World Federation Statement of Beliefs

The following statement is not intended to be exhaustive, but is an expression of our common belief, which is derived from our understanding of Scripture.

Polity.

Seventh Day Baptists consider liberty of thought under the guidance of Scripture and the Holy Spirit to be essential to Christian belief and practice. We, therefore, encourage the unhindered study and open discussion of Scripture. We uphold the individual's freedom of conscience in seeking to understand and obey the will of God. Therefore, we have no binding creed.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:2; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 4:3-6, Ephesians 4:15; Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 John 2:27; Galatians 6:7)

God.

We believe in God, the Supreme Being; personal, perfect, infinite, spiritual, eternal; the Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign of the universe; our Heavenly Father who manifests a holy redeeming love toward all mankind, forgiving the repentant, condemning the unrepentant; and who desires to share his love in a personal relationship with everyone.

(1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; 1 John 1:5; Genesis 1:1-2; Acts of the Apostles 17:24-25, Acts of the Apostles 17:28; Psalms 90:1-2; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 57:15; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; John 5:24; John 3:16-18; Psalms 18:30; Matthew 5:48)

Jesus Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. He is our Savior, Teacher and Guide, who gave himself on the cross as a complete and final sacrifice for sin, and draws to himself all who will come to him in love and trustful obedience. As our risen Lord, seated at the Father's right hand, he is the one mediator between us and the Father.

(John 1:14-18, 34; John 3:16; John 12:32; John 14:6; Hebrews 1:3; Romans 1:3-5; 1 John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 10:10-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:18-23;)

The Holy Spirit.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God dwelling within us; the Inspirer of Scripture, the Comforter, active in the hearts, minds and lives of mankind; who convicts of sin, gives spiritual birth to believers, instructs in righteousness, and empowers for witnessing and service.

(John 3:5-8; John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11; Romans 5:5 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Ephesians 1:13)

The Bible.

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is our final authority in matters of faith and practice

(2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 3:2; 2 Peter 3:1-2, 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Matthew 5:17-19; Psalms 119; John 20:30-31; Hebrews 1:1-2)

The Ten Commandments.

We believe that the Ten Commandments are ten divine precepts- applications of the eternal and universal principle of love; established by God, written by his finger at Mt. Sinai, magnified by Jesus Christ, and shown by Him to be the moral code for all mankind.

(Genesis 2:2Genesis 4:8-13; Genesis 31:32 , Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 31:18 Matthew 5:28 Matthew 19:16-19;Matthew 22:36-39, Deuteronomy 6:5-6, James 2:8-12, John 14:15 John 14:21)

Sin and Salvation.

We believe that sin is the transgression of the law of love--disobedience to God, and failure to live according to his will. All who refuse to repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Savior will be punished at the time of the final judgment. We also believe that salvation from sin and death is the gift of God by redeeming love, accomplished by Christ's death and resurrection, and is received only by repentance and faith in Him.

(John 1:12 1 John 1:8-10; 1 John 3:4-5; 1 John 3:16-181 John 3:36; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 5:6-8; Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9)

Eternal Life.

We believe that eternal life is available to us only through our Savior, Jesus Christ, and is granted on one's acceptance of salvation in Him. He, having paid sin's death penalty for us, and having conquered death, will gather together not only those who have died righteous but also the living righteous, and will bestow upon them immortality in glorified bodies at His return in heavenly power and glory.

(John 3:14-16John 6:40John 10:27-28John 14:1-3; John 17:1-3, Romans 5:14-17Romans 6:23Luke 24:1-6, Matthew 24:12-13,30; Matthew 25:31-34, 46; Matthew 28:1-8,1 Corinthians 15:20-221 Corinthians 15:42-441 Corinthians 15:53-54, 1 John 5:11-13, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Titus 2:13)

The Church

We believe that the church of God is all redeemed believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and joined into one body, of which Christ is the Head. We believe that the local church is a community of believers organized in covenant relationship for worship, fellowship and service, practicing and proclaiming common convictions, while growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe in the priesthood of all believers and seek to work together for more effective witness.

(Acts of the Apostles 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14, 27; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:18; Acts of the Apostles 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-22; Romans 15:5-7; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Baptism.

We believe that baptism of believers by immersion is a witness to the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and is a symbol of death to sin and new life in Christ.

(Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts of the Apostles 2:38-41; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:11; Galatians 3:26-27)

The Lord's Supper.

We believe that the Lord's supper commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ our Redeemer until he comes. It is a symbol of Christian fellowship and allegiance to our risen Lord.

(Mark 14:22-25, Matthew 26:26-29,1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

The Sabbath.

We believe that the Sabbath of the Bible, the seventh day of the week (Saturday), is sacred time, a gift of God, instituted at creation, affirmed in the Ten Commandments, and reaffirmed by Jesus and the apostles. We also believe that, in loving response to God's grace toward us, as revealed in Christ, the Sabbath should be faithfully observed as a day of rest and worship and that it is a reminder of God's presence in time--His pledge of eternal rest in the paradise of God.

(Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 5:17-19; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; Acts of the Apostles 13:14 Acts of the Apostles 13:42-44; Acts of the Apostles 16:11-13Acts of the Apostles 17:2-3Acts of the Apostles 18:4-11; Ezekiel 20:19-20; Hebrews 4:9-10; John 14:15; Isaiah 58:13-14)

Evangelism.

We believe that Jesus Christ commissions us as Christians to preach the gospel to all people throughout the whole world.

(Matthew 24:14; Acts of the Apostles 1 8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 4:1-22 Corinthians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 3:15 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 6:14-20)

Related Articles

Member Conferences
“Seventh Day Baptist unity in Christ and a vigorous witness throughout the...
Constitution of the Seventh Day Baptist World Federation
Article I. Name: The name of the organization shall be Seventh Day Baptist...