Seventh-Day Adventist Beliefs
View Table of All Denominations' BeliefsHow does one get saved?
Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you.
Who gets saved?
Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved.
Can one lose his salvation?
Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.
Who gets baptized and why?
Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.
When does one receive the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is received at baptism.
What is the trinity?
The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
What is the human nature?
Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own.
Are we guilty of Adam's original sin?
No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin.
Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws?
Yes, all Old Testament laws are binding on Christians except for animal sacrifices.
Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life?
Most believe no, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life.
Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ?
No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ.
Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died?
No, the dead cannot be baptized.
What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect?
Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.
Did Mary ever sin?
Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus.
What spiritual gifts are available today?
Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.
How many church ordinances/sacraments are there?
The church has three ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Footwashing.
To whom do Christians need to confess their sins?
Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.
How should a church be structured?
Church congregations should be governed by a local conference which its congregation elects a representative to, and conferences elect representatives to higher conferences governing them.
What day of the week should Christians worship?
Christians should worship on Saturday.
How does God's revelation come to us today?
Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice.
How many books are in the Bible?
There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.
Is the Bible inerrant?
The Bible is infallible, but not every word is without error.
How was the earth created?
Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God.
What is marriage?
Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.
Is sex permissible outside marriage?
No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.
When is divorce permissible?
Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.
May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive?
The innocent party to the adultery may remarry.
When does a fetus become human?
Humanity begins at conception.
Is contraception permissible?
Yes, contraceptives are permissible.
Are blood transfusions permissible?
Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.
Should Christians drink alcohol?
No, alcohol should be totally avoided.
Should Christians fight in wars?
Varies widely
Whom does the Holy Spirit come from?
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Where does a Christian's soul go after death?
Souls are unconscious after death until God raises them from "sleep".