The New Religion - Tables of Doctrine
1872 Statement of 25 Beliefs |
Current 28 Fundamental Beliefs |
|
- I - That there is one God, a personal, spiritual
being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal, infinite
in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and
everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7. - II - That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Eternal Father, the one by whom God created all things, and by whom they
do consist; that he took on him the nature of the seed of Abraham for the
redemption of our fallen race; that he dwelt among men full of grace and
truth, lived our example, died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification,
ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where,
with his own blood, he makes atonement for our sins; which atonement, so far
from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the sacrifice, is
the very last portion of his work as priest, according to the example of the
Levitical priesthood, which foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our
Lord in Heaven. See Leviticus ch. 16, Hebrews 8:4, 5; 9:6, 7; &c. - III - That the Holy Scriptures, of the Old and New
Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, contain a full revelation of
his will to man, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. - IV - That Baptism is an ordinance of the Christian
church, to follow faith and repentance, an ordinance by which we commemorate
the resurrection of Christ, as by this act we show our faith in his burial
and resurrection, and through that, of the resurrection of all the saints at
the last day; and that no other mode fitly represents these facts than that
which the Scriptures prescribe, namely, immersion. Romans 6:3-5; Colossians
2:12. - V - That the new birth comprises the entire change
necessary to fit us for the kingdom of God, and consists of two parts: first,
a moral change, wrought by conversion and a Christian life; second, a
physical change at the second coming of Christ, whereby, if dead, we are
raised incorruptible, and if living, are changed to immortality in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye. John 3:3, 5; Luke 20:36. - VI - We believe that prophecy is a part of God’s
revelation to man; that it is included in that scripture which is profitable
for instruction, 2 Timothy 3:16; that it is designed for us and our children,
Deuteronomy 29:29; that so far from being enshrouded in impenetrable mystery,
it is that which especially constitutes the word of God a lamp to our feet
and a light to our path, Psalms 119:105; 2 Peter 2:19; that a blessing is
pronounced upon those who study it, Revelation 1:1-3; and that, consequently,
it is to be understood by the people of God sufficiently to show them their
position in the world’s history, and the special duties required at their
hands. - VII - That the world’s history from specified dates in
the past, the rise and fall of empires, and chronological succession of
events down to the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom, are outlined in
numerous great chains of prophecy; and that these prophecies are now all
fulfilled except the closing scenes. - VIII - That the doctrine of the world’s conversion and
temporal millennium is a fable of these last days, calculated to lull men
into a state of carnal security, and cause them to be overtaken by the great
day of the Lord as by a thief in the night; that the second coming of Christ
is to precede, not follow, the millennium; for until the Lord appears the
papal power, with all its abominations, is to continue, the wheat and tares
grow together, and evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, as the word of
God declares. - IX - That the mistake of Adventists in 1844 pertained
to the nature of the event then to transpire, not to the time; that no prophetic
period is given to reach to the second advent, but that the longest one, the
two thousand and three hundred days of Daniel 8:14, terminated in that year,
and brought us to an event called the cleansing of the sanctuary. - X - That the sanctuary of the new covenant is the
tabernacle of God in Heaven, of which Paul speaks in Hebrews 8, and onward,
of which our Lord, as great High Priest, is minister; that this sanctuary is
the antitype of the Mosiac tabernacle, and that the priestly work of our Lord,
connected therewith, is the antitype of the work of the Jewish priests of the
former dispensation, Hebrews 8:1-5, &c.; that this is the sanctuary to be
cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, what is termed its cleansing being in
this case, as in the type, simply the entrance of the high priest into the
most holy place, to finish the round of service connected therewith, by
blotting out and removing from the sanctuary the sins which had been
transferred to it by means of the ministration in the first apartment,
Hebrews 9:22, 23; and that this work, in the antitype, commencing in 1844,
occupies a brief but indefinite space, at the conclusion of which the work of
mercy for the world is finished. - XI - That God’s moral requirements are the same upon
all men in all dispensations; that these are summarily contained in the
commandments spoken by Jehovah from Sinai, engraven on the tables of stone,
and deposited in the ark, which was in consequence called the “ark of the
covenant,” or testament. Numbers 10:33; Hebrews 9:4, &c.; that this law
is immutable and perpetual, being a transcript of the tables deposited in the
ark in the true sanctuary on high, which is also, for the same reason, called
the ark of God’s testament; for under the sounding of the seventh trumpet we
are told that “the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in
his temple the ark of his testament.” Revelation 11:19. - XII - That the fourth commandment of this law requires
that we devote the seventh day of each week, commonly called Saturday, to
abstinence from our own labor, and to the performance of sacred religious
duties; that this is the only weekly Sabbath known to the Bible, being the
day that was set apart before paradise was lost, Genesis 2:2, 3, and which
will be observed in paradise restored, Isaiah 66:22, 23; that the facts upon
which the Sabbath institution is based confine it to the seventh day, as they
are not true of any other day; and that the terms, Jewish Sabbath and
Christian Sabbath, as applied to the weekly rest-day, are names of human
invention, unscriptural in fact, and false in meaning. - XIII - That as the man of sin, the papacy, has thought to
change times and laws (the laws of God), Daniel 7:25, and has misled almost all
Christendom in regard to the fourth commandment, we find a prophecy of a
reform in this respect to be wrought among believers just before the coming
of Christ. Isaiah 56:1, 2; 1 Peter 1:5; Revelation 14:12, &c. - XIV - That as the natural or carnal heart is at enmity
with God and his law, this enmity can be subdued only by a radical
transformation of its affections, the exchange of unholy for holy principles;
that this transformation follows repentance and faith, is the special work of
the Holy Spirit, and constitutes regeneration or conversion. - XV - That as all have violated the law of God, and
cannot of themselves render obedience to his just requirements, we are
dependent on Christ, first, for justification from our past offences, and,
secondly, for grace whereby to render acceptable obedience to his holy law in
time to come. - XVI - That the Spirit of God was promised to manifest
itself in the church through certain gifts, enumerated especially in 1
Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4; that these gifts are not designed to
supercede, or take the place of, the Bible, which is sufficient to make us
wise unto salvation, any more than the Bible can take the place of the Holy
Spirit; that in specifying the various channels of its operation, that the Spirit
has simply made provision for its own existence, and presence with the people
of God to the end of time, to lead to an understanding of that word which it
had inspired, to convince of sin, and work a transformation in the heart and
life; and that those who deny to the Spirit its place and operation, do
plainly deny that part of the Bible which assigns to it this work and
position. - XVII - That God, in accordance with his uniform dealings with
the race, sends forth a proclamation of the approach of the second advent of
Christ; that this work is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14,
the last one bringing to view the work of reform on the law of God, that his
people may acquire a complete readiness for that event. - XVIII - That the time for the cleansing of the sanctuary
(See proposition X), synchronizing with the time of the proclamation of the
third message, is a time of investigative judgment, first with reference to
the dead, and at the close of probation with reference to the living, to
determine who of the myriads now sleeping in the dust of the earth are worthy
of a part in the first resurrection, and who of its living multitudes are
worthy of translation—points which must be determined before the Lord
appears. - XIX - That the grave, whither we all tend, expressed by
the Hebrew Sheol, and the Greek hades, is a place of darkness in which there is
no work, device, wisdom, or knowledge. Ecclesiastes 9:10. - XX - That the state to which we are reduced by death is
one of silence, inactivity, and entire unconsciousness. Psalm 146:4;
Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Daniel 12:2, &c. - XXI - That out of this prison house of the grave mankind
are to be brought by a bodily resurrection; the righteous having part in the
first resurrection, which takes place at the second advent of Christ, the
wicked in the second resurrection, which takes place a thousand years
thereafter. Revelation 20:4-6. - XXII - That at the last trump, the living righteous are
to be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and with the
resurrected righteous are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, so
forever to be with the Lord. - XXIII - That these immortalized ones are then taken to
Heaven, to the New Jerusalem, the Father’s house in which there are many
mansions, John 14:1-3, where they reign with Christ a thousand years, judging
the world and fallen angels, that is, apportioning the punishment to be
executed upon them at the close of the one thousand years; Revelation 20:4; 1
Corinthians 6:2, 3; that during this time the earth lies in a desolate and
chaotic condition, Jeremiah 4:20-27, described, as in the beginning, by the
Greek term abussos, bottomless pit (Septuagint of Genesis 1:2); and that here
Satan is confined during the thousand years, Revelation 20:1, 2, and here
finally destroyed, Revelation 20:10; Malachi 4:1; the theater of the ruin he
has wrought in the universe, being appropriately made for a time his gloomy
prison house, and then the place of his final execution. - XXIV - That in the end of the thousand years, the Lord
descends with his people and the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:2, the wicked
dead are raised and come up upon the surface of the yet unrenewed earth, and
gather about the city, the camp of the saints, Revelation 20:9, and fire
comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. They are then consumed
root and branch, Malachi 4:1, becoming as though they had not been. Obadiah
15, 16. In this everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, 2
Thessalonians 1:9, the wicked meet the everlasting punishment threatened
against them, Matthew 25:46. This is the perdition of ungodly men, the fire
which consumes them being the fire for which “the heavens and the earth which
are now” are kept in store, which shall melt event the elements with its
intensity, and purge the earth from the deepest stains of the curse of sin. 2
Peter 3:7-12. - XXV - That a new heaven and a new earth shall spring by
the power of God from the ashes of the old, to be, with the New Jerusalem for
its metropolis and capital, the eternal inheritance of the saints, the place
where the righteous shall evermore dwell. 2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:11, 29;
Matthew 5:5. |
III - 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.) IV - 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.) II - 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.) V - 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.) I - 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.) XV - 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.) X - 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.) XI - 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.) XVIII - 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.) VIII - 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.) XXIV
- 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.) XIX - 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.) XX - 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.) VII - 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.) XVII - 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.) XII - 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.) XIII - 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.) XIV - 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.) XXVI - 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.) XXV - 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.) XXVII -
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.) XXVIII - 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.) VI -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.) IX
- 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.) XVI - 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.) XXI -
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.) XXII - 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.) XXIII - 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.) |