Our Beliefs
These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture
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 set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word.
See the Official Statements page for official statements of the Seventh-day Adventist church about current topics.
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. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible
revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the
test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and
the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. (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.)
1. The Holy Scriptures:
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.)
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.)
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. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the
virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human
being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of
God. By His miracles He manifested God's power and was attested
as God's promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on
the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the
dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our
behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of
His people and the restoration of all things. (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.)
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. Sent by the Father and the Son
to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to
the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in
harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (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.)
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. The first man and woman were made
in the image of God as the crowning work of Creation, given
dominion over the world, and charged with responsibility to care
for it. When the world was finished it was ``very good,''
declaring the glory of God. (Gen. 1; 2; Ex. 20:8-11; Ps. 19:1-6;
33:6, 9; 104; Heb. 11:3.)
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. When our
first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon
Him and fell from their high position under God. The image of
God in them was marred and they became subject to death. Their
descendants share this fallen nature and its consequences. They
are born with weaknesses and tendencies to evil. But God in
Christ reconciled the world to Himself and by His Spirit
restores in penitent mortals the image of their Maker. Created
for the glory of God, they are called to love Him and one
another, and to care for their environment. (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.)
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. He introduced the spirit of
rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin.
This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in
humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual
devastation at the time of the worldwide flood. Observed by the
whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal
conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be
vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ
sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect,
and sustain them in the way of salvation. (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.)
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.
This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law
and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our
sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is
substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The
resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces
of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their
final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of
Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will
bow. (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.)
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. This
faith which receives salvation comes through the divine power of
the Word and is the gift of God's grace. Through Christ we are
justified, adopted as God's sons and daughters, and delivered
from the lordship of sin. Through the Spirit we are born again
and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God's law of
love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy
life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature
and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. (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.)
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. The church derives its authority from Christ, who is the
incarnate Word, and from the Scriptures, which are the written
Word. The church is God's family; adopted by Him as children,
its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is
the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself
is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that
He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He
will present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of
all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not having spot or
wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. (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.)
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. This proclamation is
symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides
with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of
repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have
a personal part in this worldwide witness. (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.)
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. We are all
equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one
fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be
served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation
of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the same faith and
hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its
source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as
His children. (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.)
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. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the
forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit.
It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation
of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows
instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their
teachings. (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16;
2:38; Matt. 28:19, 20.)
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. Preparation for
the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and
confession. The Master ordained the service of foot washing to
signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one
another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love.
The communion service is open to all believing Christians. (1
Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30; Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20; John
6:48-63; 13:1-17.)
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. According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such
ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching,
administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing
service and charity for the help and encouragement of people.
Some members are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for
functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic,
apostolic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip
the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual
maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God.
When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards
of God's varied grace, the church is protected from the
destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth
that is from God, and is built up in faith and love. (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.)
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. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard
by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28,
29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
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. Through the agency of the
Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a
Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its
fruitage is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience
develops Christian character and results in a sense of
well-being. It is an evidence of our love for the Lord and our
concern for our fellow men. The obedience of faith demonstrates
the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore
strengthens Christian witness. (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.)
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. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God
and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a
sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a
foretaste of our eternal future in God's kingdom. The Sabbath is
God's perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His
people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to
evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God's creative
and redemptive acts. (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.)
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. Stewardship is a privilege given to us by
God for nurture in love and the victory over selfishness and
covetousness. The steward rejoices in the blessings that come to
others as a result of his faithfulness. (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.)
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. This means that our amusement and
entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian
taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our
dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose
true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the
imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also
means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy
Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with
adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful
diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in
the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the
irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our
bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to
engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the
discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and
goodness. (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.)
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. Mutual love, honor,
respect, and responsibility are the fabric of this relationship,
which is to reflect the love, sanctity, closeness, and
permanence of the relationship between Christ and His church.
Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that the person who divorces a
spouse, except for fornication, and marries another, commits
adultery. Although some family relationships may fall short of
the ideal, marriage partners who fully commit themselves to each
other in Christ may achieve loving unity through the guidance of
the Spirit and the nurture of the church. God blesses the family
and intends that its members shall assist each other toward
complete maturity. Parents are to bring up their children to
love and obey the Lord. By their example and their words they
are to teach them that Christ is a loving disciplinarian, ever
tender and caring, who wants them to become members of His body,
the family of God. Increasing family closeness is one of the
earmarks of the final gospel message. (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.)
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. He was inaugurated
as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at
the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic
period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His
atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which
is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the
cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of
Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed
with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are
purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The
investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who
among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are
deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also
makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ,
keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in
Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting
kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving
those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have
remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion
of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human
probation before the Second Advent. (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.)
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. The almost complete fulfillment of most
lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the
world, indicates that Christ's coming is imminent. The time of
that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted
to be ready at all times. (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.)
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. The second
resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take
place a thousand years later. (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.)
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. At its close Christ with His
saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The
unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and
his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will
consume them and cleanse the earth. 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.)
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.)