What We Believe

You might be curious as to what we believe. We believe in the truth and there are only three definition of truth in the Bible, "Jesus says - I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6), "...thy word is truth" (John 17:17), and "...all thy commandments are truth" (Psalms 119:151).  Our beliefs are simple and present them into twelve key teachings:

Collective Godhead - The Godhood is declared through: God the Father who sent the Son to a broken world in need of redemption, God the Son - also known as the Word - manifested himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit who came as our Comforter guiding us into all truth and convicting us of our sins; these three make up the Godhead (1 Jn. 5:7, Matt. 28:19).  These three are One, a perfect Tri-unity (formula: 1 x 1 x 1= 1) Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9.   In 2 Corinthians 13:14, all three are identified as distinct one from the other and are involved in the redemption of humanity.

The three members of the Godhead were present, yet distinct, at Jesus’ baptism. As Jesus comes up from the water, the Spirit descends on Him like a dove while the voice of the Father is heard from heaven saying that He is pleased with His beloved Son (Jesus incarnate) (Mark 1:10–11).

The Bible records the existence of a Second Person who is distinct from the Father and who is also called God. This person is Jesus, God the Son. Jesus is God the Son for all eternity.  The Son was not generated from the Father, but like the Father is eternal.  Two thousand years ago He became visible to humanity when He became a human being.  John the evangelist wrote that Jesus existed in the be beginning with God the Father (John 1:1, 14; 20:31), and recorded Jesus speaking about His preexistence to Abraham (John 8:48-59) using the same phrase for Himself as in Exodus 3:14. Also in chapter 17 of the Gospel of John He prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:5). Herein He plainly states that He was with God before the world existed. In the same chapter, He spoke of the love the Father had for Him before the foundation of the world (John 17:24).

Christ, God the Son, is fully God and fully man (See Hebrews 2). God the Son (aka: the Word) took upon Himself the form of a man (Jesus Christ) to live and die for our sins (Jn. 1:14).  Without His death on the cross for our sins, no one would have eternal life (Jn. 14:6).  He declares the reason for His birth, death, and resurrection—to provide the way to heaven for sinful mankind, who could never get there on their own (John 3:16-17, 36; John 2:19, 21-22; John 10:17-18).  He is our ONLY means of salvation, and it is only by His grace and His grace alone are we saved. We can do nothing to earn our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We are told "our righteousness" is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  However, we are justified through His atonement, and sanctification begins which is the changing of our character to image Christ.  This is the "works" James speaks of (James 2:14-26).

The Son reveals the Father, we have access to the Father through Christ, we know Christ then we know the Father,  Christ declares the Father's name, and if we have Christ we also have the Father (textual support).

God the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God was present at and involved in the creation (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 33:6). See blog titled, "Who Was There at Creation?"  The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets of God with the words of God (2 Peter 1:21). Those in Christ are depicted as temples (sanctuaries) of God because the Holy Spirit dwells within (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus was clear that to be “born again,” meaning to become a Christian, one must be born “of the Spirit” (John 3:5).

One of the most clear statements found in scripture declaring the Holy Spirit being God is found in Acts 5.  Ananias lied about the price of a piece of property, Peter said that Satan had filled Ananias’s heart to “lie to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3) and summed it up by saying that Ananias had “lied to God” (Acts 5:4). Peter’s words equate the Holy Spirit with God; he spoke as if the Spirit and God were one and the same.

Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was different from Himself. The Father would send the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who would abide with us forever and guide us into all truth, showing us things to come (John 14:16, 16:13).  The Spirit of truth came after Christ departed. The Spirit teaches us all things and bring to remembrance the words of Christ, convicts us of sin, and testifies of Christ (John 14:25–26; 15:26–27; 16:7–15). All three Persons Jesus mentions are God while being distinct from each other within the Godhead.

The Holy Spirit promotes and mediates the presence and Lordship of Jesus Christ through His presence in our lives. It is this indwelling gift and power from above that gives the heaven-bound traveler victory over sin. Heaven cannot be obtained without the victory, and the victory cannot be had without the Spirit. Thus, we see the indispensability of the Spirit in God's plan for saving the lost. See: John 16:13-17, Hebrews 13:21, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:13.

Finally, the Bible describes the Holy Spirit as a person, not a mere force. He can be grieved, searches all things indeed the deep things of God, has a will, and has fellowship with believers (Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12:4-7; 2 Cor. 13:14).  It is clear that the Spirit is a person, just as the Father and the Son are persons.

Indeed, the Bible is unequivocal that the Holy Spirit is, in fact, God, just as Jesus Christ and the Father are God.  For further study see videos located at: About→What We Believe→Revisiting the Godhead" by Pastor Stephen Bohr.

Cross of Calvary—Jesus paid for man’s sin through His death on the cross (Romans 6:23). Jesus’ resurrection is proof that God won’t let death win.  Death is the thing that destroys every human life.  It is the one thing over which we are completely helpless, but the Good News is that Jesus has overcome for us.  Jesus is our way to heaven.  Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can be looked upon as perfect if we accept His atoning sacrifice in our behalf.  We must acknowledge our wrong doing AND accept His mercy.  When we open this door to our heart He enters and we become changed.  Accepting His gift of grace, we are then covered by His righteousness and as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16, 8:1-2, 31-34) he presents us as blameless before the Father mediating on our behalf (Col. 1:22, Jude 1:24-25, 1 Thess. 3:13).  We no longer come under condemnation of the second death (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8).  As a response to this gift of salvation we obey all of His laws (John 14:15); loving Him with all our might and loving others as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27).  For further study see: Truth Matters→Truth About Salvation→Salvation-Video Presentations.

Creation—The unerring veracity of the Bible proclaims God's truths. It is the Word of God from cover to cover. This includes the literal interpretation of Genesis 1—that God created the heavens and the earth in 6 literal days, ending His work on the 7th day and blessed and sanctified it for us.  This is the Sabbath that God made for man (Mark 2:27, Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11).  The signs of His creative work exist in the natural world even today.  For further study: Genesis, Dinos & More... .

Commandments—We are not saved by our works (Ephesians 2:9). Because we are saved, we choose to keep God’s commandments out of our love for Jesus and thankfulness for what He has done for us (See: John 14:15, cross references).  His commandments are the guide for successful living.  The Law of God existed from the beginning.  His Holy Law was violated in the Garden of Eden bringing sin into the human family.  For further study see: Truth Matters→Truth About God's Law→God's Perfect Law-Video Presentations.

Commission, The Great—The great commission of Matthew 28:19-20 directs us into evangelism which is the process of incorporating people into the kingdom of God; discipleship which is helping others bring their lives under the rulership of God, and living our lives in such a way that it points people to see Christ.  See: Matthew 4:19, John 17:18, Acts 1:8.

Coming Again—We believe that Jesus is coming again, fully visible to all, in the clouds of heaven. As the Bible says, we will meet him in the air (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and return with Him to heaven for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6).  Then Christ along with all the saints will return to earth where the wicked will be raised to destruction and the heaven and earth made anew for our eternal dwelling with our Lord and Savior.  For further study see: The Second Coming of Christ.

Condemnation falls on all of humanity, as we all die when our time on this earth ends and we remain in the grave.  However, Christ bore the condemnation for all of humanity on the cross (John 3:16-17), so there are two possible outcomes depending upon the choice one makes.

Those that open the door and invite Him in (Revelation 20:20, Luke 12:36), allowing themselves to be transformed, are part of the first resurrection.  Those that died in Christ are resurrected from the grave (John 5:28-29, 1 Thess. 4:16), and those that are living are changed in the twinkling of the eye (1 Cor. 15:52).  All receive the crown of life eternal, this is their judgment and reward (James 1:12).  They return with Christ to heaven for 1,000 years and receive gifts (eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God, eat of the hidden manna, receive a white stone engraved with a new name, white robe, etc.), and we will be given the opportunity to review the judgment of God of the unrighteous, for the accused have the right to a trial by their peers (Revelation 20).

The unrighteous who are alive when Christ returns die because they cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God in their unsaved condition (John 8:21,24).  The unrighteous who are in the grave when Christ returns remain in the grave.  After the millennium, Christ returns with the saints and the New Jerusalem (city of God) at this time all of the unrighteous are raised and summoned to appear in court, so to speak, to face their record and receive the verdict at which time the penalty is executed.  In the bible this is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  The penalty is the second death which is eternal condemnation.  Those that befall this judgment are consumed with fire and are no more, this is the lake of fire experience.   Christ's sacrifice at Calvary does not cover them because his sacrifice and mercy was rejected, therefore He did not impute and impart His righteousness to them.  The fire that comes down and consumes them sets the earth ablaze and this is the lake of fire.  This fire also consumes the devil (dragon), his angels (demons), the beast and false prophet of Revelation, sin, death, and the grave (Revelation 19:20, 20:9-10, 13-15, 21:8; Matthew 25:41).  This fire will burn the unrepentant up and they perish (John 3:16-17), being an eternal destruction.

Defining Forever (R. L. Odom)

"For ever and ever" does not necessarily mean eternal.  There are many instances in the Bible where it says "forever" but it is not eternal such as: an indentured servant-forever referred to as long as they were alive, Naaman's leprosy cleaved to Gehazi forever meaning until he died, David declared to be king over Israel forever-reigned 40 years until he died, Aaron and his sons were to sanctify the holy things forever-this lasted until their death and at Christ's death the  sanctuary services were no longer necessary, Jonah describe his experience in the belly of the fish as forever but it was for three days.  Having carefully considered these passages, we conclude that the term “for ever” as used in the Holy Scriptures denotes continuity (without a break) of action, being, or state of being. It may mean either a long or a short period of time, either definite or indefinite. The length of time involved depends on the nature of the person or thing to which the word is applied. When we read of God that “His mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 106:1, 107:1), it means that as long as God shall exist, His mercy will exist. Because He is eternal in His nature, His attributes are eternal also.

But when the word “for ever” is applied to things of this world, it can mean only as long as they endure. Because the righteous will be given eternal life, an immortal nature, many things spoken of their future existence as lasting “for ever” mean for eternity, for the expression “for ever” means as long as a thing shall exist. Many Bible scholars have given the original Hebrew and Greek words translated as “for ever” their more precise meaning, which is “age-lasting.”

Revelation 20:10 does not say, “And shall be tormented for eternity, for ever and ever.” If the word “eternity” had been used in the text, there could be no question about the length of time denoted. But the passage really says, “And shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Thus it is a matter of days and nights, and not eternity. The suffering of some sinners in the lake of fire undoubtedly will last over a period of many days and nights. Every man will be rewarded “according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12; 20:12, 13; Romans 2:6; Matthew 16:27). Therefore, some will suffer longer than others, for some have been more wicked than others. Prior to his dying the second death (Rev. 21:8) in the lake of fire, each sinner will suffer the torment proportionate to his guilt. This being so, the devil certainly will suffer long after all other sinners shall have expired in the flames, because he is the author and instigator of all evil.

Defining Everlasting Punishment (R. L. Odom)

Jesus said of sinners in the judgment, that “these shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46).  Some have interpreted this to mean eternal torment. But this passage does not speak of everlasting punishing; it speaks of “everlasting punishment.” “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:3), says Paul. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4, 20), says Ezekiel. That means that the sinner will suffer everlasting death, from which there will be no recovery whatever. No resurrection from the second death is promised to any one.

Paul makes clear what is meant by everlasting punishment when he says that “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 1:7-9).  The everlasting punishment to be meted out to the ungodly will be eternal destruction.

Some have inquired about the “everlasting fire” spoken of in Matthew 25:41. This means a fire that will constantly burn until it shall consume everything upon which it feeds, and none shall be able to hinder its destructive work until it is finished. Sodom and Gomorrah, the wicked Canaanite cities that were destroyed nearly 1,900 years before Christ, “are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).  And Peter declares that God turning “the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6).

The annihilation of those cities is an example of the fate-eternal destruction by fire-that awaits those who shall be turned to ashes in the lake of fire.

The Plain word does not hold to an eternal burning hell.  Those who reject Christ will simply be consumed by the same fire that burns the heavens and the earth in preparation for the new heaven and new earth spoken of in scripture.  For further study see: Truth Matters→Truth About Death→State of the Dead-Video Presentations  AND  Truth Matters→Truth About Hell→HELL-Video Presentations.

Centuries Unending the redeemed will live eternally with Christ.  Life eternal, our reward, will begin with the first resurrection.  During the 1,000 years in heaven we receive gifts spoken of in scripture (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 19-21).  We are able to bow and worship God in person, and meet the other created beings that reside in heaven.  We return to this earth and we will get to watch Christ create a new heaven and earth; and the New Jerusalem (City of God) will be placed on it.  Christ will reside with us and we will live with him throughout the endless ages.

Counsel - We believe the Bible is the inspired and authoritative guidebook (2 Timothy 3:16) through which all may find salvation and restoration; and we recommend it to be read slowly, prayerfully, and frequently.  The Plain Word uses the King James Version of the Bible (unless otherwise stated).  This version is used because it is based upon the Received Text, which was mainly established on a basis of manuscripts (approximately 1,900) of the Byzantine text-type (also called ‘Majority text”).  These numerous manuscripts were representative of the then known languages and there is agreement between these manuscripts.

Communion - We celebrate communion because Jesus Christ instituted it on the night he was betrayed.  On the evening before his crucifixion, Jesus took bread and he broke it and he said ‘take this and eat this is my body which is broken for you and in the same way he took the cup and he said this is the blood of the Covenant that is spilt for you’ (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:15-20).  It was a new Passover observance, that we refer as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. This week fell during the time of the Jewish holidays, the Passover feast and the week of Unleavened Bread (Matthew 26:17).   For further study see: Truth Matters→Truth About Communion→Communion-Video Presentations.

Cleansed - We believe that baptism was instituted for those of an age of understanding and by immersion.  Baptism is a crucial part of the Christian life. Not only was Jesus baptized as an example to us, but He also strongly admonished His people to be baptized and to baptize others.  In one of Jesus' last conversations before He ascended into heaven, He told his friends to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey” (Matthew 28:19-20).  For further study see: Truth Matters→Truth About Baptism→Baptism-Video Presentations.

Clean Food.  Genesis 1:29-30 and 2:16-17 tells us the original diet God gave mankind was every herb bearing seed, every tree which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed.   Basically, this was a diet of fruits, grains, and nuts which included legumes.  The diet for animals was the herb of the field, which is the King James’ way of saying “vegetables”.  We are told in Genesis 3 that after sin God said that man was also to eat the herb of the field.  See: Genesis 1:29-30: Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:17-19, 22-24.

So, the original diet for man before sin was fruits, grains, and nuts. After sin, it was not only the fruit of the plant, but the plant itself, which would be the roots, the leaves, the stalk – that would be vegetables. The original diet was a vegan diet.

After the flood, God permitted the eating of clean animals for meat (Genesis 9:3).  The idea of clean animals was not a new concept, for prior to the flood clean animals were sacrificed to God (Genesis 4:4).  Also, there were specific instructions to Noah about how many pairs of clean animals were to board the ark (Genesis 7:2-3).  After Noah and his family departed from the ark, clean animals were sacrificed (Genesis 8:20).  One can certainly say, therefore, that such a distinction goes back long before the more specific covenantal stipulations with Israel were made at Sinai. This distinction was made at a time when all of the ancestors of the human race, the eight members of Noah's family, were still together in a group with those animals in the Ark.

The Bible contains some clear proscription regarding the eating of animals.  A list of clean and unclean meats is provided in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.   There are those who say that this distinction was abrogated in the New Testament and they sight Mark 7, Acts 10 and 15, Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 10, and 1 Timothy 4.   Former Associate Director, William Shea, of the Bible Research Institute completed an excellent paper on clean and unclean meats.  This paper addresses the New Testament texts listed.  Click the following link to access this paper: https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/CleanandUnclean-Meats_0.pdf.

Mankind also began to use the products of clean animals such as milk, eggs, and butter.  God commanded man not to eat the fat or blood of clean animals, so it was prepared in specific ways to ensure the fat was removed and the blood drained (soaked and rinsed more specifically). Bottom line, for optimal health the fewer animal products, even clean animals, in your diet - the less chance you’ll probably have of disease.  Mankind can get all the nutrition they need from a plant based diet.

“Meat” in the Bible

The term “meat” has several connotations in the Bible. Without traveling a circuitous linguistic route concerning its etymology, “meat” means “food,” or that which man and animals eat for health, strength, and taste (Gen. 2:8; 3:5; 27:5; Deut. 2:6; Matt. 9:10; Acts 27:33; Rom. 14:17; 1 Tim. 4:3). Meat also refers to herbal food such as green plants (Gen. 1:29, 30; 2:4; 9:3). The food of which the Bible speaks is or was a living thing (Gen. 9:3). Fruits and their tree host are included in this botanical family (Gen. 1:29; 2:4; Eze. 47:12). The honey that comes from the nectar of plants is also made to eat for food, according to the Bible (Matt. 3:4). Some other forms of food that the Bible calls meats are “grains” and their flour derivatives (i.e., corn, wheat, barley; Mal. 3:10; Num. 28:13).  Dr. Mark A. McCleary, October 20, 2015.