About Us

1. 1889 Fundamental Principles is still an accurate and binding platform of eternal truth.

We affirm that the 1889 Fundamental Principles constitute a faithful and accurate summary of the fundamental doctrines of Holy Scripture as understood by the early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers. While recognizing that the Bible alone is our supreme rule of faith and practice, we regard these Principles as a reliable expression of present truth and a sound platform for the proclamation of the everlasting gospel. Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Jude 3.

2. Distinctive Biblical Emphases:

 In harmony with the Holy Scriptures, we uphold the following doctrinal convictions as essential features of the everlasting gospel and present truth.

A. The Nature of Sin

We believe that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and that sin is committed when the will knowingly chooses to violate the revealed law of God. Through the grace of Christ, believers are called to overcome every known sin.

 1 John 3:4–9; Romans 6:11–14; Hebrews 10:26; James 4:17.

Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 316.2

B. The Divinity and Sonship of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, begotten of the Father before all creation, possessing by inheritance the fullness of the Father’s divine nature. He is one with the Father in purpose, character, and authority, and alone is worthy of worship.

 John 1:1–3, 14; John 5:26–30; John 17:3; Hebrews 1:1–8; Colossians 1:15–19.

The Desire of Ages, p. 336.

C. Church Organization

We believe that the New Testament establishes a representative system of church government under Christ, the only Head of the Church. Authority is exercised collectively by qualified elders and officers according to the counsel of Scripture, while rejecting every form of kingly, hierarchical, or arbitrary rule over God’s heritage.

 Matthew 20:25–28; Acts 6:1–6; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:1–31; 1 Peter 5:1–3.

D. Baptism

We believe that baptism by immersion follows genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It is an outward confession of faith and entrance into the body of Christ.

Following the apostolic example, baptism is administered upon a personal confession of faith in the name of Jesus Christ in harmony with the commission of our Lord.

Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12, 16, 36–38; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; Romans 6:3–6.

3. Our Doctrinal Position Concerning the Godhead

Our Understanding of the Godhead

We acknowledge our historic connection with the Seventh-day Adventist movement and recognize that sincere believers within the wider Adventist community hold differing understandings regarding the doctrine of the Godhead.

Our position is founded upon our study of the Holy Scriptures and is consistent with the understanding widely held by the early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers.

Accordingly, we believe:

1. That the Father is the one supreme God, the Source of all things. (John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6)
2. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, possessing the fullness of the divine nature, and is one with the Father in character, purpose, and authority. (John 1:1–3, 14; John 5:26; Hebrews 1:1–8)
3. That the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and of Christ, through whom the Father and the Son are present with Their people and accomplish the work of regeneration, sanctification, and guidance. (John 14:16–23; Romans 8:9–11; Ephesians 4:30)

Because of this biblical and historic understanding, we do not adopt the Trinitarian formulation contained in the current Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. We recognize, however, that individual Seventh-day Adventists may hold a variety of personal understandings concerning the Godhead.

4. The Three Angels’ Messages

We believe that the messages of Revelation 14:6–12 constitute God’s final message of mercy to a fallen world and prepare a people to stand in the day of Christ’s appearing.

These messages call all people to worship the Creator, proclaim the everlasting gospel, announce the hour of God’s judgment, expose spiritual Babylon, and warn against the worship of the beast and his image.

 Revelation 14:6–12; Matthew 24:14.

5. The Atoning Ministry of Christ

We believe that the atoning ministry of Jesus Christ embraces both His sacrificial death upon the cross and His continuing ministry as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

Having offered Himself once for all, Christ now ministers in the Most Holy Place, where He completes the work of intercession, judgment, and final atonement in preparation for His second coming.

 Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 8:1–2; Hebrews 9:11–28; Daniel 8:14.

6. Victory Over Sin

We believe that through the indwelling power of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, every believer may obtain victory over every known sin.

Furthermore, God will have a final generation who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, reflecting the character of Christ before the close of probation.

 Revelation 14:12; Romans 8:1–4; Philippians 4:13; Jude 24.

7. The Humanity of Christ

We believe that the eternal Son of God became truly incarnate, assuming the human nature of the fallen race after four thousand years of the weakening effects of sin, yet without possessing or cherishing a sinful character. Though He took our infirmities and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, He never yielded to temptation, never committed sin, and never allowed His will to depart from perfect harmony with the will of His Father.

Christ was “tempted in all points like as we are,” not by virtue of an exemption from our human experience, but because He fully entered into it. Every victory He gained was accomplished through constant dependence upon His Father, by faith, prayer, the indwelling Spirit, and obedience to the written Word of God. He exercised no divine power for His own advantage that is not likewise available to those who believe in Him.

The sinless life of Christ demonstrates that God’s law can be perfectly obeyed through His enabling grace. His life was not only substitutionary for our salvation but also exemplary for our sanctification. As the Second Adam, He revealed what humanity, wholly surrendered to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, may become through union with Him.

Therefore, all who abide in Christ are called to walk as He walked, overcoming every known sin through His imparted righteousness. While victory is never attained by human effort alone, it is made possible through the indwelling presence and sustaining grace of Christ. Thus, the life of Jesus stands as both the assurance of our redemption and the pattern of our sanctification.

Scripture References

• Romans 8:3 — “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
• Hebrews 2:14–18 — Christ partook of the same flesh and blood as those He came to redeem and was made like His brethren in all things.
• Hebrews 4:15 — He was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.”
• 1 Peter 2:21–22 — Christ left us “an example, that ye should follow his steps,” “who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
• 1 John 2:6 — “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
• Philippians 2:5–8 — Christ humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient unto death.

8. Our Banner

We affirm that the distinguishing banner entrusted to God’s remnant people is:

“The commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Revelation 14:12

This banner embodies loyalty to God’s eternal law and complete faith in the saving merits and enabling grace of Jesus Christ.

9. The Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the literal, personal, visible, glorious, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At His appearing every eye shall see Him, the righteous dead shall be raised, the living saints shall be translated, and the redeemed shall ever be with the Lord.

 John 14:1–3; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Revelation 1:7.

Revelation 14:12 (KJV)

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

1 John 3:8 (KJV)

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”