The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by
divine inspiration. The inspired authors spoke and wrote as they were moved by the
Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to humanity the knowledge necessary
for salvation.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 — “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”

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.

Matthew 28:19 — “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

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.

1 Corinthians 8:6 — “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things.”

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. He suffered and died on the cross for our sins, was raised from the dead, and
ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf.

John 1:1–3, 14 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in creation, incarnation,
and redemption. He draws and convicts human beings, renewing and transforming those who
respond into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son, He gives spiritual gifts
to the church.

John 14:16–17 — “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”

God has revealed in Scripture the authentic and historical account of His creative activity.
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested on the seventh day. He established the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial of His
completed creative work.

Genesis 1–2 — “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and freedom
to think and to act. Though created as free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body,
mind, and spirit. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon Him
and fell from their high position, and the image of God in them was marred.

Psalm 8:4–6 — “What is man that You are mindful of him? … You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

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.

Revelation 12:7–9 — “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon.”

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. This atoning death is substitutionary
and transforming. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil
and assures final victory over sin and death.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — “Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He rose again the third day.”

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. Through the Holy Spirit we are born again
and sanctified. By faith we receive forgiveness, are adopted as God’s sons and daughters,
and are delivered from the lordship of sin.

Ephesians 2:8–9 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. Through daily prayer,
study of God’s Word, meditation, and praise, we surrender ourselves to His transforming power.
Those who have been delivered from the dominion of darkness are called to walk in newness of life,
growing daily in the likeness of Christ.

Colossians 2:15 — “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them.”

The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
As the body of Christ, the church is called to proclaim His gospel, make disciples, and
nurture its members. The church derives its authority from Christ, who is the incarnate
Word revealed in Scripture.

Ephesians 1:22–23 — “He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.”

The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ. In the last days,
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 14:6–12 — “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

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 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.

Ephesians 4:4–6 — “There is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and testify
of our death to sin and purpose to walk in newness of life. Baptism is by immersion in water
and is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception
of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:1–6 — “We were buried with Him through baptism into death … we also should walk in newness of life.”

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 Savior. The communion service is preceded
by the ordinance of foot washing, a symbol of renewed cleansing, willingness to serve
one another in Christlike humility, and unity of heart.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 — “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

God bestows upon every member of His church spiritual gifts, which each member is to
employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity. Given by
the Holy Spirit, who apportions to each member as He wills, these gifts provide the
abilities and ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 — “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

The Scriptures testify that 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. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance,
instruction, and correction to the church.

Revelation 19:10 — “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified
in the life of Christ. They express God’s will for human conduct and relationships and
are binding upon all people in every age. The commandments are the basis of God’s covenant
with His people and the standard in God’s judgment.

Exodus 20:1–17 — “And God spoke all these words, saying …”

The gracious 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.

Genesis 2:1–3 — “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested.”

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 human beings, returning tithes and giving offerings.

Malachi 3:8–10 — “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse … and try Me now in this.”

We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical
principles in all aspects of personal and social life. While recognizing cultural
differences, our dress, entertainment, and recreation should meet the highest standards
of Christian taste and beauty, reflecting a life transformed by grace.

1 John 2:6 — “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus as a lifelong union
between a man and a woman in loving companionship. The family is the core unit of society
and should be a place where each person is nurtured in love, honor, respect, and responsibility.
Parents are to raise their children to love and obey the Lord.

Genesis 2:24 — “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

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. His intercessory ministry
began at His ascension and will be completed before His second coming.

Hebrews 8:1–2 — “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the
gospel. The Savior’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. The
living righteous will be glorified and taken to heaven, and the righteous dead will be
resurrected. The almost complete fulfillment of prophecy indicates Christ’s coming is near.

Titus 2:13 — “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

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
appears, the righteous dead will be resurrected and together with the living righteous
will be glorified and taken to heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 — “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we … shall be caught up together … to meet the Lord in the air.”

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.
At its close, Christ and His saints will descend to earth. The unrighteous dead will be
resurrected and, with Satan and his angels, will surround the city; but fire from God
will consume them, cleansing the earth.

Revelation 20:1–6 — “They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

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. 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.

Revelation 21:1–4 — “Behold, I make all things new … God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”