About the Bible:
We have no creed but the Bible. The entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is an inspired revelation of the character of God. Its 66 books were written on three different continents in a period of over 1,500 years by 40 different authors, most of whom had never met. And yet its record of fulfilled prophecy, internal consistency, and enduring ability to transform lives sets it head and shoulders above all written communication. Truly it is the Word of God. As we see God’s character revealed, we are distinctly led to Jesus to be formed into His image. (John 20:30; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:15, 16; Hebrews 4:12).
While it is not necessary that every member believe the same way in all details, there are some basic beliefs we hold to be the teaching of Holy Scripture:
About God:
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2; 1 Corinthians 13:14)
About Man:
At the conclusion of the Bible’s creation story, the first humans are made in the image of God, given dominion over the world, and charged with the responsibility to care for it. But Adam and Eve, who were created with freedom to make their own choices, disobeyed, ran away, and tried to hide from God, and, as a result of their choice, became mortal. We, their descendants, share this desire to sin and the consequences of those sins. (Romans 3:10, 11; Romans 3:23; Ezra 9:6, 7, 15; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1,2)
About The Mess We’re In:
As a result of Adam’s sin, our natural inclination is to worship created things (people, possessions, and performance) instead of the Creator God. This conflict extends beyond our individual lives as the universe is involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, and the nature of God’s government. The conflict began in heaven when Lucifer, an unfallen angel, openly rebelled against God. This world became the arena of the universal conflict, and ultimately will be the scene of the triumph of God’s grace and the vindication of God’s character with the victorious return of Jesus. (Romans 1:25; Revelation 12:7-9; Isaiah 14:12-14; Genesis 3:15; Colossians 1:19-20; Revelation 21:1-5)
About Jesus:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again. (Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13)
About Salvation:
Salvation is a free gift from God. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness and reconciliation. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. This radical message delivers us from both moralism — “I obey therefore God accepts me”– and relativism — “I obey myself” –, towards a gospel-centered life – “I am accepted by God through Jesus Christ, therefore I obey”. The gospel is not good advice but good news. Christianity is not about what we do for God but what God has done and continues to do for us. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; Luke 15:11-32)
About Baptism:
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water which symbolizes being buried to sin and raised to newness of life. (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matt. 28:19, 20.)
About The Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He brings conviction of sin, extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers us to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads us into all truth. (Gen. 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-13.)
About The Law:
The Law of God (The Ten Commandments) is an expression of the character of a God. God is love. Love towards God is defined in the first four commandments, and love towards one another in the last six commandments. God’s law is eternal, universal, and the standard of judgment. The law guides us to Jesus because without the law there is no sin, and without sin there is no need for a Savior. We are saved by grace, not the law. Yet, the result of salvation is not disregard for God’s law but a love for God demonstrated in Spirit-empowered obedience to it. (Psalm 19:7,8; 1 John 4:8; Matthew 22:37-40; Exodus 20:1-17; 1 John 3:4; Romans 2:21-23; Matthew 19:17; Galatians 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 14:15)
About The Sabbath:
As the world spins faster, we thoughtfully pause each week and enjoy the retro-practice of Sabbath time. Each Saturday (as Moses, David, Jesus, and other Bible characters did before us), we celebrate and savor this day of grace. We rest, recharge, and reflect on the stories of God and how they relate to our own. We listen to and love the people who matter most to us. We explore God’s creation with our kids. We count our blessings. We worship. The Seventh-day Sabbath was instituted at Creation, recorded in the fourth commandment, kept by Jesus and the Apostles, and is part of the final gospel proclamation before the second coming. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12; Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark 1:32. John 14:15; Rev 14:6-7)
About The Second Coming:
The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the great climax of the gospel! The Saviour’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ’s coming is imminent. Since the timing of the event is not revealed, we are therefore told to be ready at all times, serving the world and helping others to be ready (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)
Compass Communities is part of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, a protestant Christian body of 17 million believers. For more information about Adventist Christians and global mission, see www.adventist.org
