This I believe

So as a Christian what is it I believe?

I borrowed these from the Church my family attends and another Church that was influential in my understanding of the Faith and being born again in Christ. For the record, none of these Churches bash Adventist, they are all non-denominational. In seven basic bullets these beliefs are—

• that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and without mistakes as originally written. It is the complete revelation of His will for salvation and the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life.

• in one God, Creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these three are co-eternal and of equal dignity and power.

• in the deity of Jesus Christ; His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit; His virgin birth; His sinless life; His substitutionary death on a cross; His bodily resurrection; His ascension to the right hand of the Father; and His personal, imminent return.

• that man was created by and for God; that by man's disobeying God, every person incurred spiritual death, which is separation from God, and physical death as a consequence; and that all people are sinners by nature and practice.

• the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and that all who believe in Him are declared righteous because of His sacrificial death and are, therefore, in the right relationship with God.

• in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers and thus enabling and empowering the life and ministry of the believer.

• in the bodily resurrection of everyone who has lived, the everlasting blessedness of those in right relationship with God, and the everlasting punishment of those who have rejected God's forgiveness in His Son.

When you ask an SDA what is it they believe, you will typically get a myriad of answers.

Ask for the document that lists exactly what someone who want's to become a member must believe.

If you press for what makes Adventistim distinct from Evangelical Christianity, you will begin to hear--three, sometimes four--distinct and unique SDA teachings.  They are referred to by different names within Adventist Circles but what I knew them as are in bold italics

• The Investigative Judgment / Heavenly Sanctuary aka Great Disappointment
• The Jewish Sabbath Observance aka Seal of God
• (S)pirit of (P)rophecy aka Ellen G White
• Soul Sleep aka State of the Dead

Regardless how these are called, these four are the doctrines where they stand out from Orthodox Christianity.

Ask an Adventist what their Official Creed is or from what do they catechize their members. You will get different answers. In my personal search for the Adventist Catechism or Creed I spoke with Elders, Conference & Union Offices, Pastors, and even the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The most common answers were--

• The 27 (Now 28) Fundamental Beliefs
• The Baptismal Vows
• There isn't one and
• The Bible is the Only Creed

According to the Seventh-Day Adventist General Conference Ministerial Division the Official SDA Creed is either version of, The Baptismal Vow(s).

Yes, EITHER VERSION. The 13 Covenant or the abridged 3 Covenant Vow. The 13 covenant Vow you find on pages 32-33 of the SDA Church Manual or the abridged 3 covenant alternative vow on page 33. The Fundamental Beliefs are also incorporated by way of specific covenants in the Vows.

See SDA Church Manual Baptismal Vows.

Have you been told you don't have to believe all of them to be Adventist, that you do not have to affirm all of them?  I was informed by the Seventh-Day Adventist General Conference Minesterial Division in the summer of 2009, no you cannot.    If there is any doubt try asking some of these former pastors on this list of names what happened to them.