What do Seventh-Day Adventist believe.

[hobie]

Here is from Wikipedia, in which I am a editor, has on the doctrines which Seventh-day Adventists have which are the central doctrines of Protestant Christianity:

The Trinity, the incarnation, the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement, justification by faith, creation, the second coming, the resurrection of the dead, and last judgment.

In Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine (1957), four authors outlined the core doctrines that they share with Protestant Christianity.

"In Common With Conservative Christians and the Historic Protestant Creeds, We Believe—
1. That God is the Sovereign Creator, upholder, and ruler of the universe, and that He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

2. That the Godhead, the Trinity, comprises God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. That the Scriptures are the inspired revelation of God to men; and that the Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice.

4. That Jesus Christ is very God, and that He has existed with the Father from all eternity.

5. That the Holy Spirit is a personal being, sharing the attributes of deity with the Father and the Son.

6. That Christ, the Word of God, became incarnate through the miraculous conception and the virgin birth; and that He lived an absolutely sinless life here on earth.

7. That the vicarious, atoning death of Jesus Christ, once for all, is all-sufficient for the redemption of a lost race.

8. That Jesus Christ arose literally and bodily from the grave.

9. That He ascended literally and bodily into heaven.

10. That He now serves as our advocate in priestly ministry and mediation before the Father.

11. That He will return in a premillennial, personal, imminent second advent.

12. That man was created sinless, but by his subsequent fall entered a state of alienation and depravity.

13. That salvation through Christ is by grace alone, through faith in His blood.

14. That entrance upon the new life in Christ is by regeneration, or the new birth.

15. That man is justified by faith.

16. That man is sanctified by the indwelling Christ through the Holy Spirit.

17. That man will be glorified at the resurrection or translation of the saints, when the Lord returns.

18. That there will be a judgment of all men.

19. That the gospel is to be preached as a witness to all the world."[38]

The theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church resembles that of Protestant Christianity, combining elements from Lutheran, Wesleyan/Arminian, and Anabaptist branches of Protestantism. Adventists believe in the infallibility of Scripture and teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The 28 fundamental beliefs constitute the church's official doctrinal position.

 

[hobie]

Now some say that Adventist tend to be legalistic, especially when it comes to Gods Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, but lets look what others have to say on it...

Baptist
“We believe the Scriptures teach that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral
government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to
fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a
Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and. of the means of grace
connected with the establishment of the visible church.” New Hampshire Confession of Faith, Article 12, quoted
in 0. C. S. WALLACE, What Baptists Believe ( 1934), p. 79.
“To prove that the Ten Commandments are binding, let any person read them, one by one, and ask his own
conscience as he reads, whether it would be any sin to break them. Is this, or any part of it, the liberty of the
gospel? Every conscience that is not seared as with a hot iron must answer these questions in the negative… The
lawgiver and the Saviour were one; and believers must be of one mind with the former as well as with the latter;
but if we depreciate the law which Christ delighted to honor, and deny our obligations to obey it, how are we of
His mind? Rather are we not of that mind which is enmity against God, which is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be?... If the law be not a rule of conduct to believers, and a perfect rule too, they are under no
rule; or, which is the same thing, are lawless. But if so, they commit no sin; for where no law is there is no
transgression; and in this case they have no sins to confess, either to God or to one another; nor do they stand in
need of Christ as an advocate with the Father, nor of daily forgiveness through His blood. Thus it is, by disowning
the law, men utterly subvert the gospel. Believers, therefore, instead of being freed from obligation to obey it, are
under greater obligation to do so than any men in the world. To he exempt from this is to be without law, and of
course without sin; in which case we might do without a Saviour, which is utterly subversive of all religion.”
Baptist Publication Society, Tract No. 64, Pages 2-6.

Methodists
“Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, nor ought
the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any common-wealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian
whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.” Constitution of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, “Articles of Religion,” Art. 6, in Methodist Episcopal Church Doctrines and
Discipline (1928), p. 7.

John Wesley
“The moral law contained in the ten commandments, and enforced by the prophets, He [Christ) did not take away.
It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is the law which never can be broken, which
'stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven.' The moral law stands on an entirely different foundation from the
ceremonial or ritual law.... Every part of the law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not
depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God and the
nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.” Wesley, John, On the Sermon on the Mount,
Discourse 6, Sermons on Several Occasions (1810), pp. 75,76.

Uriah Smith & James White
“There are plainly two kinds of laws: one class binding on man before he fell, regulating his duty to God, and to his
fellowmen; the other class, growing out of the changed condition of man after he had fallen and the plan of
salvation had been introduced. If man had never fallen, it would have been his duty just the same to render
supreme honor to God, and to deal justly with his fellowmen. But if he had never fallen, there never would have
been any laws regulating ceremonies, sacrifices, offerings, baptism, the Lord’s supper, etc. These all grow out of
man's necessities in consequence of his fall. The first may be called original or primary laws; and they are, in the
very nature of things, immutable and eternal; the others are derived, secondary or typical laws, and are temporary
and changeable.” The Biblical Institute, White, James, Smith, Uriah, 1878 reprint 2000 by TEACH Services, 352
pages, pp. 118-119.

Methodist Episcopal Catechism
“Ques. –What does God require of man?
Ans. –Obedience to His revealed will.
Ques. –What is the rule of our obedience?
Ans. –The moral law.
Ques. –Where is the moral law given?
Ans. –In the ten commandments.
Ques. –Are all Christians under obligation to keep the law?
Ans. –Yes.”
Number 2, pp. 38, 43; Number 1, p. 18.

Presbyterian
“The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not
only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator who gave it.
Neither doth Christ in the gospel in any way dissolve, but much strengthen, this obligation.” The Constitution of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Chapter 19, sec. 5, (1896), pp.88,89.
“The laws of the Jews are commonly divided into moral, ceremonial, and judicial. The moral laws are such as grow
out of the nature of things, which cannot, therefore, be changed—such as the duty of loving God and His creatures.
These cannot be abolished, as it can never be made right to hate God, or to hate our fellow men. Of this kind are
the ten commandments; and these our Saviour has neither abolished nor superseded.” Barnes, Albert, Notes,
Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels (1860 ed.), Vol. 1, p. 65.

John Calvin
“We must not imagine that the coming of Christ has freed us from the authority of the law; for it is the eternal rule
of a devout and holy life, and must, therefore, be as unchangeable as the justice of God, which it embraced, is
constant and uniform.” Calvin, John, Commentary on a Harmony of the Gospels, Volume I, p. 277.
“The law sustained no diminution of its authority, but ought always to receive from us the same veneration and
obedience.” Calvin, John, Institutes, ii. 7, sec. 15.

Congregational
“The law of God is and must of necessity be unchangeable and eternal.” Dwight, Timothy, Theology, Vol. IV, p.
120.
“Through the atonement of Christ more honor is done to the law, and consequently the law is more established,
than if the law had been literally executed, and all mankind had been condemned. Whatever tends most to the
Patient Chart
104
honor of the law, tends most to establish its authority.” Edwards, Jonathan, Works of Jonathan Edwards,
Edition of 1842, Vol. 11, p. 369. [president of Princeton University]

Dwight L. Moody
“Now men may cavil as much as they like about other parts of the Bible, but I have never met an honest man that
found fault with the ten commandments. infidels may mock the Lawgiver and reject Him who has delivered us
from the curse of the law, but they can’t help admitting that the commandments are right. Renan said that they
are for all nations, and will remain the commandments of God during all the centuries.”
“The people must he made to understand that the ten command-ments are still binding, and that there is a
penalty attached to their violation." "The commandments of God given to Moses in the mount at Horeb are as
binding today as ever they have been since the time when they were proclaimed in the hearing of the people. The
Jews said the law was not given in Palestine (which belonged to Israel), but in the wilderness, because the law was
for all nations." "Jesus never condemned the law and the prophets, but He did condemn those who did not obey
Him. Because He gave new commandments, it does not follow that He abolished the old. Christ's explanation of
them made them all the more searching.” Moody, Dwight L, Weighed and Wanting, Pages 11, 16, 15.

Lutheran
“23. How many kinds of laws did God give in the Old Testament? Three kinds: 1. The ceremonial church law; 2.
The civil !aw; 3. The moral law.
“24. Which of these laws is still in force?
The moral law, which is contained in the ten commandments.
“25. Cannot this law be abolished?
No; because it is founded on God's holy and righteous nature.” Epitome of Pontoppidan's Explanation of Martin
Luther's Small Catechism (1935), pp. 6, 7.
“I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of ten commandments.... Can
anyone think that sin exists where there is no law? Whoever abrogates the law, must of necessity abrogate sin
also.” Luther, Against the Antinomians, Translated from Luther's Works (Weimar ed.), vol. 50, pp. 470,471.
“He who destroys the doctrine of the law, destroys at the same time political and social order. If you eject the law
from the church, there will no longer be any sin recognized as such in the world; for the gospel only defines and
punishes sin by reference to the law.” Michelet, M, Life of Luther v. 4, Hazlitt’s tr. (2d ed.), p. 315.

Seems as if many others tend to hold the same view on Gods Law....

 

[Particular]

Historically, 7th Day Adventists have been Tritheists.

This means they view God as being three separate person's who are three God's that rule equally.

This is opposed to other cults who teach Modalism where they say there is one God who manifests himself in three different modes, father, son and spirit.

Another cult that teaches Tritheism is the Mormons.

 

[Andrew]

Historically, 7th Day Adventists have been Tritheists.

This means they view God as being three separate person's who are three God's that rule equally.

This is opposed to other cults who teach Modalism where they say there is one God who manifests himself in three different modes, father, son and spirit.

Another cult that teaches Tritheism is the Mormons.

Do they believe in baptising themselves too?

 

[hobie]

Do they believe in baptising themselves too?

Well, what does scripture say Jesus did?

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Matthew 3:13

The true body of Christ must teach obedience to the law of God and must have faith in the transforming power of the Spirit of God. One cannot be baptized and live apart from the true body of Christ. Baptism is a symbol of the following:

1. It is a symbol of one's willingness to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Baptism commemorates Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
3. It symbolizes the death and burial of the old man of sin.
4. It represents the resurrection to “newness of life” in Christ Jesus, the washing of rebirth through justification and sanctification.
5. It is a symbol of entrance into the body of Christ, His church, the Israel of God.

A baby cannot accept at that point and understand those things, much less grasp them.....
Now what about the mode of Baptism, the Greek word 'baptizo' means 'I immerse' and 'baptisma' means 'immersion'. As with all things, Christ should be our example. When Jesus was baptized, He was baptized by immersion.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16,17

Jesus was baptized in the river. Also John baptized in the river because he needed water that was deep enough.

And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.... John 3:23

A further example of the mode of baptism given in the Scriptures is that of the baptism of the eunuch by Phillip.

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.. Acts 8:37-39

They went into the water and then came up out of the water. This baptism was then also by total immersion.

 

[hobie]

One of my friends on a forum posted the following list which comes from Steve Wohlberg's (an SDA pastor and theologian) website.
'This comes from a page entitled "We Believe..." and I think it speaks accurately of the general SDA attitude:

1. The Bible (Old and New Testaments) is fully inspired by God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)

2. God created our world in six literal, 24-hour days, and rested on the seventh day (Gen. 1; 2:1-3; Exodus 20:11).

3. Satan (a fallen angel), led Eve into sin (Gen. 3:1-6; Isaiah 14:12-14; Rev. 12:9)

4. Jesus Christ is the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14)

5. Jesus Christ has revealed to the entire human family God's loving character (John 3:16; 14:9)

6. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man (John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5)

7. Jesus was born of a virgin and died on the cross for the sins "of the whole world" (Matthew 1:23; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 John 2:2)

8. On the third day (Sunday morning), Jesus rose from the dead, as predicted in advance by the Scriptures (Luke 24; 1 Cor. 15:3,4)

9. God is not prejudiced against any race, color, or nation (Acts 17:26; Rom. 2:11; Rev. 7:9)

10. Eternal life is a free gift through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23)

11. God's love brings a sinner to repentance (Rom. 2:4)

12. God calls all to repent and believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21)

13. We must be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6,7)

14. Believers in Jesus should be baptized by immersion (Mat. 3:16,17; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:38,41)

15. We should follow God's Word above man's traditions (Mat. 4:4; Col. 2:8)

16. We should treat everyone with love and respect (Eph. 4:25, 5:1, 9)

17. We should keep ourselves "unspotted from the world" (James 1:27)

18. We are living in "the time of the end" (Daniel 12:4,10)

19. By His grace and motivated by love, God's end-time people will keep the Ten Commandments and the faith of Jesus Christ (John 14:15; Rev. 14:12)
20. Christians should endure tribulation "to the end" (Mat. 24:13; Acts 14:22)

21. The Antichrist of prophecy is "already in the world" (1 John 2:18; 4:3)

22. The major Protestant Reformers were correct about the Antichrist.

23. Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and fallen humanity (1 Timothy 2:5)

24. Jesus will not return secretly, but openly and visibly for all to see (Mat. 24:26,27,30,31)

[FONT=times new roman, times, serif]25. There will be "a resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust" (Acts 24:15; John 5:28,29)

[/FONT]26. Jesus Christ is "the seed of Abraham" (Galatians 3:16)

27. True believers in Jesus Christ - Jews and Gentiles - become part of Abraham's seed, "the Israel of God" (Gal. 3:28,29; 6:14-16)

28. Our final home is the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24; Rev. 21:1-4, 10-27)

29. All the lost will end up in "the lake of fire, which is the second death" (Revelation 20:14,15)

30. God will make a new heaven and a new earth for His people to live in, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:9-14)

31. The truth of the Bible is bigger than any church or denomination.

 

[Albion]

Here is from Wikipedia, in which I am a editor, has on the doctrines which Seventh-day Adventists have which are the central doctrines of Protestant Christianity:

The Trinity, the incarnation, the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement, justification by faith, creation, the second coming, the resurrection of the dead, and last judgment.

In Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine (1957), four authors outlined the core doctrines that they share with Protestant Christianity.

"In Common With Conservative Christians and the Historic Protestant Creeds, We Believe—
1. That God is the Sovereign Creator, upholder, and ruler of the universe, and that He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

2. That the Godhead, the Trinity, comprises God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. That the Scriptures are the inspired revelation of God to men; and that the Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice.

4. That Jesus Christ is very God, and that He has existed with the Father from all eternity.

5. That the Holy Spirit is a personal being, sharing the attributes of deity with the Father and the Son.

6. That Christ, the Word of God, became incarnate through the miraculous conception and the virgin birth; and that He lived an absolutely sinless life here on earth.

7. That the vicarious, atoning death of Jesus Christ, once for all, is all-sufficient for the redemption of a lost race.

8. That Jesus Christ arose literally and bodily from the grave.

9. That He ascended literally and bodily into heaven.

10. That He now serves as our advocate in priestly ministry and mediation before the Father.

11. That He will return in a premillennial, personal, imminent second advent.

12. That man was created sinless, but by his subsequent fall entered a state of alienation and depravity.

13. That salvation through Christ is by grace alone, through faith in His blood.

14. That entrance upon the new life in Christ is by regeneration, or the new birth.

15. That man is justified by faith.

16. That man is sanctified by the indwelling Christ through the Holy Spirit.

17. That man will be glorified at the resurrection or translation of the saints, when the Lord returns.

18. That there will be a judgment of all men.

19. That the gospel is to be preached as a witness to all the world."[38]

The theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church resembles that of Protestant Christianity, combining elements from Lutheran, Wesleyan/Arminian, and Anabaptist branches of Protestantism.

That's true with the exception of your Number 11, but it's a carefully pruned list that is meant to make SDA seem like just another Protestant church...which it is not.

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Regarding point '5' of the OP, can you explain what is meant by "...personal being, sharing the attributes of deity (sic)..."?

 

[hobie]

That's true with the exception of your Number 11, but it's a carefully pruned list that is meant to make SDA seem like just another Protestant church...which it is not.

So you don't believe in Christs Second Coming....?

John 14 King James Version (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

[hobie]

Regarding point '5' of the OP, can you explain what is meant by "...personal being, sharing the attributes of deity (sic)..."?

Its hard even for me to grasp fully the mystery of God, but when we get to heaven, I think we will understand the fullness of this mystery. But to answer your question, here is some of what I posted on the Holy Spirit:

Genesis 1:26
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Genesis 11:7
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in unity, one in character, one divine will for man with a willingness to give all that man might have eternal life. That is why the Bible says they speak as one when they say "us" "our". Equal yet distinct beings, but still the GodHead. Its a bit much to understand, I mean how could Christ ask to do the will of the Father when He was praying.

Luke 22:42
"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

And the Holy Spirit also has a will as we see the Spirit distributes gifts to Christians 'as He wills':

1 Corinthians 12:11
"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

I don't think we can fully understand this, maybe a theologian can give a better explanation.