What do Adventists believe? The 28 beliefs

1. The Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures, the 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 transmitted to humankind the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of the divine will. They are the standard for character, the test of experience, the authoritative revelation of doctrine, and the reliable record of God’s actions in history.

2 Peter 1:20 and 21; 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5 and 6; Isaiah 8:20; John 10:35; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12.

2. The Trinity

There is only one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, omnipotent, omniscient, transcendent, and ever-present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through his self-revelation. He is eternally worthy of praise, worship, and service by all creation.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 14:6 and 7.

3. God the Father

God, the Eternal Father, is the Creator, the Originator, the Sustainer, and the Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in constant love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers displayed in the Son and in the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father.

Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; 1 Corinthians 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Timothy 1:17; Exodus 34:6 and 7; John 14:9.

4. God the Son

God, the Eternal Son, became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, God’s disposition was revealed, humanity’s salvation was accomplished, and the world was judged. True God forever, He also became truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being and perfectly exemplified God’s justice and love. Through His miracles, He demonstrated God’s power and was attested to as the Messiah promised by God. Jesus willingly suffered and died on the cross in our place for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary on 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 and 14; Colossians 1:15-19; John 10:30; John 14:9; Romans 5:18; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:9-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3 and 4; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 8:1 and 2; Hebrews 9:28; John 14:1-3; 1 Peter 2:21; Revelation 22:20.

5. God the Holy Spirit

God, the Holy Spirit, played an active part with the Father and the Son in Creation, Incarnation, and Redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled the life of Christ with power. He calls and convicts human beings; and those who respond to him, he renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to remain forever with his children, he bestows spiritual gifts upon the Church, empowers her to bear witness to Christ, and, in harmony with Scripture, guides her into all truth.

Genesis 1:1 and 2; Luke 1:35; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:11 and 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18 and 26; John 15:26 and 27; John 16:7-13.

6. Creation

God is the Creator of all things, and He has revealed in the Scriptures the authentic account of His creative activity. In six days the Lord made “heaven and earth” and all living things on earth, and He rested on the seventh day of that first week. In this way, He established the Sabbath as a permanent memorial of His completed creative work. The first man and woman were created in God’s image as the culmination of Creation, given dominion over the world, and entrusted with the responsibility of caring for it. When the world was finished, it was “very good,” thus proclaiming the glory of God.

Genesis 1 and 2; Exodus 20:8-11; Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 33:6 and 9; Psalm 104; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16 and 17.

7. The Nature of Man

Man and woman were formed in the image of God with individuality, with the power and freedom to think and act. Although created as free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent on God for life, breath, and everything else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence on Him and fell from their exalted position under Him. The image of God in them was marred, and they became subject to death. Their descendants share that fallen nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies toward evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself and, through His Holy Spirit, restores in repentant 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 the environment.

Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:19 and 20; Psalm 51:10; 1 John 4:7-8, 11, 20; Genesis 2:15.

8. The Great Conflict

All humanity is involved in a great conflict between Christ and Satan concerning the character of God, His Law, and His sovereignty over the universe. This conflict originated in Heaven when a created being, endowed with free will, through self-exaltation became Satan, God’s adversary, and led a portion of the angels into rebellion. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he enticed Adam and Eve to sin. Humanity’s sin distorted the image of God in humankind, creating disorder in the created world and its eventual devastation at the time of the global flood. Observed by all creation, this world became the stage for the universal conflict from which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends His Holy Spirit and loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them on the path of salvation.

Revelation 12:4-9; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18; Genesis 3; Romans 1:19-32; Romans 5:19-21; Romans 8:19-22; Genesis 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 1:14.

9. Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ

In the life of Christ, of perfect obedience to God’s will, in His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who accept this atonement by faith may have eternal life, and all creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the justice of God’s law and the grace of His character; for at the same time, it condemns our sins and makes provision for our forgiveness. Christ’s death is both substitutionary and atoning, reconciling and transforming. Christ’s resurrection proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement, it assures them of final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth.

John 3:16; Isaiah 53; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 19-21; Romans 1:4; Romans 3:25; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:3-4; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10; Colossians 2:15; Philippians 2:6-11.

10. The Experience of Salvation

In infinite love and mercy, God allowed Christ, who knew no sin, to become sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we feel 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 power of the Word and is the gift of God’s grace. Through Christ, we are justified, adopted as sons and daughters of God, and freed from the dominion of sin. Through the Spirit, we are born again and justified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God’s law of love on our hearts, and empowers us to live holy lives. Abiding in Him, we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation, now and at the Judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21; John 3:16; Galatians 1:4; Galatians 4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Galatians 3:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21-22; Romans 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23-24; Ephesians 2:5-10; Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 8:7-12; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 8:1-4; Romans 5:6-10.

11. Growing in Christ

Through his death on the cross, Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subdued demonic spirits during his earthly ministry has broken their power and secured their ultimate destiny. Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the forces of evil that still seek to control us, as we walk with him in peace, joy, and the assurance of his love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us strength. Continually committed to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are freed from the burdens of our past actions. We no longer dwell in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow in the likeness of his character, communicating with him daily in prayer, feeding on his Word, meditating on it and on his providence, singing praises, gathering together in worship, and participating in the mission of the Church. As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and testify about His Salvation, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience.

Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 77:11-12; Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:6, 14, 15; Luke 10:17-20; Ephesians 5:19-20; Ephesians 6:12-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Philippians 3:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Matthew 20:25-28; John 20:21; Galatians 5:22-25; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 4:4; Hebrews 10:25.

12. The Church

The Church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called to come out of the world and unite to worship in fellowship, for instruction in the Word, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to serve all humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel. The authority of the Church derives from Christ, who is the Word made flesh, and from the Scriptures, which are the written Word. The Church is the family of God, adopted by Him as His sons and daughters. Its members live according to 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 so that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His triumphant return, He will present her to Himself as a glorious church, faithful throughout the ages, purchased by His blood, without spot or wrinkle, but holy and blameless.

Genesis 12:3; Acts 7:38; Ephesians 4:11-15; Ephesians 3:8-11; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 16:13-20; Matthew 18:18; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23-27; Colossians 1:17-18.

13. The Remnant and its Mission

The universal Church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ; but in these last days, during a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called to keep God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the coming of the hour of Judgment, proclaims salvation through Christ, and announces the nearness of His second coming. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in repentance and reformation on Earth. Every believer is called to have a part in this worldwide witnessing.

Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:6-12; Revelation 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Jude 1:3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 21:1-14.

14. Unity in the Body of Christ

The Church is one body with many members, called from every nation, tribe, language, and people. In Christ, we are a new creation; differences of race, culture, education, and nationality, and differences between social classes, rich and poor, male and female, should not divide us. We are all equal in Christ, who through one Spirit has united us in fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served impartially and without reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, we share the same faith and hope and bear one witness to all. This unity finds its source in the unity of the triune God, who adopted us as His children.

Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Matthew 28:19-20; Psalm 133:1; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Acts 17:26-27; Galatians 3:27-29; Colossians 3:10-15; Ephesians 4:14-16; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.

15. Baptism

Through baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and testify to our death to sin and our commitment to walk in newness of life. In this way we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, become part of His people, and are accepted as members of 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 upon an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance from sin. It takes place after instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings.

Romans 6:1-6; Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 16:30-33; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19-20.

16. 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 Savior. In this experience of communion, Christ is present to strengthen His people. By partaking, we joyfully proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and confession. The Master instituted the ceremony of foot washing to represent a renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love. The Communion service, or Holy Communion, is open to all believing Christians.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; Matthew 26:17-30; Revelation 3:20; John 6:48-63; John 13:1-17.

17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries

God bestows spiritual gifts upon all members of His Church, in every age, which each member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of the Church and humanity. Given through the working of the Holy Spirit, who distributes them to each member as He wills, these gifts provide all the abilities and ministries the Church needs to fulfill its divinely ordained functions. According to Scripture, these include ministries such as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, selfless service, helping charity, and exhortation and encouragement. Some members are called by God and gifted by the Spirit for roles recognized by the Church in pastoral, evangelistic, apostolic, and teaching ministries. These are particularly necessary to equip members for service, build up the Church for spiritual maturity, and foster unity of faith and the knowledge of God. When members employ those spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, has a growth that comes from God, and is built up with faith and love.

Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:9-11, 27-28; Ephesians 4:8, 11-16; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11.

18. The Gift of Prophecy

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is a distinctive characteristic of the remnant Church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuous and authoritative source of truth and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the Church. Her writings also make it clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.

Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:14-21; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:10.

19. The Law of God

The great principles of God’s Law are contained in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes regarding human conduct and relationships, and are binding on all people in all ages. These precepts form the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the Commandments point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Savior. Salvation is entirely by grace and not by works, but the fruit of salvation is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our neighbor. Obedience of faith demonstrates Christ’s power to transform lives and thus strengthens Christian witness.

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 40:7-8; Matthew 22:36-40; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Matthew 5:17-20; Hebrews 8:8-19; John 15:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3; Romans 8:3-4; Psalm 19:7-14.

20. Saturday

The gracious Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all the world as a reminder of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchanging Law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as a day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teachings and practices of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of pleasing fellowship with God and with one another. It is also a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a demonstration of our loyalty, and a foretaste of our eternal future in the kingdom of God. The Sabbath is a perpetual sign of His everlasting covenant between Him and His people. The joyful observance of this holy time from sunset to sunset, or evening to evening, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts.

Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isaiah 56:5-6; Isaiah 58:13-14; Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:27-28; Exodus 31:13-17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Hebrews 4:1-11; Leviticus 23:32; Mark 1:32.

21. Stewardship

We are stewards of God, who has entrusted us with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and the blessings of the earth and its resources. We acknowledge God’s ownership through faithful service to Him and our fellow human beings, and by returning tithes and giving offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and for the support and growth of His church. Stewardship is a privilege God has given us to grow in love and in victory over selfishness and greed. The steward rejoices in the blessings that come to others as a result of their faithfulness.

Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:15; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Malachi 3:8-12; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Romans 15:26-27.

22. Christian Conduct

We are called to be a godly people, thinking, feeling, and acting in accordance with the principles of Heaven. To allow the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord, we engage only in those things that will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our recreation and entertainment should meet the highest standard of Christian taste and beauty. While acknowledging cultural differences, our dress should be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty lies not in outward adornment but in the incorruptible beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit. It also means that, since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we should care for them wisely. With proper exercise and rest, we should adopt the healthiest diet possible and abstain from unclean foods identified in Scripture. Since the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our health, we must abstain from them. Instead, we should participate in anything that elevates our thoughts and bodies to the discipline of Christ, who desires our complete health, joy, and well-being.

Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:6; Ephesians 5:1-21; Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Leviticus 11:1-47; 3 John 1:2.

23. Marriage and Family

Marriage was divinely established in Eden and confirmed by Jesus as a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship. For Christians, the marital commitment is to God as well as to one’s spouse and should only be entered into between couples who share the same faith. Mutual love, honor, respect, and responsibility are the building blocks of this relationship, which must reflect the love, holiness, closeness, and permanence of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that a person who divorces their spouse, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. Although some family relationships may fall short of the ideal, spouses who fully commit themselves to one another in Christ should strive for loving unity with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the care of the Church. God blesses the family and desires that its members help one another to reach full maturity. Parents should raise their children to love and obey the Lord. Through their example and words, they must teach them that Christ disciplines with love, always tender and affectionate, desiring that they become members of his body, the family of God. Strengthening family unity is one of the aims of the Gospel’s final message.

Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:21-33; Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Proverbs 22:6; Malachi 4:5-6.

24. Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

There is a sanctuary in Heaven, the true tabernacle erected by the Lord, not by man. In it, Christ intercedes for us, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He is our great High Priest, and He began His intercessory ministry at His ascension. In 1844, at the close of the 2,300-day prophetic period, He began the second and final phase of His atoning ministry. This is a work of investigative judgment, part of the final disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typological service, the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but heavenly things are cleansed by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ blood. The investigative judgment reveals to the heavenly intelligences who among the dead who sleep in Christ, and therefore in Him, are judged worthy to share in the first resurrection. It also reveals who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are prepared to be translated into His eternal kingdom. This judgment vindicates God’s justice in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained faithful to God will receive His kingdom. The culmination of Christ’s ministry will mark the end of the time of grace for humankind, before the Second Coming.

Hebrews 8:1-5; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 9:11-28; Hebrews 10:19-22; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 2:16-17; Daniel 7:9-27; Daniel 8:13-14; Daniel 9:24-27; Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6; Leviticus 16; Revelation 14:6-7; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:12.

25. The Second Coming of Christ

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the Church, the great climax of the Gospel. The Savior’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and global. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living, they will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The near-complete fulfillment of most prophecies, along with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ’s coming is imminent. The timing of that event has not been revealed, and therefore we are urged to be prepared at all times.

Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:14; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:43-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 14:14-20; Revelation 19:11-21; Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6.

26. Death and Resurrection

The wages of sin is death. But God, the only immortal one, 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 taken to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later.

Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; Psalm 146:3-4; John 11:11-14; Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:1-10.

27. 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 completely desolate, without living human inhabitants, though it will be occupied by Satan and his angels. At the end of this period, Christ with his saints and the Holy City will descend from Heaven to Earth. The wicked dead will then be resurrected and, with Satan and his angels, will besiege the city; but the fire of God will consume them and purify the Earth. The universe will be forever freed from sin and sinners.

Revelation 20; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Peter 3:7; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Revelation 21:1-5; Malachi 4:1; Ezekiel 28:18-19.

28. The New Earth

In the New Earth, where righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for eternal life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For there God will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will be gone. The great controversy will have ended, and there will be no more sin. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He will reign forever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 35; Isaiah 65:17-25; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22:1-5; Revelation 11:15.