28 Fundamental Beliefs [Their Origin and Development]—Pastor Ted Wilson

We Seventh-day Adventists establish all our beliefs on the Bible alone. Our church doesn't have a set creed. Instead, we have 28 fundamental beliefs that express what we believe the Bible teaches.

In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson shares how these beliefs developed.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a movement that began the providential unfolding of the Bible prophecy to prepare people for Christ's second coming. In the mid-19th century, God used a preacher named William Miller to proclaim the first angel's message in Revelation 14.

It states, ‌‌"Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come‌‌" (verse 7). Thousands accepted this message and believed that Christ was indeed coming. However, some professed Christian churches rejected the idea. Hence, ‌‌"Babylon is fallen, is fallen‌‌" (verse 8).

When Jesus didn't come as they expected on October 22, 1844, many of them left the Advent movement. Fortunately, a small remnant remained. They determined to diligently study and understand the Scripture better. As a result, they saw that the end of the 2300-day prophecy in Daniel 8:14 didn't culminate in Christ's coming to earth. Instead, it ushered in a new phase of His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.

With continued prayer and study with open hearts and minds, these remnant believers uncovered more truths. One of which was the full meaning of the three angels' messages of Revelation 14. Another was the importance of keeping the holy Sabbath day. Others were the non-immortality of the soul, the state of the dead, and the second coming of Christ.

About 10 years after the Great Disappointment, the small remnant had grown into almost 1,000 believers. They didn't have an official name that time yet, but they had an official publication called The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald.

On the front page of the August 15, 1854 issue of this publication, these five ‌‌"Leading Doctrines Taught by the Review‌‌" were included:

‌‌"The Bible, and the Bible alone, the rule of faith and duty.‌‌"
‌‌"The law of God, as taught in the Old and New Testaments, unchangeable.‌‌"
‌‌"The personal advent of Christ and the resurrection of the just, before the millennium.‌‌"
"The earth restored to its Eden perfection and glory, the final inheritance of the saints.‌‌"
‌‌"Immortality alone through Christ, to be given to the saints at the resurrection.‌‌"

In 1863, the group officially named itself the Seventh-day Adventist. It reflects two prominent beliefs—the importance of the seventh-day Sabbath and looking forward to the Second Advent of Christ.

The church's first formal statement of beliefs was published in 1872 entitled ‌‌"A Declaration of the Fundamental Principles Taught and Practiced by the Seventh-day Adventists.‌‌" Listed here were 25 points drawn from Bible study, beginning with the statement, saying, ‌‌"We wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline aside from the Bible.‌‌" It explained that it was ‌‌"a brief statement of what is, and has been, with great unanimity, held by [Seventh-day Adventists].‌‌"

On June 4, 1874, the declaration of the Fundamental Principles was published again, this time in the first issue of The Signs of the Times. It was republished in 1875, and again in 1889.

The next statement of our beliefs came 42 years later. Some points were combined, making a total of 22. They were renamed ‌‌"Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists.‌‌" These were published in the 1931 Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook and the 1932 Church Manual.

Through the coming years, changes and minor revisions were made. By 1980, the fundamental beliefs included 27 points and were adopted at the 1980 General Conference Session in Dallas, Texas.

In 2005, the delegates to the GC session in St. Louis, Missouri voted to add ‌‌"Growing in Christ'' to the fundamental beliefs, making a total of 28. These 28 beliefs are what we have now, though the present form was the result of further revisions in 2015.

Indeed, the Lord has led the Advent movement step by step into a more complete understanding of who He is, who we are, and what His wonderful plans for us are, as revealed in the Bible.

In the next episodes, Pastor Ted will discuss the 28 fundamental beliefs one by one. Stay tuned.

[yvettebradford]

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not yo thy own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path To God be the glory

[mauricesneddon]

Rebranded, your creed is different than what the pioneers believe, further more Ted, we do not receive eternal life at Jesus return, we receive the eternal life of Jesus when we receive Him.

[StonesPartners]

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only"

[chambwasimuzingili]

Amen. May the Lord continue giving you time to speak on the written word.

[bobshoptv]

We need God’s help to be able to navigate the
relationships in our lives well! We live in a divided world, where topics such
as politics or religion can create huge rifts in our relationships. This is not
God’s best plan for our lives. Ask God to help you to put on his compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience! Pause to listen and show love, even
when you face a dividing issue with someone in your life.

[sealedsoon]

So glad this much needed topic is being covered so all can hear

[ChristopherHarle]

I thank you, Elder Ted Wilson, that you continue to offer us strong leadership and a vision of the goal of our faith, and the duty that welcomes each willing believer. In our divided world, the Church needs guidance, and you are guiding the Lord's sheep to greener pastures.

[arunachalamp]

PRAISE THE LORD.

BELOVED BROTHER TED WILSON:
LET US TRUST IN FIRM THAT GOD TAKES CHARGE, CONTROLS AND RULES.

AMEN.

[drchristopherjsernaque]

Thank you President Wilson for this timely message at the beginning of the New Year. May God bless you and your loved ones! I loved this quote: "Now, as you may know, we as Seventh-day Adventists base all of our beliefs on the Holy Word, the Bible, the Bible alone. The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not have, nor has it ever had, a set creed. Instead, we have a collection of 28 Fundamental Beliefs that express what we believe the Bible teaches.”-President Ted Wilson

[loudcryer]

GOD IS LEADING US I SAW THIS BOOK ABOUT OURbelief BEING promoted on another Programme because I love the book I have decided to come an this channel to thanks god forgot the book as I took up My
phone I came across this message about outbelief this is remarkable and amazing Thankyoulordfor giving the seventh day Adventist church this great book the 28 fundermental beliefs of the seventh day

Adventists church it is beautifully written well research easy to understand enjoy universe enjoy

[hagumakwihalaurent]

Thank you so much. It is helpful for me to know the origin and development of what we believe as Seventh-day Adventists.

[earthenvessel]

Sister White wrote: "Let not erroneous theories receive countenance from the people who ought to be standing firm on the platform of eternal truth. God calls upon us to hold firmly to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. CCh 326.7

The Fundermantal principles(1872 -1931) are based upon unquestionable authority. Do we not question the authority by revising and rewriting it?

"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established" 1SM 204.2

She wrote it in response to the Kellogg Crisis who questioned the fundermantal principles: the first point states: "That there is one God, *a personal, spiritual being*, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal; infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and *everywhere present* by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7 FP1889 147.2

"I have been instructed by the heavenly messenger that some of the reasoning in the book Living Temple is unsound, and that this reasoning would lead astray the minds of those who are not thoroughly established on the foundation principles of present truth. It introduces that which is nought but speculation in regard to the *personality of God and where His presence is* 1SM 201.3

By comparing the first fundamental principle with the fundermantal beliefe today we see a great difference.

"That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being"

"There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a
unity of three co-eternal Persons"( Fundamental beliefe today)

Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8 was written in the Kellogg Crisis: there we can see clearly what the truth is

"The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" Hebrews 1:1-5.
*God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.* 8T 268.1 - 8T 268.3

"As a personal being, God has revealed Himself in His Son. Jesus, the outshining of the Father's glory, "and the express image of His person", (Hebrews 1:3) 8T 265.1

"Again and again during my experience in the Lord's work, I have been called upon to meet these erroneous sentiments. In every case, clear, powerful light has been given that God is the eternal, self-existent One. From my girlhood I have been given plain instruction that *God is a person, and that Christ is "the express image of His person."* Hebrews 1:3. God always has been. That which concerns us is not the how or the wherefore., Ms 137, 1903, par. 3

The truth that the one God of the Bible is a person is contrary with the view of the Church today.
For God is not three persons in one person.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 "we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many, )
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

[marymuller]

To the servant of God at this time is the command addressed, “Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” So far as his opportunities extend, every one who has received the light of truth is under the same solemn and fearful responsibility as was the prophet of Israel, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying: “Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” [Ezekiel 33:7-9.]{GC88 459}
Ted Wilson you are telling lies ❣

[kingqueen]

Great Depression turn to Joy.. God is great all the time brother

[horanehandsome]

All I would like Ted Wilson to explain, is why is the cross in the Seventh Day Adventist Church logo turned up side down. Isn't that a free mason symbol? The entire sign with the three worm-like image on either side of the up sided down cross, looks like a suggestion of the number 33. Three on one side and three on the other. That is a 33 degree mason symbol. I need answers.

Why was the original tree angels sign thrown out?

[dailybread]

🔴🔴🔴
The Sabbath given to Israel was an old creation Day of Rest between Israel and God in the mosaic covenant.

We that are A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST have a different Sabbath Day which we keep Holy.
It is being Christ Himself He is The Sabbath our Day of Rest. It is everyday that we must keep holy. There were no days given to keep separate as a Sabbath unto God by Christ after He fulfilled The Law for us. There are no holy feast days to observe but we fulfill all the old shadows daily as we walk in spirit and in truth.

[warrinbang]

Elaboration increases clarification. But, for me, the first Fundamental Belief like the first verse in the Bible establishes this believer's foundation. That is, the Bible and the Bible only sanctions all the other beliefs. And the fact that "in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" gives verity and credibility to all that follows.

[mmtoss]

Every Christian MUST hold to the early church creeds. The Nicene creed, Athanasian creed, and Apostle’s creed. Also, a statement of faith is a creed.

[NothandoHoho-cdbt]

The people need a simple thus saith the Lord not a document of human origin(28 fundamental beliefs).

[kipchorngwonektiroto]

He said the SDA believes in the Bible alone The truth is that the church considers the writings of E.G. White like the Bible.