The 28 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists
A plain-language summary of what Seventh-day Adventists believe and why, grouped into five broad themes. Several of these beliefs link to a fuller article already on this site — if you're sharing this list with someone who's curious, How to Explain the Sabbath to a Friend Who Doesn't Understand may help with that conversation too.
The Doctrine of God
Beliefs 1–6The Bible, Old and New Testaments, is God's inspired Word and the trustworthy, authoritative guide for what Adventists believe and how they live.
God is one, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father is the Creator, Source, and Sustainer of all things, who gave His Son so the world could be saved through Him.
Jesus Christ, truly God and truly human, lived among us, died for our sins, and rose again as the only way to salvation.
The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, convicts hearts of sin, and equips believers today with spiritual gifts for ministry.
God created the universe and everything in it, including the first man and woman, in six literal days, as told in Genesis.
The Doctrine of Man
Beliefs 7–10Made in God's image, humanity was created for relationship with God, but sin has touched every part of human nature.
All of history sits inside a larger conflict between Christ and Satan over God's character — a conflict that began in heaven, long before Eden.
Christ's sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection are the foundation of the gospel and the only basis for salvation.
Salvation is God's free gift, received by grace through faith in Christ, not earned by good works.
The Doctrine of Salvation
Beliefs 11–15Through the Holy Spirit, believers grow daily into Christlike character as part of ongoing, lifelong discipleship.
The church is the family of believers who confess Christ as Lord and gather for worship, fellowship, and service.
In the last days, a remnant people is called to keep God's commandments and share the everlasting gospel with the whole world.
All believers, regardless of background, are one in Christ, called to unity without uniformity.
Baptism by immersion is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing death to the old life and new life in Christ.
The Doctrine of the Church
Beliefs 16–22Communion, including foot washing, recalls Christ's sacrifice and looks forward to His return.
The Holy Spirit gives every believer spiritual gifts to build up the church and serve others.
Adventists believe the prophetic gift, evident in the ministry of Ellen G. White, was one of the marks of the end-time remnant church.
God's law, summarized in the Ten Commandments, reflects His unchanging character and remains binding on believers today.
The seventh-day Sabbath, from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, is a weekly memorial of creation and a sign of God's sanctifying power. Curious how this compares to other Christian traditions? See Seventh-day Adventist vs. Sunday-Observing Christians.
Everything belongs to God; tithes and offerings are one way believers acknowledge His ownership and provide for His work.
Adventists are called to healthy, simple living that honors God with the whole person, including what we eat and how we care for our bodies.
Christian Living & Last Things
Beliefs 23–28Marriage between a man and a woman, established at Creation, is God's design for companionship and strengthening family life.
Since 1844, Christ has been ministering in the heavenly sanctuary, reviewing the cases of all who profess faith in Him before His return.
Jesus will return personally, visibly, and gloriously — the great hope of every believer.
The dead are unconscious, "asleep," until the resurrection, when the righteous will be raised to eternal life.
At Christ's return, the righteous reign with Him in heaven for a thousand years, after which sin and Satan are finally and permanently destroyed.
God will create a new earth, free from sin, pain, and death, where the redeemed will find rest and live with Him forever.
Common Questions
Twenty-eight, organized loosely around God, humanity, salvation, the church, and last things. The list has been revised a few times as the church's understanding deepened, most recently in 2015.
In principle, yes — Adventists hold Scripture, not any human statement, as the final authority, so wording can be revised if a clearer understanding of the Bible calls for it. In practice, revisions are rare and made carefully, through the church's General Conference session.
No — these represent what the church as a whole teaches, not a checklist required just to visit, ask questions, or explore.
This page summarizes each belief in plain language; the complete official statements are maintained by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Keep Exploring
Go deeper into any of these themes.
