WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Bible is the Word of God and contains the knowledge necessary for salvation.

(2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--a unity of three co-eternal Persons. (Matthew 28:19)

God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all creation.

(Genesis 1:1)

God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ who 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 on 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; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Hebrews 2:17, 18; John 14:1-3)

God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and Son in Creation and the incarnation. He inspired the writers of Scripture, and He draws and convicts human beings, leading them into all truth.

(Genesis 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 2 Peter 1:21; John 15:26; 16:7, 8)

All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being in self-exaltation became Satan, God’s adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels. He then led Adam and Eve into sin. 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.

(Revelation 12:7-9, 12; Genesis. 3; 1 Corinthians 4:9)

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. Through Christ we are justified and adopted as God’s sons and daughters. Through the Spirit we are born again, sanctified, and given the power to live a holy life, then we have the assurance of salvation.

(John 3:3, 16; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 8:10, 12)

The church is composed of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We are called out from the world and join together for worship, fellowship, instruction in the Word, service to all mankind, and the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.

(Acts 2:36-47; Matthew 28:19, 20)

However, 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.

(Revelation 12:17, 14:6-12, 18:1-4)

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 upon faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings.

(Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 8:35-39, 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-6)

The gift of prophecy is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. 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.

(Revelation 12:17, 19:10)

The Ten Commandments express God’s will concerning human conduct and are binding upon all people in every age. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Commandments which is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow men.

(Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5:17-19; 1 John 5:2, 3)

The 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 (Saturday) as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teachings and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath.

(Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Matthew 12:1-12, 24:20; Mark 2:27, 28; Hebrews 4:1-11; Isaiah 66:22, 23)

We acknowledge God’s ownership by returning tithe (10% of income) and giving offerings in addition for the proclamation of His gospel and for the support of His church.

(Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 23:23)

Our entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste. Our dress should be simple, modest, and neat, for true beauty does not consist of outward adornment such as jewelry. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we should 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 should abstain from them as well.

(1 John 2:15-17; 1 Peter 3:3, 4; Leviticus 11; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)

Christ 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, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

(Hebrews 8:1-5; Daniel 8:13, 14; Leviticus 16)

The second coming of Christ will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. 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.

(John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24)

Death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ appears the resurrected righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The resurrection of the unrighteous will take place a thousand years later.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalm 146:3, 4; John 11:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-54;

Revelation 20:1-10)

The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. The earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but will be 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.

(Revelation 20; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Revelation 21:1-5)

On the new earth, God will provide an eternal home and perfect environment for the redeemed. Suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will have ended and sin will be no more.

(Revelation 21:1-7, 22:1-5)