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Fundamental Beliefs
We trace our origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century. We follow the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then. Our commission is to proclaim the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to all the world as a witness and teach all nations to observe what Christ commanded (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20).
Please read our free booklet Fundamental Beliefs of the United Church of God for a more detailed explanation of our beliefs.
Fundamental Beliefs of the United Church of God
God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
We believe in one God, the Father, eternally existing, who is
a Spirit, a personal Being of supreme intelligence, knowledge, love,
justice, power and authority. He, through Jesus Christ, is the Creator
of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He is the Source
of life and the One for whom human life exists. We believe in
one Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who is the Word and has eternally
existed. We believe that He is the Messiah, the Christ, the divine Son
of the living God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born in the human flesh
of the virgin Mary. We believe that it is by Him that God created all
things and that without Him was not anything made that was made. We believe
in the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of God and of Christ Jesus. The Holy
Spirit is the power of God and the Spirit of life eternal (2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16).
The Word of God
We believe that Scripture, both the Old and the New Testament,
is God's revelation, and His complete, expressed will to humanity. Scripture
is inspired in thought and word, infallible in the original writings,
is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life, and is the foundation
of all truth (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 10:35; 17:17).
Satan the Devil
We believe that Satan is a spirit being who is the adversary of
God and the children of God. Satan has been given dominion over
the world for a specific period of time. Satan has deceived humanity
into rejecting God and His law. Satan has ruled by deception with the
aid of a host of demons who are rebellious angels, spirit beings, who
followed Satan in his rebellion (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 8:12; 2 Timothy 2:26; John 12:31; 16:11; Revelation 12:4,
9; 20:1-3, 7, 10; Leviticus 16:21-22; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14; Ephesians 2:2).
Humanity
We believe that humanity was created in the image of God with
the potential to become children of God, partakers of the divine nature. God
formed humanity of flesh, which is material substance. Human beings live
by the breath of life, are mortal, subject to corruption and decay, without
eternal life, except as the gift of God under God's terms and conditions
as expressed in the Bible. We believe that God placed before Adam and
Eve the choice of eternal life through obedience to God, or death through
sin. Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and disobeyed God. As a result,
sin entered the world, and through sin, death. Death now reigns over
all humanity because all have sinned (Genesis 1:26; 2 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12;
6:23).
Sin and God's Law
We believe that sin is the transgression of the law. The
law is spiritual, perfect, holy, just and good. The law defines God's love
and is based upon the two great principles of love toward God and love
toward neighbor, and is immutable and binding. The Ten Commandments are
the ten points of God's law of love. We believe that breaking any one point
of the law brings upon a person the penalty of sin. We believe that this
fundamental spiritual law reveals the only way to true life and the only
possible way of happiness, peace and joy. All unhappiness, misery, anguish
and woe have come from transgressing God's law (1 John 3:4; 5:3; Matthew 5:17-19; 19:17-19; 22:37-40; James 2:10-11; Romans
2:5-9; 7:12-14; 13:8-10).
The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
We believe God so loved this world of helpless sinners that He
gave His only begotten Son, who, though in all points tempted as we are,
lived without sin in the human flesh. That Son, Jesus Christ,
died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His life, because He is
the Creator of all humanity, is of greater value than the sum total of
all human life. His death is, therefore, sufficient to pay the penalty
for every human being's sins. In paying this penalty He has made it possible,
according to God's plan, for each person and humanity as a whole to have
their sins forgiven and to be released from the death penalty (Hebrews 4:15; 9:15; 10:12; John 1:18; 3:16; Colossians 1:16-17, 22; 1 John 2:2;
4:10; Ephesians 1:11; Revelation 13:8).
Three Days and Three Nights
We believe that the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead after
His body lay three days and three nights in the grave, thus making immortality
possible for mortal man. He thereafter ascended into heaven,
where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest
and Advocate (1 Peter 1:17-21; 3:22; Matthew 12:40; 1 Corinthians 15:53; 2 Timothy 1:10; John
20:17; Hebrews 8:1; 12:2).
Repentance
We believe that all who truly repent of their sins in full surrender
and willing obedience to God, and who by faith accept Jesus Christ as
their personal Savior, have their sins forgiven by an act of divine grace. Such
individuals are justified, pardoned from the penalty of sin, and receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit, which literally abides within them and supplies
the divine love that alone can fulfill the law and produce righteousness.
They are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ, which is the
true Church of God. We believe in a true change in life and attitude.
Only those who have the indwelling presence of and are being led by the
Holy Spirit are Christ's (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:29-32; 2 Corinthians 7:10; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; 2:7-9;
Romans 3:21-26; 5:5; 6:6; 8:4, 9-10, 14; 13:1; Jeremiah 33:8; John 14:16-17; 1
Corinthians 12:12-13; Philippians 2:3-5).
Water Baptism
We believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion following
repentance. Through the laying on of hands, with prayer, the
believer receives the Holy Spirit and becomes a part of the spiritual
body of Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:13, 16; John 3:23; Acts 2:38; 8:14-17; 19:5-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Sabbath Day
We believe that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath of
the Lord our God. On this day we are commanded to rest from
our labors and worship God, following the teachings and example of Jesus,
the apostles and the New Testament Church (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Leviticus 23:3; Isaiah 58:13; Hebrews
4:4-10; Mark 1:21; 2:27-28; 6:2; Acts 13:42-44; 17:2; 18:4; Luke 4:31).
The Passover
We believe in observing the New Testament Passover on the night
of the 14th of Abib, the anniversary of the death of our Savior (Leviticus 23:5; Luke 22:13-14).
The Festivals of God
We believe in the commanded observance of the seven annual Holy
Days given to ancient Israel by God and kept by Jesus Christ, the apostles
and the New Testament Church. These Holy Days reveal God's plan
of salvation (Colossians 2:16-17; 1 Peter 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:8; 15:22-26; 16:8; James
1:18; Exodus 23:14-17; Leviticus 23; Luke 2:41-42; 22:14-15; John 7:2, 8, 10,
14; Acts 2:1; 18:21; 20:16; Zechariah 14:16-21).
God's Food Laws
We believe that those meats that are designated "unclean" by
God in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are not to be eaten.
Military Service and War
We believe that Christians are forbidden by the commandments of
God from taking human life, directly or indirectly, and that bearing
arms is contrary to this fundamental belief. Therefore, we believe
that Christians should not voluntarily become engaged in military service.
If they are involuntarily engaged in military service, we believe they
should refuse conscientiously to bear arms and, to the extent possible,
to refuse to come under military authority (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22; 1 Corinthians 7:21-23; Acts 5:29).
Promises to Abraham
We believe in God's enduring righteousness. That righteousness
is demonstrated by God's faithfulness in fulfilling all of the promises
He made to the father of the faithful, Abraham. As promised, God multiplied
Abraham's lineal descendants so that Abraham literally became the "father" of
many nations. We believe that God, as promised, materially prospered Abraham's
lineal descendants Isaac and Jacob (whose name He later changed to Israel).
We believe that God, through Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ, is making salvation
available to all humanity regardless of their physical lineage. Salvation
is not therefore a right of birth. It is freely open to all whom God calls,
and those who are regarded as descendants of Abraham are those of the faith,
heirs according to the promises. We believe that the knowledge that God
has fulfilled and continues to fulfill the physical promises made to Abraham
and his children, and is fulfilling the spiritual promise through Jesus
Christ, is critical to understanding the message of the prophets and its
application to the world in which we live (Psalm 111:1-10; Romans 4:16; 9:7-8; Galatians 3:16; Genesis 32:28).
God's Purpose for Mankind
We believe God's purpose for mankind is to prepare those whom
He calls, and who elect through a life of overcoming sin, developing
righteous character, and growing in grace and knowledge, to possess the
Kingdom and to become kings and priests reigning with Christ on this
earth after His return. We believe that the reason for mankind's
existence is literally to be born as spirit beings into the family of
God (Romans 6:15-16; 8:14-17, 30; Acts 2:39; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 3:5; 5:10).
The Church
We believe that the Church is that body of believers who have
received, and are being led by, the Holy Spirit. The true Church
of God is a spiritual organism. Its biblical name is "The Church
of God." We believe that the mission of the Church is to preach
the gospel (good news) of the coming Kingdom of God to all nations as
a witness, and to help reconcile to God such people as are now being
called. We believe that it is also the mission of the Church of God to
strengthen, edify and nurture the children of God in the love and admonition
of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-39, 47; 20:28; Romans 8:14; 14:19; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:14; 4:11-16;
1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16, 22; 12:27; 14:26; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1-2;
5:18-20; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy
3:5, 15; Mark 16:15; Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20; John 6:44, 65; 17:11, 16).
Tithing
We believe in tithing as a way of honoring God with our substance
and as a means of serving Him in the preaching of the gospel, the care
of the Church, attending the festivals and helping the needy (Proverbs 3:9-10; Genesis 14:17-20; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Numbers 18:21;
Deuteronomy 14:22-29).
The Resurrections
We believe that the only hope of eternal life for mortal humans
lies in the resurrection through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We
believe that at the return of Jesus Christ a resurrection to spirit life
will take place for all who have been God's faithful servants. We believe
that after Jesus Christ has ruled on this earth for 1,000 years, there
will be a resurrection to physical life of the vast majority of all people
who have ever lived. We believe that after these people have had an opportunity
to live a physical life, if they become converted, they too will receive
eternal life. We also believe that those who reject God's offer of salvation
will reap eternal death (1 Corinthians 15:19, 42-52; Acts 23:6; John 5:21-29; Romans 6:23; 8:10-11; 1
Thessalonians 4:16; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Revelation 20:4-5, 11-15; John 3:16;
Matthew 25:46).
Jesus Christ's Return
We believe in the personal, visible, premillennial return of the
Lord Jesus Christ to rule the nations on earth as King of kings and to
continue His priestly office as Lord of lords. At that time,
He will sit upon the throne of David. During His thousand-year reign
upon the earth, He will restore all things and establish the Kingdom
of God forever (Matthew 24:30, 44; Revelation 1:7; 11:15; 19:16; 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians
4:13-16; John 14:3; Isaiah 9:7; 40:10-12; Hebrews 7:24; Jeremiah 23:5; Luke
1:32-33; Acts 1:11; 3:21; 15:16; Daniel 7:14, 18, 27). |
