L280
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
PASADENA CALIFORNIA 91123

JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

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
- 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?

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

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