~I Believe~

In this page, I’m going to share with y’all some of my own personal religious beliefs as a Seventh-day Adventist. All scripture is quoted from the New King James Version. This list is in no particular order…

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Before we begin, I encourage you to open your own Bible and seek the Truth for yourself. What I talk about in this page is my own convictions and understandings of what the Bible says. If you don't understand or are confused by reading this, you are more than welcome to use the contact form on the side bar to email me your questions. I do not know all the answers, but I can pray for you and maybe help you understand more about my religion. 

***All pictures in this page are taken off of Pinterest, I do not own these pictures***

Now, lets begin! 

➳The Bible➳

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God my be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:19-21

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will for man, but the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 

Romans 15:3 

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

I believe that the Holy Bible was inspired by God. The Bible is a sacred book so full of object lessons, true stories, encouragement, and guidelines. It is the ultimate love letter to us from our Heavenly Father. The Bible holds the truth, and knowing the Truth, you can be set free. The Bible is our map, our guide to navigating a life that serves God first. Bible lessons don’t just apply to those living back in Bible-time, the Bible definitely applies to us here and now. It’s in these scriptures that we can catch a glimpse of our Savior’s character. The Bible is a Holy book and tells us about a very important time in history from the very beginning.

Dig Deeper: Romans 10:17 ~ Isaiah 8:20 ~ John 5:39 ~ Amos 3:7 

~ Matthew 4:4 and 24:35

➳Creation➳

Genesis 1:1 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; man and female He created them.” 

I believe that God created the earth and the whole universe, with everything in and around it. He spoke “and it was so." The earth didn’t just evolve, nope, it was created. We were created. Nature was created. Just look around you! At the plants and animals with their so-detailed designs. These things were not made by accident. Look at the way your body is, how you function and think. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, in His image! In the very beginning, God created the first humans, Adam and Eve. God breathed life into them, and created them. Isn’t that Amazing? God’s power is truly limitless!

Dig Deeper: Psalm 139:13,14 ~ Hebrews 3:4 ~ Romans 1:20 ~ Jeremiah 32:17 

~ Psalm 121:1,2 ~ Psalm 95:6 

➳Seventh-day Sabbath➳

Genesis 1:31 

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” 

Genesis 2:1-3 

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."

Exodus 20: 8-11 (The Fourth Commandment)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor you female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD and the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

I believe in a literal six days of creation and a seventh day Sabbath. From Friday night sundown to Saturday sundown, I observe the Sabbath. We don’t go to our jobs, don’t go out to eat, don’t do any of our usual day to day business. (I don’t make it a habit to use social media on the Sabbath) On Sabbath day, we go to church, have potluck or lunch with family, then if it is a nice day we will often spend time outdoors hiking. 

Now obviously, if there is an emergency we won’t not help someone or something, just because we don’t work on the Sabbath. That’s kind of obvious. (Luke 14:5)

But the Sabbath was given to man for a day of rest. A day to stop and look around at all the ways God has blessed us. It’s a time to further our relationship with Him and strengthen our Christian walk. God made this day Holy, and He wants us to honor the Sabbath day and keep it Holy as He intended for it to be. We should be focused on Him throughout the whole week, but the Sabbath day, we are to give fully to Him.

Dig Deeper: Mark 2:23-Mark 3:5
 ~ Isaiah 58:13,14 ~ Leviticus 23:3 

➳The Trinity➳

John 1:1 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

1 John 5:7 

“For there are three that year witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 

Matthew 28:19 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Romans 5:5

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

1 John 4:13,14 

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”

I believe in the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are three as One. God created the heaven and earth, and when sin entered the world, He sent his only begotten Son to save us from our sins. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross. But that is not were it ended, three days later, He rose again! When He went up to heaven to be with His Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to be with us here on earth. The Holy Spirit inspires us, guides us, and gives us understanding. God has also given us Guardian Angels to protect us.

Dig Deeper: 1 Corinthians 8:6 ~ 1 Corinthians 2:10 

~ 2 Corinthians 13:14 ~ Luke 1:35 

➳Baptism➳

Acts 22:16 

“And now, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Romans 6:3,4

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” 

Acts 2:38

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

I believe in the baptism of immersion. Baptism is a symbol of the washing away of sins. Getting baptized is a very important decision, one that should be made by that person only after they fully understand the meaning behind getting baptized. When you get baptized, your old self is “buried” and you “rise” from the water cleansed from your sin and should walk in the newness of life. That doesn't mean that you will never make mistakes and sin again, but rather that you acknowledge that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Baptism is a public symbol of being born again. Of believing that Jesus came and made a huge sacrifice to save sinners like us, and that He has the power to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus was baptized and it says in the Bible that He is our Example. 

Dig Deeper: Matthew 3:16,17 ~ 1 Corinthians 12:13 

~ Colossians 2:12 ~ Galatians 3:27 

➳Salvation➳

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 18:2

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

John 3:16,17

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

We are sinners. Broken and wayward sinners. When Adam and Eve were first deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden, they set the stage for the following thousands of years (not millions and billions.) Sin entered the world and now we are all sinners who don’t deserve the mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, and peace so lovingly gifted from our Father in heaven. Our God showed us His vast mercy by giving us a way—a avenue—from sin, so that we can be cleansed and free from what holds us captive. He sent His Son. 

We are offered salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. We deserved the penalty of sin, death. But our unworthiness was made worthy through Jesus’ love for us. We have Hope in the Lord. Because He will save us if we believe. He is our deliverer!

Sal-va-tion 

noun

1. Preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.

Dig Deeper: 1 Peter 5:6 ~ Romans 3:23

 ~ Romans 10:9,10 ~ Hebrews 7:25 ~ Psalm 25:4,5

➳Love➳

1 John 3:16

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 

1 Corinthians 13:13

“And now abide in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 

Luke 6:27,28

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." 

I believe that God’s love for us is everlasting. God’s love is the love in 1 Corinthians. This love never fails, and because of that deep love for us, God sent His Son to die and Jesus gave His life. We cannot even begin to comprehend how great His love for us is! He loves us with a love that will cover our sins and forgive us if only we ask Him too. His Love paves a way for us sinners to go to Heaven someday. 

I believe we are called to love one another, friends and foes, by following the example that Jesus has given us. And because we love one another, I believe we should forgive one another just as Christ forgave us. 

Dig Deeper: Romans 8:38,39 (such a wonderful verse!) 

~ 1 Peter 4:8 ~ 1 John 4:7

➳Second Coming➳

Ecclesiastes 9:5 

“For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing…” 

John 5:25

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of a archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 

Revelation 7:17

“For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

I believe that Jesus is coming soon! It says in the Bible that every eye will see Him return to bring us to Heaven. I also believe that right before He comes, the earth will experience “labor pains.” We will have earthquakes and Christians will endure many hardships and persecutions because we stand up and proclaim our Faith.

I believe that when people die, they’re in a “deep sleep” until Jesus comes back to bring us to heaven. When He comes to get us, when His trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ (those who believe in God as their Lord and Savior) will rise from their graves and meet Jesus in the clouds.  What a glorious day that will be! And then, those who are still alive and living in Christ will follow. When we all get to heaven, we will finally be able to see our Heavenly Father face to face! 

I do not believe in people burning in Hell for eternity. 

God is a just God, and justice will be done. Those who choose to follow Satan will be accountable for their wrongdoings and they will not be able to experience Heaven or the new earth. In the end of time, God will not stand in the way of the consequence for those who do not obey God. The wicked who have brought their sin upon themselves will perish, but they will not burn in a Hell for eternity. 

~~~

***I received a question from a blog reader wondering why I don't believe in a everlasting hell, and thought I'd add a little more about this topic in this page: 

I should start by saying that I do believe in a “hell,” but not in the way most other people believe in hell. I do not believe that the wicked will burn in a everlasting hellfire. I do not believe that there are wicked people in hell burning for eternity right this very moment. But, I do believe there will be a judgment “in the last day". (Matthew 13:41,42 and John 12:48) The wicked will be cast into hellfire at the great judgment in the end of the world— not when they die. I don’t think God would punish a person in everlasting and eternal fire, because God is a loving God and doesn’t even like to see the wicked suffer (Ezekiel 33:11) yet at the same time, He is Just and justice will be served. The result of their punishment will be everlasting... but the hellfire will not be, if that makes sense.

So if I don’t believe that the wicked are in Hell, where are the unsaved as well as the saved who have died? 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 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to thee resurrection of condemnation.” The Bible says that both the unsaved and the saved who have died are in their graves “sleeping” until the resurrection day. I believe that when someone dies, they don’t go to heaven or hell depending on if they were righteous or wicked, but rather they are dead until the return of Jesus. Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing…” And when Jesus comes (John 14:2,3) and raises the dead, He will take those who believe and follow Him to heaven. 

The Bible is full of wisdom about the end of time. But the Bible doesn’t have the phrase “eternal torment” anywhere in it. 

Does the word “hell” in the Bible always refer to a place of burning or punishment? No. The word hell is used 54 times in the Bible (KJV) and only 12 cases refer to a “place of burning.” One thing I found that I thought was interesting is the word “hell” is translated from several different words with various meanings. Such as, in the old testament 31 times from “Sheol,” which means the grave.” In the New Testament 10 times from “Hades,” which means “the grave.” 12 times from “Gehenna,” which means the place of burning.” 1 time from “Tartarus,” which means “a place of darkness.” (And I also read that “Gehenna” is a translation of the Hebrew “Ge-Hinnom,” which means the “Valley of Hinnom.” Which was a valley that was immediately south and west of Jerusalem. It was a place where dead animals, garbage, and other refuse were dumped. The Fire burned constantly (though does not still burn today), as it does at modern sanitation dumps sites. (Theres just a little trivia for you…)

Why does the Bible say that the wicked will be destroyed with unquenchable fire? Unquenchable fire is a fire that cannot be put out, but goes out on its own when everything has been turned to ashes. Therefore, the wicked will be destroyed, but not with a fire that lasts forever and ever.

What is God’s purpose in hellfire? Gods purpose is that hell will destroy the devil, all sin, and the wicked to make the world safe for eternity. It is Gods plan to blot out sin from existence for all time.

Topics like this can’t truly be summed up in a few sentences, but I did my best to try and explain to you a little bit more about my beliefs.

I feel like a lot of people use a eternally burning hellfire as a way to scare people into believing in God. And while a fear of hell gets our attention, we are not saved by fear but by God’s grace, mercy, and love. And though we are all sinners, Jesus Christ endured the cross so that we could all have a chance to believe in Him and be saved. We all deserve death, but He has made a way for us to have life. And when we follow Jesus, it should be because we believe in Him and believe the Bible is Truth, not because we are scared into belief because we are worried of a everlasting hellfire.

Those are a few of my thoughts and beliefs.

Dig Deeper: Revelation 2:10 ~ Revelation 1:7
 ~ Revelation 21:4 ~ Revelation 21:20,21

➳Prayer➳

1 Thessalonians 5:17
"pray without ceasing,"

1 Thessalonians 5:25
"Brethren, pray for us."

James 5:15,16
"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. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, servant prayer of the righteous man avails much." 

I believe in the power of prayer! Even though God cannot be physically with us here on earth, He has made it possible for us to be able to talk to Him. God hears us when we pray no matter where we are or how long it's been. Some might think that God will only hear our prayers if we use elaborate wording. Let me just say, God doesn't care about how you word your prayers using fancy pronounced words, God cares about your heart. Talk to God like you are talking to a friend. He is your Heavenly Father, He already knows what's on your mind and what problems you face. 

I believe God answers our prayers and keeps His promises. We might not have our prayers answered right away, or in the way we want, but God does hear and answer our prayers. Sometimes it's hard to trust that He knows best, but He does. He knows the plan He has for us. And those plans are perfect. 

Dig Deeper: Romans 12:12 

~ Philippians 4:6 ~ Luke 22:46 

➳The Relationship➳ 

1 Peter 2:9

“but you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

I believe that God desires a relationship with each and every one of us. He is our Father, and He wants to know us each on a personal level. He wants to be our Friend. He wants to walk with us and carry us when the going gets tough. He want's to shoulder our burdens.

Let Him be your Loving Father. Let Him get to know you, tell Him your hopes and fears. Let Him be your Friend. Let Him lighten your load and carry your burdens. 

God is all-powerful. God is Merciful. God is Love. God is good. 

Dig Deeper: ~ Matthew 19:14 

~ John 1:12,13 ~ Deuteronomy 31:6,8

I encourage you to dig deeper! Don't rely on what I have said in this page, go out and search for yourself. Open your Bible and say a prayer each time you dig deeper, that God will show you the truth. 

I am glad to be able to share with you some of my beliefs! It is my hope that you are encouraged and uplifted by these Bible verses!