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
• General
Nature
Conscience
History

• Special
Scriptures – John 5:39
Jesus – Hebrews 1:1-3
Miracles – John 5:36
Others – Daniel 2:27-28
I. Introduction to the Bible

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

- II Timothy 3:16

- II Peter 1:19-21
I. Introduction to the Bible

2. Inspiration
- Theories of 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 for
Bible 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 for
Bible Interpretation
5. Consider the historic
context.

6. Start with the literal

meaning.

7. Utilize other translations.

II. Ten Steps for
Bible 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)
V. SDA Distinctive Doctrines

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

3. Our Mission:
Return to the Word
and to present the
Three 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, repenting
of their sins” (Evangelism, 217).