Seventh-day Adventists accept the
Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs
to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as
listed here, constitute the church's understanding and expression
of the teaching of Scripture.
1. The Holy Scriptures:
The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written
Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God
who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In
this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for
salvation.
(2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5,
6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.)
2. The Trinity: There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal,
all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is
infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His
self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and
service by the whole creation.
(Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter
1:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 14:7.)
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3. The Father:
God the eternal Father is the Creator,
Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and
holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers
exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of
the Father.
(Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; 1 Cor. 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1
Tim. 1:17; Ex. 34:6, 7; John 14:9.)
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4. The Son: God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus
Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of
God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and
the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly
man, Jesus the Christ.
(John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-19; John 10:30; 14:9; Rom. 6:23; 2
Cor. 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; 1
Cor. 15:3, 4; Heb. 8:1, 2; John 14:1-3.)
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5. The Holy Spirit: God the eternal 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. He draws and convicts human beings;
and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of
God.
(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.)
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6. Creation: God is Creator of all things, and has
revealed in Scripture the authentic account of His creative
activity. In six days the Lord made "the heaven and the earth"
and all living things upon the earth, and rested on the seventh
day of that first week. Thus He established the Sabbath as a
perpetual memorial of His completed creative work.
(Gen. 1; 2; Ex. 20:8-11; Ps. 19:1-6; 33:6, 9; 104; Heb.
11:3.)
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7. The Nature of Man: Man and woman were made in the
image of God with individuality, the power and freedom to think
and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible
unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent upon God for life and
breath and all else.
(Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; Ps. 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Gen. 3; Ps.
51:5; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Ps. 51:10; 1 John 4:7, 8,
11, 20; Gen. 2:15.)
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8. The Great Controversy: All humanity is now involved in
a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the
character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the
universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created
being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became
Satan, God's adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the
angels.
(Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom.
1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9;
Heb. 1:14.)
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9. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ: In
Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering,
death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of
atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this
atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may
better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator.(John 3:16; Isa. 53; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:3,
4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4;
1 John 2:2; 4:10; Col. 2:15; Phil. 2:6-11.)
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10. The Experience of Salvation: In infinite love and
mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so
that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God. Led by
the Holy Spirit we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness,
repent of our transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as
Lord and Christ, as Substitute and Example.
(2 Cor. 5:17-21; John 3:16; Gal. 1:4; 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7;
John 16:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Rom. 10:17; Luke
17:5; Mark 9:23, 24; Eph. 2:5-10; Rom. 3:21-26; Col. 1:13, 14;
Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 12:2;
Heb. 8:7-12; Eze. 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rom. 8:1-4; 5:6-10.)
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11. The Church: The church is the community of believers
who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with
the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from
the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for
instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord's
Supper, for service to all mankind, and for the worldwide
proclamation of the gospel.
(Gen. 12:3; Acts 7:38; Eph. 4:11-15; 3:8-11; Matt. 28:19, 20;
16:13-20; 18:18; Eph. 2:19-22; 1:22, 23; 5:23-27; Col. 1:17,
18.)
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12. The Remnant and Its Mission: The universal church is
composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last
days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called
out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This
remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims
salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second
advent.
(Rev. 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1
Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Rev. 21:1-14.)
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13. Unity in the Body of Christ: The church is one body
with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of
race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences
between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not
be divisive among us.
(Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1; 2
Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph.
4:14-16; 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.)
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14. Baptism: By baptism we confess our faith in the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to
sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we
acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and
are received as members by His church.
(Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matt.
28:19, 20.)
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15. The Lord's Supper: The
Lord's Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and
blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and
Saviour. In this experience of communion Christ is present to
meet and strengthen His people. As we partake, we joyfully
proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again.
(1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30; Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20; John
6:48-63; 13:1-17.)
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16. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries: God bestows upon all
members of His church in every age spiritual gifts which each
member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of
the church and of humanity. Given by the agency of the Holy
Spirit, who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts
provide all abilities and ministries needed by the church to
fulfill its divinely ordained functions.
(Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:9-11, 27, 28; Eph. 4:8, 11-16; Acts
6:1-7; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10, 11.)
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17. The Gift of Prophecy: One of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the
remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G.
White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing
and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church
comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.
(Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
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18. The Law of God: The great principles of God's law are
embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of
Christ. They express God's love, will, and purposes concerning
human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people
in every age. These precepts are the basis of God's covenant
with His people and the standard in God's judgment.
(Ex. 20:1-17; Ps. 40:7, 8; Matt. 22:36-40; Deut. 28:1-14; Matt.
5:17-20; Heb. 8:8-10; John 15:7-10; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3;
Rom. 8:3, 4; Ps. 19:7-14.)
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19. The Sabbath: The beneficent Creator, after the six
days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the
Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth
commandment of God's unchangeable law requires the observance of
this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and
ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the
Lord of the Sabbath.
(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.)
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20. Stewardship: We are God's stewards, entrusted by Him
with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and the
blessings of the earth and its resources. We are responsible to
Him for their proper use. We acknowledge God's ownership by
faithful service to Him and our fellow men, and by returning
tithes and giving offerings for the proclamation of His gospel
and the support and growth of His church.
(Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chron. 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Mal. 3:8-12;
1 Cor. 9:9-14; Matt. 23:23; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; Rom. 15:26, 27.)
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21. Christian Behavior: We are called to be a godly
people who think, feel, and act in harmony with the principles
of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our
Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will
produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives.
(Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 John 2:6; Eph. 5:1-21; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor.
10:5; 6:14-7:1; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Lev.
11:1-47; 3 John 2.)
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22. Marriage and the Family: Marriage was divinely
established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union
between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For the
Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the
spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who
share a common faith.
(Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph.
5:21-33; Matt. 5:31, 32; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor.
7:10, 11; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4; Deut. 6:5-9; Prov. 22:6; Mal.
4:5, 6.)
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23. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary: There is
a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up
and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making
available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice
offered once for all on the cross.
(Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17; Dan.
7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev.
14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)
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24. The Second Coming of Christ: The second coming of
Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand 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.
(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.)
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25. Death and Resurrection: The wages of sin is death.
But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His
redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all
people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected
righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught
up to meet their Lord.
(Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 146:3, 4; John
11:11-14; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John
5:28, 29; Rev. 20:1-10.)
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26. The Millennium and the End of Sin: The millennium is
the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven
between the first and second resurrections. During this time the
wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate,
without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his
angels.
The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever.
(Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1;
Eze. 28:18, 19.)
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27. The New Earth: On the new earth, in which
righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the
redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love,
joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will
dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed
away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no
more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God
is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen.
(2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-7;
22:1-5; 11:15.)
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