The Bible is the Christian’s only rule of faith and practice. The points below are not an official statement of faith, but they are some of the Bible’s important teachings and principles for living.
1. There is one God, a unity of three eternal persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God created the earth in six literal days. (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 14; Exodus 20:11)
2. The Old and New Testaments are inspired by God in every part. (2 Timothy 3:16;
2 Peter 1:20, 21)
3. When Jesus came to earth, He took on Himself the nature of the seed of Abraham and so was our perfect Example of how we may overcome in God’s power. We are not saved by our own works, but by grace, through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Although we may have experienced conversion in the past, there is still danger that we can fall away and be lost. Thus we must remain surrendered to God. (Hebrews 2:16-18; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Ezekiel 18:24)
4. Baptism by immersion symbolizes one’s death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ. It is required of all who would be saved, as far as possible. Preparation for baptism requires faith, repentance, and bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance. (John 3:23; Mark 1:9, 10; Romans 6:4-6; Colossians 2:12; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Luke 3:7, 8 )
5. Death is an unconscious sleep in the grave. When a person dies, his body returns to dust, and his spirit (or the breath of life) returns to God. The soul (or person) then ceases to exist. The dead await being resurrected by Jesus, but until then, they know nothing. They cannot communicate with, nor appear to, the living. The dead do not go to heaven or hell at death. The widespread belief in the immortal soul came into Christianity from pagan mythology. (John 11:11-14; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Job 27:3; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalm 115:17; Acts 2:34; 1 Timothy 6:16; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 2:7)
6. Jesus will come to earth the second time. His coming will not be secret, for every eye will see Him. Jesus will resurrect the righteous dead. The righteous will receive immortality and ascend with Jesus to heaven. The living wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. The Three Angels’ Messages are designed to herald Jesus’ coming to the world so that they can prepare. The giving of these messages is the special mission of God’s last-day church. (John 14:3; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:27; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 14:6-12)
7. No hellfire is burning now. At the end of the 1,000 years, the wicked will try to attack the Holy City, but God will send fire from heaven to destroy them. This fire will not burn forever, but will go out, leaving the wicked as ashes. The concept of immortal souls suffering for eternity in hell came into Christianity from paganism. After the fire has gone out, God will create a new heavens and earth that will never be marred by sin.
(2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:7-15; Revelation 21:8; Malachi 4:1-3; Ezekiel 28:18; Isaiah 47:14; Psalm 37:10, 20; Matthew 25:41; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6 [Not the fire, but its results, are eternal.]; Revelation 14:10, 11 [Exodus 21:6 and 1 Samuel 1:22, 28 show that “for ever” means as long as that person lives.]; 2 Peter 3:12, 13; Isaiah 65:17; Nahum 1:9; Revelation 21:1-5)
8. There is a sanctuary in heaven in which Jesus now serves as High Priest. The earthly tabernacle and its services were patterned after this heavenly sanctuary and the work of Jesus in it. Just as the earthly sanctuary was cleansed annually on the Day of Atonement, so there is a Day of Atonement in heaven as well, which began in 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days prophecy. In 1844, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. There He investigates the lives of all His professed followers, as recorded in the books of record. The names of those who have sins unrepented of are blotted out of the book of life. Those who have truly repented, accepted Christ’s sacrifice, and by His grace formed a character in harmony with His law, are accounted worthy of eternal life, and their sins, forgiven, are blotted out of the books of record. These decisions are made before Jesus returns to earth. (Hebrews 8:1-5 and 9:1-12, 22-24; Leviticus 16:15, 16, 29-34; Daniel 8:14-17 and 9:22-27 and 7:9, 10; 1 Peter 4:17; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Revelation 20:12 and 21:27 and 3:5; Exodus 32:33; James 2:12; Isaiah 43:25; Acts 3:19; Revelation 22:12)
9. God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, is binding upon humanity in all ages. It existed in heaven from eternity, because it is the principles of God’s character. It was formally given at Mt. Sinai, but far from being only for the Jews, it is God’s standard of obedience today, and by it we will be judged. Obedience to the Law cannot save us. However, obedience to it is a requirement for salvation. The Bible defines sin as the transgression of the Law. The Law points out sin to us, so that we will flee to Jesus who can save us from that sin and enable us, by His grace, to keep His Law. (Exodus 24:12; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31; Exodus 16:28, 29; Exodus 20:1-17; Ecclesiastes 12:13; James 2:10-12; Galatians 2:16, 17; Revelation 22:14; 1 John 3:4; Romans 4:15; Romans 3:20 and 7:7 and 8:3, 4; Revelation 14:12)
10. The ceremonial law, with its animal sacrifices, earthly sanctuary services, ceremonial ordinances, and yearly feasts, was nailed to Jesus’ cross, since these were merely shadows of things to come. (Colossians 2:14-17; Daniel 9:27; Hebrews 10:1, 11, 12)
11. The fourth commandment requires us to keep the seventh day (Saturday) holy. We are to spend the day in spiritual activities, rest, and ministry to others. We are not to work, transact business, or in engage in worldly pleasure or secular conversation. Caring for the sick and similar duties are in harmony with the Sabbath. The Sabbath was instituted at Creation, and is for all mankind. It was kept by Jesus and the apostles, and will be kept in the New Earth. The seventh day is God’s holy day; thus it is the Lord’s day. The Sabbath is kept from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. (Exodus 20:8-11; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Exodus 16:23-30; Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:10-12; Genesis 2:2, 3; Mark 2:27; Isaiah 56:6, 7; Luke 4:16; Acts 13:42, 44-46; Acts 16:13; Isaiah 66:22, 23; Mark 2:28; Revelation 1:10; Leviticus 23:32; Mark 1:21, 32; Nehemiah 13:19)
12. As in the early church, God has placed the gift of prophecy in His last-day church. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and the Spirit of Prophecy writings are valid and authoritative today. The Bible gives tests of a true prophet, and cautions us that false prophets will also arise. No spiritual gift will ever be given to supersede or contradict the Bible. (1 Corinthians 12:4-12, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11, 12; Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:1-20; Revelation 19:10; 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7; Revelation 12:17; 1 John 4:1-3; Isaiah 8:20; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Jeremiah 28:8, 9; Daniel 10:16, 17; Numbers 24:4; Matthew 7:15-18; Matthew 24:24)
13. After the early church was founded, there was a great falling away to pagan teachings. This resulted in an apostate form of Christianity. Yet throughout history, God has had faithful people who have kept His Commandments. Prophecy shows that God’s last-day church will keep the Ten Commandments and have the gift of prophecy. In Revelation, God calls His faithful people out of all false churches to join with His remnant. God’s people are to be distinctly separate from the sinful practices of the world, and not conformed to its ways. (Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4; Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 and 18:1-4; John 10:16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2)
14. Christian men and women will dress modestly, selecting clothing that is clearly specific to their gender. Women should avoid fashionable dress, jewelry, makeup, pants, and tight, revealing styles. The legs, chest area, and upper arms should be modestly covered. The Christian will not decorate herself, but instead choose neatness, plainness, and simplicity. Men are to have short hair, and women are not to have short hair. Fashionable hairstyles should not be worn. (1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:1-5; Revelation 17:4; 2 Kings 9:30; Isaiah 3:16-24; Deuteronomy 22:5; Proverbs 7:10; Isaiah 47:2, 3; Revelation 16:15; 1 Corinthians 11:6, 14, 15)
15. Christians should shun dancing, amusement parks, competitive games and sports, card playing, gambling, parties or other frivolous associations, novel reading, theater, movies, nearly all of what is available on television, and much of what is available on the internet and radio. Select instead gardening, recreation in nature, good reading, uplifting fellowship, and missionary outreach. Our music should lead us closer to God, and be free from beat and dance swing. (1 John 2:15-17; Exodus 32:6, 19; 2 Timothy 3:4; James 5:5; Philippians 2:4 and 4:8; Matthew 12:36; Psalm 119:37 and 101:3; 1 Corinthians 13:6)
16. God has placed man as the head of woman. Men are to be the priests of the church and the home. The wife is to reverence her husband and to submit to him in all things that are right, and the husband is to love his wife and provide leadership. The husband is to provide for the physical needs of the family, and the wife is to guide the house and raise the children, if there are children in the home. These Biblical roles are not outdated. Their abandonment in modern society, including the rise of the feminist movement, has led to much confusion and crime. (1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 3 and 2:11-14; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18, 19; 1 Timothy 5:8, 14; Titus 2:4, 5; Proverbs 31:10-31)
17. The marriage vow is sacred, and is to be entered only after careful preparation, with one of like faith. Marriage is to be binding until death of one of the partners. Divorce is permissible, though not required, only in the case of adultery in one’s partner. Remarriage is also allowed in such a case. Divorce and remarriage other than for adultery constitutes adultery. Children are to be raised in the ways of God, not according to the world’s pattern. The modern world has split up the family unit, but God’s plan is for the reunion of the family. (Romans 7:2, 3; Matthew 5:31, 32 and 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6, 7; Malachi 4:5, 6)
18. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to keep them healthy through obedience to the laws of health. Alcohol, tobacco, “recreational” drugs, and other health-destroying substances are off limits to the Christian. The Bible forbids eating blood or the meat of unclean animals, one example being pigs. God’s original diet for man was vegetarian. Only after the flood did God allow man to eat clean meat. In this age of disease and drugs in animal products, we can best honor God by a diet free from meat, and where possible, a pure vegan diet. Careful cleanliness is required of Christians.
(1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 and 6:19, 20 and 10:31; Proverbs 20:1 and 23:29-35; Genesis 9:4; Acts 15:29; Leviticus 11; Acts 10:9-29; Isaiah 66:17; Genesis 1:29 and 7:1-3; Exodus 19:10)
19. God asks us to return tithe (one tenth of our income) and offerings to support His work. He promises to bless those who faithfully do this. Failure to return tithes and offerings is robbing God. (Malachi 3:8-12; Psalm 116:12; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Genesis 14:20 and 28:22)
20. The sixth commandment forbids killing. War is the work of Satan, and we must not voluntarily participate in it. If drafted against our will, we may seek a noncombatant status if available. Where it is not available, we still must be firm not to violate the law of God. In issues in which we are not asked to violate God’s commands, we are to submit to government, obey the laws, and pay taxes. (Exodus 20:13; Luke 9:54-56; John 18:36; Matthew 5:39-45 and 26:52 and 22:16-21; Romans 13:1-7)
21. We are not to yoke ourselves with unbelievers in such unions as marriages, political parties, secret societies, labor unions, school accrediting associations, and business partnerships. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Nehemiah 13:23-27; 1 Corinthians 7:12-16; 1 Peter 3:1, 2; Isaiah 8:9-13; Ezra 9:10-14; Genesis 49:6; Psalm 1:1; 1 Kings 8:53)
22. God’s worship should be characterized by reverence, solemnity, soul-searching, peace, and solemn joy. Lightness, joking, celebration style, or parading of human talents are out of place. Present truth is to be preached, not pleasing fables. The highest principles of reverence and dress are to be upheld in the sanctuary. (Habakkuk 2:20;
1 Corinthians 14:33, 40; Philippians 2:3; 1 Timothy 1:3, 4; John 4:23; Leviticus 19:30)
23. Jesus taught that “all ye are brethren,” and there is to be no lordship or hierarchy in His church. God has assigned elders and deacons to lead and labor in local congregations as those who feel accountable for souls. These roles are to be filled after the most careful, prayerful selection, only by those who are fully loyal to God’s truth. The church has the God-given responsibility to seek to save the erring, and to administer discipline when necessary, that the church may be kept pure. We are to respect the leaders of the church, and follow them in those things that are right. (Matthew 23:1-12 and 20:25-27; Hebrews 13:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-15 and 5:17, 22; James 5:19, 20; Matthew 18:15-17;
1 Corinthians 5)
24. Jesus prayed for His followers to be united in truth. He promises that His church, though weighed down with many unfaithful members now, will be purified and will triumph in the end. Now God is working for the revival and reformation of all those in His church who will allow Him to work for them. We are to return to the simplicity, purity, and primitive godliness of the early church, and to keep the faith once delivered to the saints. (Matthew 12:25; Ephesians 4:3-6; John 17; Hebrews 12:25-27; Ephesians 5:25-27; Isaiah 10:20-22;
2 Corinthians 11:3; Jude 1:3)
