JOSEPH W. TKACH
October 1988
Dear Friend:
Thank you for asking about the doctrines and beliefs of the
Worldwide Church of God. We appreciate your interest.
While we have no comprehensive printed statement of beliefs
available for distribution -- because we believe the entire Bible
is our doctrinal statement (Matt. 4:4; II Tim. 3:15-17) -- we
will here briefly mention some of the major tenets of the Church
to answer your question.
The Church of God believes in one God, the Creator, who is
Spirit, of supreme Mind, Power, and Authority; that God is a
Family consisting of more than one personage; that Jesus of
Nazareth was the Son of God and the Son of man, conceived by the
Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; that He founded and is the
living Head of the Church of God; that He brought the true Gospel
from God for mankind; that He was the promised Messiah; that He
died for the sins of the world, and that repentant and believing
sinners are justified and reconciled to God by His shed blood;
that God raised Him from the dead the third day; that He ascended
to heaven and was glorified; that He is the living Christ at the
right hand of God as our High Priest.
The Church of God believes this is not the only day of
salvation. We believe that the living Christ will soon return to
earth, this time in all the power and glory of the Creator GOD,
as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will solve the now
fast-mounting world problems, establish world peace, end poverty,
ignorance, and disease, and set His hand to save the world.
Christ commissioned His Church to proclaim the Gospel -- which is
the good news of the Kingdom of God -- "as a witness," NOT to
convert the world. Those whom God calls and converts at this time
are called "the firstfruits" of salvation.
God has allotted 7000 years (seven millennial days, II Pet.
3:8) to accomplish the spiritual creation of mankind. The
Creator's plan for humanity is typified by the seven-day week,
which was established at man's creation (Gen. 2:1-3). Man has
been given six days in which to work, followed by a day of rest
(Ex. 20:9-11). On the seventh day, man is to rest from his normal
routine of daily activities. The Sabbath begins with sunset at
the end of the sixth day (Friday) and ends with sunset on the
seventh day (Saturday) each week. God's master plan is also
pictured by seven annual Holy Days and festivals, each pointing
to a great event in God's plan for humanity. The weekly Sabbath
and the annual Holy Days and festivals are a sign of identity
between the Creator God and His people.
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired revelation from
God to man; it is the "instruction book" which the Maker designed
for the finest and most complicated mechanism ever produced (the
human being). It reveals the PURPOSE of human life and the WAY of
life God set in motion to bring peace, happiness, and abundant
well-being. We believe true Christians should, as Jesus said,
actually LIVE BY every word of this divine "instruction book" as
THE WAY to every good thing all humans desire; and that blessings
are the result of obedience to this way of life.
It is our individual responsibility to prove where God's one
true Church is today (see I Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 4:4; I
Thessalonians 5:21). Don't believe any man, but LOOK IN YOUR
BIBLE and BELIEVE WHAT YOU FIND THERE! That is the challenge
given by all true ministers of God.
For assistance in studying the Bible, please request any of
the material listed below -- or any literature offered on The
WORLD TOMORROW programs or in our publications. You may make your
request by letter or by telephone. Our toll-free number is
1-800-423-4444.
- Correspondence Course in Bible Understanding
The Personal Correspondence Department is also happy to
answer questions about the Bible and to offer guidance in the
instructions found in God's Word.
PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT
PASTOR GENERAL
- WHERE IS THE TRUE CHURCH?
- WHAT IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?
- THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY
- WHICH DAY IS THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH?
- WHY WERE YOU BORN?
- ALL ABOUT WATER BAPTISM
- THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOMORROW -- WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE
- PAGAN HOLIDAYS -- OR GOD'S HOLY DAYS -- WHICH?
- IS GOD TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD NOW?