Statement of Beliefs

Church of God Most High

1. God is the Supreme being of the Universe.

God the Father existed before time began.

(Titus 1:2 NIV) a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.

There was no other God before the Father.

(Isa 43:10 NASB) "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.

God is the Father and Creator of all that exists.

(Gen 14:22 NASB) And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.

(Rev 4:10-11 NASB) the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, {11} "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created."

God the Father is God Most High.

(Gen 14:18 NASB) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

(Num 24:16 NASB) The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High.

(Deu 32:8 NASB) "When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance.

(Mark 5:7 NASB) and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

God is one.

(1 Cor 8:4 NASB) Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.

(1 Cor 8:6 NASB) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

(Mark 12:28-30 NASB) And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" {29} Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; {30} AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'

See also: Ephesians 4:6, James 2:19, 1 Tim 2:5

There is no being as great as the Father.

(John 14:28 NASB) "You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.

(John 10:29 NASB) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

The Father is our God and the God of Jesus Christ.

(John 20:17 NASB) Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"

The Father is immortal and invisible.

(1 Tim 1:17 NASB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Father is the only one who is the source of immortality. He dwells in unapproachable light and no one has ever seen Him.

(1 Tim 6:16 NASB) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see.

(John 5:37 NASB) "And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

(1 John 4:12 MKJV) No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

The Father is the source of all life, as He has life within himself. He gives that life to whomever He pleases.

(John 5:26 NASB) "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.

(1 Tim 6:13 NASB) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

The Father is the only true God.

(John 17:3 NASB) "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.

God looks like man.

(James 3:9 NASB) With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

Before the birth of Jesus, Mary proclaimed that God was her Savior.

(Luke 1:47 NASB) And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

God the Father is our Savior.

(Jude 1:25 NASB) to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

It was God the Father who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

(Gal 1:1 NASB) Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead).

2. Jesus Christ is the Son of God

Jesus (Hebrew, Yeshua) is the Son of God.

(Mark 5:7 NASB) and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

(Luke 22:70 NASB) And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "Yes, I am."

Jesus is the only begotten God, begotten by the Father.

(John 1:18 NASB) No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Jesus was given eternal life by the Father.

(John 5:26 NASB) "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Jesus existed before anything else was created.

(Col 1:17 NLT) He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.

Jesus existed at the creation of the heavens and the earth.

(John 1:1-2 NASB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was in the beginning with God.

(Heb 1:10 NASB) And, "THOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING DIDST LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF THY HANDS;

Jesus, as the agent of the Father, created all things.

(1 Cor 8:6 NASB) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

(Col 1:16 NASB) For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him.

Jesus is the Christ or Messiah.

(Mat 16:16 NASB) And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

(John 1:41 NASB) He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ).

Jesus behaves like the Father.

(John 14:7-9 NASB) "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." {8} Philip said^ to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." {9} Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?

Jesus has never been equal with the Father but, as an obedient servant (slave) of the Father, he volunteered to do the will of the Father.

(Phil 2:5-8 NASB) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, {6} who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7} but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus is also our Savior and was sent from God.

(John 8:42 NASB) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

(Titus 1:4 NASB) to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

(John 5:36 NASB) "But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Jesus is our Redeemer.

(Titus 2:14 NASB) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us (Greek: to release by paying a ransom) from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Jesus is the only one by whom we may be saved from the eternal death penalty earned by our sins.

(Acts 4:12 NASB) "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

Jesus will be given the throne of his father, David, and there will be no end to the rule of his government.

(Luke 1:31-33 NASB) "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. {32} "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; {33} and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end."

Jesus was resurrected from the dead.

(Rom 1:3-4 NASB) concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, {4} who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is the head of the Church of God.

(Col 1:18 NLT) Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything.

Christ's sheep in the Church know the voice of the Shepherd and will be given with eternal life.

(John 10:27-29 NASB) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; {28} and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. {29} "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

Christ will return to earth to rule the world with the saints.

(Rev 11:15 NASB) And the seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

(1 Th 3:13 NASB) so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

(Rev 2:26-27 NASB) 'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; {27} AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father.

3. The Holy Spirit of God

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth that Christ promised to send to His disciples as a helper.

(John 15:26 LITV) And when the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, that One will witness concerning Me.

The Holy Spirit was given to the New Testament Church on the Day of Pentecost.

(Acts 2:1-4 NASB) And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. {2} And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. {3} And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

The Holy Spirit is not a person but is the power of God.

(Luke 24:49 NASB) "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

(2 Tim 1:7 NASB) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

(Eph 1:17 NASB) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

The Holy Spirit is housed in the bodies of believers.

(1 Cor 3:16-17 NASB) Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? {17} If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

The Holy Spirit enables the believer to know the thoughts of God.

(1 Cor 2:11 Murdock) For what man is there, who knoweth that which is in a man, except it be the spirit of the man, which is in him? So also, that which is in God, no one knoweth, except the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the believer's inheritance of eternal life.

(Eph 1:11-14 NASB) also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, {12} to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. {13} In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, {14} who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

4. The Bible

The whole Bible is the divinely inspired word of God and is a gift from the Father. It contains the plan of salvation and reveals knowledge that man cannot discover by himelf.

(Deu 8:3 NASB) "And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

(1 Cor 2:7-11 NASB) but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; {8} the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; {9} but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." {10} For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. {11} For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

The Bible contains God's righteous instructions for mankind in God's truths and is for our profit.

(John 17:17 NASB) "Sanctify [set apart] them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

(2 Tim 3:16-17 NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17} that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

5. The Sabbath and Holy Days

The seventh-day Sabbath was instituted by God as the end of Creation Week in the book of Genesis. It was reaffirmed as the fourth of the ten commandments enumerated to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. The seventh-day Sabbath was kept and taught by Jesus Christ.

(Gen 2:2-3 NASB) And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. {3} Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

(Exo 20:8-11 NASB) "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. {11} "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

(Luke 4:16 NASB) And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

See also: Mark 2:27-28

The annual Holy Days (High Days or Sabbaths) of God were the "appointed times" specified by the creation of the moon during Creation Week in the book of Genesis. They were kept by the patriarchs as well as the children of Israel. They continued to be kept by Jesus Christ and the New Testament church he established. They are the "Feasts of God" which outline the plan of salvation for mankind.

(Lev 23:1-3 , 4-6, 15-16, 24, 27-28, 32, 34-36,41-42 NASB) The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, {2} "Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations-- My appointed times are these: {3} 'For six days work may be done; but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings... {4} 'These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. {5} 'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD'S Passover. {6} 'Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread... {15} 'You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. {16} 'You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD... {24} "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation...{27} "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. {28} "Neither shall you do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God... {32} "It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath." ... {34} "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. {35} 'On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. {36} 'For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work... {41} 'You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. {42} 'You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, {43} so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'"

(Luke 2:41-42 NASB) And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. {42} And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

(1 Cor 5:8 NASB) Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

6. The Law of God

The law of God, as revealed in his word, is a system of regulations structured for the physical and spiritual benefit of mankind.

(Deu 4:7-8 NASB) "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? {8} "Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

The laws of God can be divided into two broad categories: love toward God and love toward neighbor.

(Mat 22:36-40 NASB) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" {37} And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' {38} "This is the great and foremost commandment. {39} "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' {40} "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

(Rom 13:8-10 Murdock) And owe nothing to any one; but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbor, hath fulfilled the law. (9) For this likewise, which it saith: Thou shalt not kill; nor commit adultery; nor steal; nor covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is completed in this sentence: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (10) Love doeth no evil to one's neighbor; because love is the fulfillment of the law.

God established and confirmed his covenant with Abraham and his descendants, the children of Israel, as an eternal covenant delineated in God's ten commandments and signified by the sign of circumcision.

(Gen 17:6-11 NASB) "And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. {7} "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. {8} "And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." {9} God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. {10} "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. {11} "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.

(Gen 22:16-18 NASB) and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, {17} indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. {18} "And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

(Exo 34:28 NASB) So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

The ten commandments of God were further upheld by Jesus Christ and, later, by the apostle Paul.

(Mat 5:17-19 NASB) "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. {18} "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. {19} "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

(1 Cor 7:19 NASB) Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

At the return of Christ, the Church of God will be found to be keeping the commandments of God.

(Rev 12:17 NASB) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

7. Sin

Sin is the transgression of God's law. It is erring from the standards of righteousness established by God. Mankind's penalty for sin is eternal death but sin can be forgiven by God upon faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, and righteous living.

(Rom 6:23 NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Col 1:14 NKJV) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

(1 John 3:4 KJV) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

See also: Romans 3:23

8. Faith

Faith is more than the sure knowledge that God exists. It is not merely belief in Jesus Christ being our savior. It is the sure knowledge that Jesus successfully lived on this earth, paid the death penalty for sins in our stead, rose to heaven and was accepted by the Father as fulfillment of our debt for sinning. Faith is full trust in the Father that He will keep his promises. Faith is essential to salvation.

(Heb 11:1 NASB) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

(Heb 11:6 NASB) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

(James 2:22-24 NASB) You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; {23} and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. {24} You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.

(Rom 4:20-21 ASV) yet, [Abraham] looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, (21) and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

9. Repentance

Repentance is the next step in the process of salvation. It is not only an acknowledgement of one's sins but a deep understanding of the significance of the state of your personal guiltiness before the Father.

(Rom 3:23 NASB) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(Rom 5:17-19 NASB) For if by the transgression of the one [Adam], death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. {18} So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. {19} For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

(Acts 2:37-38 NASB) Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" {38} And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

10. Baptism

Baptism by immersion in water is the outward sign of submission to God by the believer. It pictures the burial of the old, sinful man and, ultimately, the resurrection to a life anew.

(Rom 6:1-4 NASB) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? {2} May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? {3} Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

(Mark 16:16 NASB) "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

11. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God

The gospel of the Kingdom of God is the good news message preached by Christ, by his disciples, and by his church. It is the announcement of the soon-coming return of the righteous government of God to rule the entire world in peace and how mankind may become a part of that government.

(Mat 28:18-20 LITV) And coming up Jesus talked with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me. (19) Then having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.

(Mat 24:14 NKJV) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

See also: Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 16:15, Luke 16:16, Luke 24:47)

12. The Resurrections and the Future of Mankind

In his present state, mankind has voluntarily cut himself off from God through rebellion to God's righteous standards embodied in his Laws. God will not compromise with the very standards he created. The penalty of violating the Laws of God is eternal death. Reconciliation to God, therefore, is only possible through payment of the debt owed to the Law. Since man is unable to pay the death penalty and survive, God made a way possible for the debt owed to the Law to be fulfilled without the extinction of man. That way is possible through the resurrections.

(Mat 28:1-6 NKJV) Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. {2} And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. {3} His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. {4} And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. {5} But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. {6} "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

(John 5:28-29 NKJV) "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

(Rom 8:11-13 ALT) But if the Spirit of the One having raised up Jesus from [the] dead dwells in you*, the One having raised up Christ from [the] dead will also give life to your* mortal bodies through His Spirit indwelling in you. (12) So, consequently, brothers [and sisters], we are debtors [fig., under obligation], not to the flesh to be living according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die; but if by [the] Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

(1 Th 4:13-17 NKJV) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. {15} For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. {16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

(Rev 20:4-6 NKJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. {5} But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. {6} Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

See also: 1 Cor 15:20; Rev 20:13-14.

13. Laying on of Hands and Healing

The laying on of hands is performed following baptism and is part of the prescription for the receiving of the Holy Spirit of God by the believer.

(Acts 8:14-17 NASB) Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, {15} who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

The laying on of hands is also performed for blessings and ordinations.

(Gen 48:14-16) And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands. For Manasseh was the first-born. (15) And he blessed Joseph and said, May God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who fed me all my life to this day, (16) the Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads. And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow like the fishes into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

(1 Tim 4:14 NASB) Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

(2 Tim 1:6 NASB) And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

(Mat 19:13-15 NASB) Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. {14} But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." {15} And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The laying on of hands is also performed for physical healing.

(Mat 8:2-4 MKJV) And behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if You will, You can make me clean. (3) And Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I will; be clean! And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (4) And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest. And offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

(Acts 9:17 NASB) And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him [to heal his blindness] said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

(James 5:14-15 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

14. Clean and Unclean Meats

As the Creator of all life on earth, God alone has the authority to determine what is appropriate to eat as food. As the master designer of the human body, God has left mankind specific instructions in the scriptures delineating which meats are fit and unfit for the proper functioning of our bodies.

(Lev 11:2, 9, 13 MKJV) Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, These are the animals which you shall eat among all the animals that are in the earth... These you shall eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them you shall eat... And you shall have these in abomination among the fowls. They shall not be eaten, they are an abomination

(Lev 11:44-47 MKJV) For I am Jehovah your God, and you shall sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any kind of swarming thing that swarms on the earth. (45) For I am Jehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (46) This is the law of the animals, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that swarms on the earth, (47) to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the creature that may be eaten and the creature that may not be eaten.

(Act 10:11-14 MKJV) And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel like a sheet coming down to him, being bound at the four corners and let down to the earth; (12) in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the heaven. (13) And a voice came to him, saying, Rise, Peter! Kill and eat! (14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

See also: Deut 14:2-21

15. Tithing

Tithing is an act of worship; it is a private matter between the individual and God. The church does not "enforce" or "police" tithing, but teaches the responsibility to tithe. Each individual has the responsibility to "honor the Lord with his substance and with the first fruits of all his increase." Tithing is a method by which the message of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to the world. It is an evidence of faith and an act of righteousness.

(Mal 3:8-10 NKJV) "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. {9} You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. {10} Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

(Mat 6:21 NKJV) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Mat 23:23 NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

(2 Cor 9:7 NKJV) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

16. The Covenant of Marriage

As a part of creation week, God established the marriage covenant between the man and the woman he created. While God did allow men to have multiple wives during Old Testament times, the teachings of Christ plainly show that marriage between one man and one woman is the desired ideal.

(Gen 2:23-24 ESV) Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

(2Sa 5:13 MKJV) And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. And there were still more sons and daughters born to David.

(2Sa 12:8 LITV) And I gave you the house of your master, and your master's wives into your bosom. And I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that were too little, then I would have added to you these and those things.

(Mat 19:4-8 Murdock) And he answered and said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made [them] at the beginning, made them a male and a female? (5) And he said: For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and adhere to his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. (6) Wherefore they were not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath united, let not man sunder. (7) They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put her away? (8) He said to them: Moses, on account of the hardness of your heart, permitted you to divorce your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

See also: Eph 5:22-29; 1 Pet 3:7