How to Teach Basic Adventist Doctrine

Gerson P. Santos

I. Introduction to the Bible

1. Revelation• “revelo” – to remove the

veil, to manifest, to discover…

• Definition: the auto-manifestation of God to the human being, without that we will never come to know Him.

I. Introduction to the Bible

1. Revelation• GeneralNature

ConscienceHistory

• SpecialScriptures – John 5:39Jesus – Hebrews 1:1-3Miracles – John 5:36Others – Daniel 2:27-28

I. Introduction to the Bible

- “Theopneustos” – breath of God, divine air in movement

2. Inspiration

- II Timothy 3:16

- II Peter 1:19-21

I. Introduction to the Bible

- Theories of Inspiration:

2. Inspiration

- Natural

- Partial

- Verbal

- Dynamic – SDA position

I. Introduction to the Bible

3. Bible Original

Languages- “biblion” – collection of

books

- Old Testament – Hebrew

- New Testament – Greek

I. Introduction to the Bible

5. Formation of Bible Text

- Ezra / Nehemiah (OT) 430 – 420 BC

- Christian Church (NT) 2nd-4th Century - Council of Hipona (393) and Cartage

(397)- Chapters - Eulalie – 5th Century

- Verses – Robert Stefano – 16th

Century

I. Introduction to the Bible

6. Books of the Bible- Old Testament (39 Books)

- Law – Pentateuch

- History / Psalms

- Prophecy

- New Testament (27

Books)

- Gospels

- Acts / Epistles

- Universal Epistles

- Revelation

I. Introduction to the Bible

6. Books of the Bible

- Approximately 44

authors- 1,500-year period

1st: Job/Genesis – Moses (circa 1,450

BC)

Last: Revelation/Gospel of John –

John (96 AD)

II. Ten Steps forBible Interpretation

1. Divine authorship through human language.

2. The Bible interprets itself.

3. Consider the general context of Scriptures.

4. Consider the immediate context.

II. Ten Steps forBible Interpretation

5. Consider the historic context.

6. Start with the literal meaning.

7. Utilize other translations.

II. Ten Steps forBible Interpretation

8. Determine the literary style.

9. Know the difference: interpretation, reinterpretation, and application.

10. Be willing to accept new things.

IV. SDA Beliefs

1872 - Synopsis of our Faith

1931 - 22 Fundamental Beliefs

1980 - 27 Fundamental Beliefs

2005 – 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of God

1. The Word of God

2. The Godhead

3. The Father

4. The Son

5. The Holy Spirit

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of Man

6. The Creation

7. The Nature of Man

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of Salvation

8. The Great Controversy

9. The Life, Death, and

Resurrection of Christ

10. The Experience of Salvation

11. Growing in Christ

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of the Church

12. The Church

13. The Remnant and Its Mission

14. Unity in the Body of Christ

15. Baptism

16. The Lord’s Supper

17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries

18. The Gift of Prophecy

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of the Christian Life

19. The Law of God

20. The Sabbath

21. Stewardship

22. Christian Behavior

23. Marriage and Family

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Doctrine of the Christian Life

24. Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

25. The Second Coming of Christ

26. Death and Resurrection

27. The Millennium and the End of Sin

28. The New Earth

V. SDA Distinctive

Doctrines 1. The Restoration of

Truth and the Remnant– Flood – Noah– Ur – Abraham– Egypt – Exodus – Moses– Roman Empire – Jesus– Dark Age – Reformers– 19th Century – Adventist Movement

V. SDA Distinctive

Doctrines “When you have a congregation before

you for only two weeks, do not defer the presentation of the Sabbath question until everything else is presented, supposing that you thus pave the way for it. Lift up the standard, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus…

V. SDA Distinctive

Doctrines Make this the important theme. Then,

by your strong arguments, make it still a greater force… The present truth is to be our burden, The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth.”

(Evangelism, 229)

2. To present the distinctive truths: Great Controversy

The Law and the Sabbath

The Sanctuary and the Judgment

Death and Hell

Creation and Eschatology

Wholeness of Man - Health

Christian Lifestyle

V. SDA Distinctive Doctrines

V. SDA Distinctive Doctrines

3. Our Mission:3. Our Mission:

Return to the WordReturn to the Word

and to present theand to present the

Three Angel’s MessageThree Angel’s Message

SDA Distinctive Doctrines “… do not defer the presentation of the

Sabbath question until everything else is presented, supposing that you thus pave the way for it. Lift up the standard, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus…

SDA Distinctive Doctrines … The present truth is to be our

burden, The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth.” (Evangelism, 229)

V. SDA Distinctive Doctrines

4. Jesus, the center of the message,the center of every doctrine.

“Let every teacher present an

open door before all who

will come to Jesus, repentingof their sins” (Evangelism, 217).