them was marred and they became subject to death. Their descendants share
this fallen nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and
tendencies to evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself and
by His Spirit restores in penitent mortals the image of their Maker. Created
for the glory of God, they are called to love Him and one another, and to
care for their environment. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; Ps. 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28;
Gen. 3; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Ps. 51:10; 1 John 4:7, 8,
11, 20; Gen. 2:15.)
8. Great Controversy:
All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan
regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe.
This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom
of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary, and led into
rebellion a portion of the angels. He introduced the spirit of rebellion
into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted
in the distortion of the image of God in humanity, the disordering of the
created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the worldwide
flood. Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the
universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated.
To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and
the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation.
(Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21;
8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.)
9. Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ:
In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death,
and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin,
so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and
the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the
Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law
and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides
for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory,
reconciling and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God's
triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures
their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus
Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. (John 3:16;
Isa. 53; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21;
Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Col. 2:15; Phil. 2:6-11.)
10. Experience of Salvation:
In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for
us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God. Led by the
Holy Spirit we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our
transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, as Substitute
and Example. This faith which receives salvation comes through the divine
power of the Word and is the gift of God's grace. Through Christ we are justified,
adopted as God's sons and daughters, and delivered from the lordship of sin.
Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our
minds, writes God's law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power
to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature
and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (2 Cor. 5:17-21;
John 3:16; Gal. 1:4; 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; 1 Peter
2:21, 22; Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23, 24; Eph. 2:5-10; Rom. 3:21-26;
Col. 1:13, 14; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 12:2;
Heb. 8:7-12; Eze. 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rom. 8:1-4; 5:6-10.)
11. Growing in Christ:
By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated
the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and
made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus' victory gives us victory over the
evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace,
joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and
empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are
set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness,
fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of
life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness
of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word,
meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together
for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church. As we give ourselves
in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salvation,
His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment
and every task into a spiritual experience. (Ps 1:1, 2; 23:4; 77:11, 12;
Col 1:13, 14; 2:6, 14, 15; Luke 10:17-20; Eph 5:19, 20; 6:12-18; 1 Thess
5:23; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:17, 18; Phil 3:7-14; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Matt
20:25-28; John 20:21; Gal 5:22-25; Rom 8:38, 39; 1 John 4:4; Heb 10:25.)
12. Church:
The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and
Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are
called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship,
for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord's Supper, for
service to all mankind, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. The
church derives its authority from Christ, who is the incarnate Word, and from
the Scriptures, which are the written Word. The church is God's family; adopted
by Him as children, its members 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 that He might sanctify
and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will present her to Himself a
glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not
having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. (Gen. 12:3; Acts 7:38;
Eph. 4:11-15; 3:8-11; Matt. 28:19, 20; 16:13-20; 18:18; Eph. 2:19-22; 1:22,
23; 5:23-27; Col. 1:17, 18.)
13. Remnant and Its Mission:
The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in
the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out
to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces
the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and
heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is symbolized
by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment
in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every
believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. (Rev.
12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter
3:10-14; Rev. 21:1-14.)
14. Unity in the Body of Christ:
The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race,
culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low,
rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all
equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with
Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality
or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures
we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This
unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us
as His children. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1;
2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 4:14-16;
4:1-6; John 17:20-23.)
15. Baptism:
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of
life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people,
and are received as members by 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 by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith
in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the
Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12,
13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matt. 28:19, 20.)
16. Lord's Supper:
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 Saviour. In this experience
of communion Christ is present to meet and strengthen His people. As we partake,
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 service of foot washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express
a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our
hearts in love. The communion service is open to all believing Christians.
(1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30; Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17.)
17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries:
God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts which
each member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church
and of humanity. Given by the agency of the Holy Spirit, who apportions to
each member as He wills, the gifts provide all abilities and ministries needed
by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions. According to the
Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy,
proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing
service and charity for the help and encouragement of people. Some members
are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for functions recognized by the
church in pastoral, evangelistic, apostolic, and teaching ministries particularly
needed to equip the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual
maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God. When members
employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God's varied grace,
the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine,
grows with a growth that is from God, and is built up in faith and love.
(Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:9-11, 27, 28; Eph. 4:8, 11-16; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim.
3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10, 11.)
18. The Gift of Prophecy:
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying
mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G.
White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative
source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction,
and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which
all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21;
Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
19. Law of God:
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 purposes
concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people
in every age. These precepts are the basis of God's covenant with His people
and the standard in God's judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit
they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is
all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Commandments.
This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being.
It is an evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow
men. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform
lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Ex. 20:1-17; Ps. 40:7,
8; Matt. 22:36-40; Deut. 28:1-14; Matt. 5:17-20; Heb. 8:8-10; John 15:7-10;
Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3; Rom. 8:3, 4; Ps. 19:7-14.)
20. Sabbath:
The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh
day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation.
The fourth commandment of God's unchangeable law requires the observance
of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in
harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It
is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a
token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God's kingdom.
The Sabbath is God's perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and
His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening,
sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God's creative and redemptive acts.
(Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12;
Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark
1:32.)
21. Stewardship:
We are God's stewards, entrusted by Him with time and opportunities, abilities
and possessions, and the blessings of the earth and its resources. We are
responsible to Him for their proper use. We acknowledge God's ownership by
faithful service to Him and our fellow men, and by returning tithes and giving
offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and the support and growth of
His church. Stewardship is a privilege given to us by God for nurture in
love and the victory over selfishness and covetousness. The steward rejoices
in the blessings that come to others as a result of his faithfulness. (Gen.
1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chron. 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Mal. 3:8-12; 1 Cor. 9:9-14;
Matt. 23:23; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; Rom. 15:26, 27.)
22. Christian Behavior:
We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with
the principles of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character
of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce
Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement
and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and
beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple,
modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward
adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit.
It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit,
we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest,
we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean
foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and
the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we
are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings
our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness,
joy, and goodness. (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 John 2:6; Eph. 5:1-21; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor.
10:5; 6:14-7:1; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Lev. 11:1-47; 3 John
2.)
23. Marriage and the Family:
Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong
union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For the Christian
a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered
into only between partners who share a common faith. Mutual love, honor,
respect, and responsibility are the fabric of this relationship, which is
to reflect the love, sanctity, closeness, and permanence of the relationship
between Christ and His church. Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that the person
who divorces a spouse, except for fornication, and marries another, commits
adultery. Although some family relationships may fall short of the ideal,
marriage partners who fully commit themselves to each other in Christ may
achieve loving unity through the guidance of the Spirit and the nurture of
the church. God blesses the family and intends that its members shall assist
each other toward complete maturity. Parents are to bring up their children
to love and obey the Lord. By their example and their words they are to teach
them that Christ is a loving disciplinarian, ever tender and caring, who
wants them to become members of His body, the family of God. Increasing family
closeness is one of the earmarks of the final gospel message. (Gen. 2:18-25;
Matt. 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:21-33; Matt. 5:31, 32; Mark
10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10, 11; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4; Deut. 6:5-9;
Prov. 22:6; Mal. 4:5, 6.)
24. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and
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 was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry
at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period
of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry.
It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition
of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on
the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed
with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified
with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment
reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ
and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection.
It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping
the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are
ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates
the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that
those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion
of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before
the Second Advent. (Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17;
Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6,
7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)
25. Second Coming of Christ:
The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax
of the gospel. The Saviour'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
unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy,
together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ's
coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we
are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28;
John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess.
4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21;
Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)
26. Death and Resurrection:
The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal
life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all
people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous
and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord.
The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place
a thousand years later. (Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 146:3,
4; John 11:11-14; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John 5:28,
29; Rev. 20:1-10.)
27. Millennium and the End of Sin:
The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven
between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead
will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human
inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with
His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous
dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround
the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The
universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor.
6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)
28. New Earth:
On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal
home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love,
joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His
people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy
will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate,
will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen. (2 Peter
3:13; Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11:15.)