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基督复临安息日会
基督复临安息日会接受圣经为唯一的信仰根基，并持有廿七条圣经信仰要道。以下这些信仰表白，表示教会已明白圣经的教导。若要修订这些要道，必需要在全球代表大会受圣灵的带领下，完全明白圣经真理，并获得更好的辞语，来表达上帝的圣言，才可进行。 一、上帝的圣言 圣经－－新旧约圣经，乃是上帝的圣言。由上帝所默示，藉着圣洁的神人被圣灵感动写成经卷。在圣经中，上帝将得救所需的知识赐给人。圣经是上帝旨意无误的启示。是测定品格的标准，是经验的试金石，亦是各项教训之权威，且是上帝在历史中的作为之忠实记录。（彼后1：20，21；提后3：16，17；诗119：105；箴：30：5，6；赛8：20；约17：17；帖前2：13；来4：12） 八、善恶之争 基督与撒但之间的善恶大斗争，泱及上帝的圣德， 的律法，及 对宇宙的统治权，现在整个人类都受到牵连。这场争战起始於天庭，那时，一个受造能作自由选择的生灵，因高抬自我，变成了撒但，成了上帝的仇敌。他领导部分天使参与反叛，又引诱亚当夏娃犯罪，使背叛的精神进入了这个世界。因人类犯罪，导致上帝在人身上的形像遭到扭曲，受造世界的秩序被破坏，终於导致洪水灭世。受造的全宇宙诸世界都正在观看，这个世界已经成为宇宙争战的舞台。从这场大争战中，上帝的慈爱终必清楚地彰显。为了在这场争战中帮助 的子民，基督差遣圣灵及忠诚的天使，在他们得救的路上，一路引导、保护，及支持他们。（启12：4－9；赛14：12－14；结28：12－18；创3：1－24；罗1：19－32；5：12－21；8：19－22；创6－8；彼后3：6；林前4：9；来1：14） 九、基督的生、死与复活 人在基督完全顺从上帝旨意的生活中，看到 的受苦、受死、与复活，是上帝准备为人类赎罪之唯一方法。使凡藉着信心接受这项赎罪的人能得永生，并使全体受造之物更明白创造主无穷圣洁的爱。这项完全的救赎，阐明了上帝律法的公义，及 品德的慈爱，因 一面定我们的罪，一面却为我们准备了救赎。基督的死是代替人赎罪，使人心改变，愿与上帝和好。基督的复活宣告上帝胜过了罪恶的势力，并保证那些接受救赎的人最后会战胜罪恶与死亡。它宣告耶稣基督是主，使一切在天上和地上的，在 面前，无不屈膝。（约3：16；赛53；彼前2：21，22；林前15：3，4，20－22；林后5：14，15，19－21；罗1：4；3：25；4：25；8：3，4；约壹2：2；4：10；西2：15；腓2：6－11） 十、得救的经验 上帝因 无限的慈爱与怜悯，使那无罪的基督为我们成为罪，为要使我们在 里面成为上帝的义。我们在圣灵领导下，感觉自己的需要，承认自己的罪孽深重，悔改我们的罪愆，并相信耶稣为主、为基督、为代罪者、为我们的榜样。这项领受救恩的信心，乃得自上帝圣言的大能，为上帝的恩典所赐。藉着基督我们被称为义，被收纳为上帝的儿女，从罪的辖制中得释放。藉圣灵我们重生，并成为圣洁。圣灵更新我们的心意，将上帝爱的律法写在我们心上。我们蒙赐能力度圣洁的生活，我们常在 里面，就与 神圣的性情有分。并如今在审判中，在得救上，都有了保证。(林后5：17－21；约3：16；加1：4；4：4－7；多3：3－7；约16：8；加3：13，14；彼前2：21，22；罗10：17；路17：5；可9：23，24；弗2：5－10；罗3：21－26；西1：13，14；罗8：14－17；加3：26；约3：3－8；彼前1：23；罗12：2；来8：7－12；结36：25－27；彼后1：3，4；罗8：1－4；5：6－10) 十一、教会 教会就是那承认耶稣基督为主、为救主的信徒团体。继续旧约时代上帝的子民之后，我们蒙召从世界出来，一同聚集，为要崇拜、交通、学习上帝的圣言、举行圣餐、服务人群，及向普世宣传福音。教会从成为肉身的道基督，与写下的道圣经获得权柄。教会是上帝的家， 所收纳的儿女，活在新约的基础上。教会是基督的身体，是以基督为首的信仰团体。教会是基督舍命使其洁净与成圣的新妇。在 凯旋回来时， 会将她献给自己，作为一个荣耀的教会，就是 自己用宝血所买来历代忠心的信徒，没有玷污、皱纹等类的病，是圣洁没有瑕疵的。（创12：3；徒7：38；弗4：11－15；3：8－11；太28：19，20；16：13－20；18：18；弗2：19－22；1：22，23；5：23－27；西1：17，18） 十二、馀民及其使命 普世教会是由所有真正相信基督的人所组成。但在末日，背道广泛蔓延之时，有一批馀民蒙召出来，遵守上帝的诫命及耶稣的真道。这批馀民宣告审判的时候已经到了。宣讲靠基督恩典得救，并宣告 复临的日子已经临近。这项宣告由启示录十四章的三位天使所预表。它与天上的审判工作同时进行，促进了地上的悔改与改革的工作。每一信徒都已蒙召亲自参与此项普世的见证。（启12：17；14：6－12；18：1－4；林后5：10；犹3，14；彼前1：16－19；彼后3：10－14；启21：1－14） 十三、基督身体的合一 教会是由许多肢体合成的一个身体。这些肢体是从各国、各族、各方、各民选召出来的。在基督里我们成为新造的人。种族、文化、学识、国籍的不同，以及地位、贫富、性别的差异，都不致在我们中间造成分裂。我们在基督里都是平等的，藉着一位圣灵，基督使我们与 并我们彼此之间都合而为一。我们要毫无保留地服事人与受人的服事。藉着耶稣基督在圣经上的启示，我们有共同的信仰与指望，并向所有的人作出同一的见证。这种合一源自三一真神的合一， 已收纳我们为 的儿女了。（罗12：4，5；林前12：12－14；太28：19，20；诗133：1；林后5：16，17；徒17：26，27；加3：27，29；西3：10－15；弗4：14－16；4：1－6；约17：20－23） 十四、洗礼 藉着洗礼，我们公开承认对耶稣基督的死与复活的信心，并见证我们对罪已经死了，及见证我们要以新生的样式而活。这样，我们承认基督是主，是救主，成为 的子民，并蒙接纳成为 教会的教友。洗礼象征我们与基督联合，罪得蒙赦免，以及我们领受圣灵。它是全身入水，并基於对耶稣肯定的信心，及悔罪的凭据。此乃依照圣经的指导，并接受圣经的教训后才可举行。（罗6：1－6；西2：12，13；徒16：30－33；22：16；2：38；太28：19，20） 十五、圣餐礼 圣餐礼所领受的无酵饼与葡萄汁是象征耶稣的血与身体，表达我们对 是我们的主与救主的信心。在这项圣餐礼的经历中，基督临格与 的子民相会，并加强他们的力量。我们领受时，有盼望地记念主的死，直到 来。领受圣餐的准备包括自省、悔改与认罪。主设立了洗脚礼，预表复新洗礼得洁净，亦表示乐意带着基督的谦卑彼此服事，并将我们的心在爱中联合。圣餐礼是对所有信徒开放的。（林前10：16，17；11：23－30；太26：17－30；启3：20；约6：48－63；13:1-17） 十九、安息日 那赐福的创造主，在六日创造世界大功之后，便在第七日安息了，并为所有的人设立了安息日，作为创造的纪念日。上帝那永不改变的律法的第四条诫命，要人遵守第七日为安息日，作为休息、崇拜，与传道的日子，与安息日的主耶稣的教训与行为相和谐。安息日是与上帝及彼此交通的喜乐日子。它是我们在基督里蒙救赎的表征，是我们成圣的记号，也是我们忠诚的标记，并在上帝永恒的国度中得到预尝。安息日是上帝与 子民之间所立永约之永恒标记。信徒喜乐地从星期五日落至星期六日落，遵守这神圣的时刻，便是对上帝创造与救赎的喜乐。（创2：1－3；出20：8－11；路4：16；赛56：5，6；58：13，14；太12：1－12；出31：13－17；结20：12，20；申
5：12－15；来4：1－11；利23：32；可1：32） 二十、管家 我们是上帝的管家， 托付我们时间与机会，能力与钱财，地上的福分与资源。我们要负责并适当地使用它们。我们承认上帝的所有权，所以为了要忠心事奉上帝及我们的同胞，应将什一归还给 ，也将各样捐款奉献作为宣传福音，支持教会，使教会增长。管家的职责是上帝为了培育爱心，及胜过自私与贪婪所赐给我们的一项特权。管家因他忠心的结果而使他人得福，他也就欢喜快乐了。（创1：26－28；2：15；代上29：14；哈1：3－11；玛3：8－12；林前9：9－14；太23：23；林后8：1－15；罗15：26，27） 廿一、基督徒的品行 我们蒙召要成为一批敬虔的人民，思想、感情、行为，都与天国的原则相和谐。为了让圣灵在我们里面重新塑造我们有主的品格，就让我们自己只参与那些能在我们生命中产生像基督的纯洁、健康、喜乐的事。也就是说，我们的娱乐，应该合乎基督徒美好与崇高的标准。我们的衣着，虽因文化上的差异有所不同，却当以朴素、保守、整洁为原则。因真正的美不在於外在的妆饰，而在於内在温柔安静的心为永远的妆饰。这也表示，因为我们的身体是上帝的殿，我们当聪明地照顾它。除了适当的运动与休息之外，我们要尽可能采用最健康的饮食，并禁止食用圣经所指明不洁净的食物。因含酒精的饮料、烟草、及毒品，有害我们的身体，故我们当禁戒使用它。要参与那些能将我们的思想与身体建立在基督教导的一切活动，因 热望我们成为有健康、喜乐与良善的人。（罗12：1，2；约壹2：6；弗5：1－21；腓4：8；林后10：5；6：14－7：1；彼前3：1－4；林前6：19，20；10：31；利11：1－47；约三2） 廿二、婚姻与家庭 婚姻是上帝在伊甸园所设立，并由耶稣所确认，为一男一女在相爱中厮守终身的结合。对基督徒而言，婚约的承诺不仅是对配偶负责，也是对上帝负责，并且这种婚姻关系，只应建立在信仰相同的男女双方身上。彼此相爱、尊重、和有责任感，乃是构成这项关系的要素。这项关系，乃是要反映基督与 的教会之间的爱，圣洁、亲密、与永恒的关系。至於离婚，耶稣教导说，除了因犯奸淫之外，人若离弃配偶与另一个人结婚，就是犯了淫乱罪。虽然有些人的家庭关系不理想，但那在基督理充分将自己许配予对方的婚姻伴侣，仍能藉着圣灵的带领及教会的牧养而达成相爱合一。上帝赐福家庭，使家庭成员彼此帮助，达到完全成熟之境。作父母的人，要教养儿女爱主并顺从主。藉着他们的言行，他们要教导儿女，基督是一位慈爱的管教者，永远温柔、体贴，要他们成为 的肢体，成为上帝家庭中的成员。家庭亲密的增长，乃是末世福音信息的标志之一。（创2：18－25；太19：3－9；约2：1－11；林后6：14；弗5：21－33；太5：31，32；可10：11，12；路16：18；林前7：10，11；出20：12；弗6：1－4；申6：5－9；箴22：6；玛4：5，6）
廿三、基督在天上圣所的服务 天上有一个圣所，是主所支持的，不是人所支持的真帐幕。基督在其中为我们服务，为了使信徒能获得 在十字架上只一次献上的赎罪祭的有效性， 升到天上后，立即就任我们的大祭司，并开始 代求的工作。在1844年，当二千三百日预言结束时， 进入了赎罪工作的第二阶段，也是最后的阶段，就是查案审判的工作，是对一切罪恶最终处置的一部分，是古希伯来人在赎罪日洁净圣所的仪式所预表的。在那预表性的祭祀中，圣所是用祭牲的血洁净，但天上的物却是用那完全的祭，就是耶稣的血所洁净。查案审判是向天上众生灵显明，那些在基督里死了的人，是配在第一次复活中有分的。也显明那些在基督里的活人，遵守上帝诫命和耶稣真道，已预备好可以变化升天，进入 永恒的国。这项审判显明上帝乃是公义的，因 拯救了那相信耶稣的人。它并宣称，那保持忠於上帝的人，将承受天国。基督复临前，这项工作完成时，就是标明人类恩典的结束。（来8：1－5；4：14－16；9：11－28；10：19－22；1：3；2：16，17；但7：9－27；8：13，14；9：24－27；民14：34；结4：6；利16；启14：6，7；20：12；14：12；22：12）
廿五、死亡与复活 罪的工价乃是死。但独一不死的上帝，却要赐永生给 的赎民。在末日，上帝使他们复活以前，对所有死了的人，乃是一种无知觉的睡眠。当我们生命之主基督显现时，复活的义人与活着的义人，要得荣耀，并被提到天上，与他们的主相遇。还有第二次的复活，就是不义之人的复活，则要等到一千年之后。（罗6：23；提前6：15，16；传9：5，6；诗146：3，4；约11：11－14；歌3：4；林前15：51－54；帖前4：13－17；约5：28，29；启20：1－10） Seventh-day
Adventists Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word. 1. The 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. The 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. The 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. The 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. The 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. The 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. 3:1-24; 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. The 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. The 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. The 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. The 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.) 12. The 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.) 13. 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.) 14. 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.) 15. The 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 of baptism, 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.) 16. 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.) 17. 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. The 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 Friday sunset to Saturday 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.) 20. 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.) 21. 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.) 22. 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.) 23. 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.) 24. The 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.) 25. 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.) 26. The 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.) |
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