God Vs Religion – Seventh Day Adventist
Adventist; A member of any one of a group of Protestant Christian churches that trace their origin to the United States in the mid-19th century, distinguished by their belief that Jesus Christ will return. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has become a significant global body, with congregations in more than two-hundred countries, and of more than fourteen million members.
Seventh-day Adventists, believe that the Bible is the only source of their beliefs, basing their doctrine on a movement in which the Second Coming of Christ will separate the saints from the wicked during His thousand year reign.
Adventists hold twenty-eight fundamental beliefs that they organize into six categories—the doctrines of God, man, salvation, the church, the Christian life and last day events. In each teaching, God is the architect, who in wisdom, grace and infinite love, is restoring a relationship with humanity that will last for eternity.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church began its roots during the Millerite movement, headed up by William Miller (1782–1849), during the 1830-1840’s, at the time of the Second Great Awakening, and was officially founded in 1863. Prominent figures in the early church included Hiram Edson, James Springer White, Ellen G. White, Joseph Bates, and J. N. Andrews. The church expanded from its original base in New England to become an international organization. Evangelicals Donald Barnhouse and Walter Martin, in the 20th century led to its recognition as a Christian denomination.
When And Who Founded The Church
James Springer White (1821-1881), also known as Elder White, was a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and husband of Ellen G. White. In 1849 he started the first Sabbatarian Adventist periodical entitled “The Present Truth”, and in 1855, he relocated the fledgling center of the movement to Battle Creek, Michigan, and in 1863 played a pivotal role in the formal organization of the denomination. He later played a major role in the development of the Adventist educational structure beginning in 1874 with the formation of Battle Creek College.
History of The Church
In 1831, William Miller (1782–1849), a Baptist convert, was asked to preach at a Baptist church, and began to preach about the Second coming (Advent) of Christ. He theorized, based on the information he believed he found in Chapter 8 of the Book of Daniel, that Jesus would return somewhere between March 1843 and March 1844. This started a movement known as the Millerites, as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, and member of other Protestant churches followed.
By 1844, over one hundred thousand people were anticipating what Miller had called the “Blessed Hope”, the return of Jesus Christ. When March 1844 came and gone, the date was pushed back to October 22, 1844, based on another theory based on Chapter 8 of the Book of Daniel. The when October 22 arrived, believers were up late into the night watching, waiting for Christ to return and found themselves bitterly disappointed when both sunset and midnight passed. This event later became known as the Great Disappointment. Miller quit promoting his ideas on Jesus’ return and the Millerite movement dissolved.
October 23, 1844, Hiram Edson (1806–1882), claimed to have seen a vision of Jesus standing at the altar of Heaven, and He told him that Miller was correct about the time that Jesus would return, but was wrong about the place. He believed that Jesus was not to return to earth, but move into a heavenly sanctuary, which he found by reading Chapter 8 in the Book of Hebrews.
Edson, brought his views to local Adventists, two of them, O.R.L Crosier (1820-1912) and Franklin B. Hahn (1809-1866), began studying the Scriptures and published their beliefs in a paper called, Day-Dawn. This paper was written based on the Biblical parable that Jesus gave of the Ten Virgins and attempted to explain why the bridegroom (Jesus) had delayed in coming back.
This paper led to their belief in the sanctuary in Heaven. Their paper explained how there was a sanctuary in heaven, that Christ, the High Priest, was to cleanse. The believers understood this cleansing to be what the 2300 days in Daniel was referring to in Chapter 8 of the Book of Daniel. This led to another movement, the Seventh-day Adventist movement.
Joseph Bates (1792-1872), After October 22, 1844, like many other Millerites, Bates sought meaning out of what happened during the Great Disappointment. During the spring of 1845, Bates upon reading a pamphlet written by T.M. Preble (1810-1907), a Freewill Baptist minister of New Hampshire, and Millerite preacher who moved people away from worshiping God on Sunday, believed his theory on worshiping God on Saturday’s as opposed to Sunday. Bates soon became known as the “apostle of the Sabbath” and wrote several booklets about the Sabbath. One of the first, published in 1846, was entitled The Seventh Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign.
Rachel Oakes Preston, living in New Hampshire was responsible for introducing the Sabbath to the Millerite Adventists. Due to her influence, Frederick Wheeler, a local Methodist-Adventist preacher, began keeping the seventh day as Sabbath, probably in the early spring of 1844. Several members of the Washington, New Hampshire church also followed his decision. These included William and Cyrus Farnsworth, and T. M. Preble.
Bates, then began to promote the idea of Jesus moving into the heavenly sanctuary. His booklet greatly influenced James (1821-1881) and Ellen White (1827-1915). This apocalyptic understanding of theology would become known as the Great Controversy theme. It is these three who were the driving force behind the Seventh Day Adventist movement.
Ellen G. White (1827–1915), while holding no official role, was a dominant personality. She, along with her husband, James White, and Joseph Bates, moved the denomination to a concentration on missionary and medical work. Mission and medical work continues to play a central role in the 21st century.
Numerous reports state that Ellen saw visions from an early age of a narrow path where an angel was guiding Adventists. Subsequent visions resulted in interpretations of the three angels in Rev. 14:6-11 as being 1843-1844 as the hour of God’s judgment; the fall of Babylon signified by Adventists leaving various churches, and admonitions against Sunday worship.
Under White’s guidance the denomination in the 1870s turned to missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 1880, rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members by 1901. By this time, they operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses.
1850, The paper which James White initially started, “The Present Truth”, combined with another periodical, the “Advent Review” become the “Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald”, still published as the “Adventist Review” today. This periodical became the main source of communication for the Sabbatarian Adventist movement regarding points of doctrine and organization. It also became a venue for James and Ellen to quickly share their views to like-minded believers.
What Does The Church Believe?
According to adventist.com, Adventists hold 28 fundamental beliefs that can be organized into six categories—the doctrines of God, man, salvation, the church, the Christian life and last day events. In each teaching, God is the architect, who in wisdom, grace and infinite love, is restoring a relationship with humanity that will last for eternity.
God; Who is God? God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one, all-knowing yet all-forgiving. Humanity; A BROKEN BEAUTY From neurons to nebulae, DNA to distant galaxies, we are surrounded by wonder. Yet the beauty is broken. Genesis tells us that a loving God split light from darkness and land from water, setting life in motion and sculpting the first human from clay. Genesis describes God’s joy and satisfaction in His creation.
Salvation; DISRUPTED HARMONY Once, all creation sang the same glorious song. Disharmony erupted when a once-perfect being abused his God-given freedom. Satan “the accuser” chose self-centered and slander over truth and love. Satan claimed that God is not fair, that He’s harsh and controlling, depriving others of what they deserve. Church; WE ARE ONE BODY Jesus left His followers with an epic mission: to tell the world of His love and His promise to return. They should also love people the way He loved them. Entrusting humans with His message was a bold and risky move, even though God knew people would often fail Him.
Living; CREATED FOR A WHOLE LIFE God’s law in the Ten Commandments show us how to live and make clear our need for Jesus. Though the law shows us the path to follow and convicts us of sin, it’s about far more than just toeing the line. The commandment’s principles outline a holistic relationship with God. Restoration; LOVE RESTORED From the Garden of Eden to the Tower of Babel, the destruction of Sodom to the Exodus from Egypt, God has always investigated before taking action. Now, before His return, Jesus is investigating the lives of everyone who ever lived, revealing the choices that led to salvation or destruction.
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary.
In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.
In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligence’s who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection.
It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
God is not a mystery, He reveals Himself only to those who not only believe in Him, receive Him as their own. And now we do that now through Jesus Christ. “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” – Ephesians 1:9-10.
God did create man on the final and sixth day that He created the heavens and earth, from the dust. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” – Genesis 2:7. We were created in His image, and for His purpose. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” – Genesis 1:27,31.
Satan had, and always has one agenda, to be God, and because God cast him out of heaven. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15.
Satan took his anger out on God’s with His most valuable creation, mankind. And he did this by introducing his own sinful nature to man, passing that down to man. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” – Genesis 3:1-6.
Jesus is not in some special part of heaven, He is at the right hand of the Father,“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” – Acts 2:32-33. While Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, He watching over and making intercession for those who belong to Him until He returns. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” – Romans 8:34.
NO one knows when Jesus will return, not even Jesus, we are given signs to look out for so that we can be prepared for His coming, but there is absolutely no amount of playing with the numbers written in the Book of Daniel that indicate the actual date of His return. “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” – Matthew 24:34-37.
About Sin:
ONCE MOLDED IN GOD’S IMAGE, NOW FRACTURED BY SIN, IT TOOK A PERFECT SAVIOR TO RECONCILE US. THE SPIRIT RESTORES GOD’S REFLECTION WITHIN US SO GOD CAN WORK THROUGH US.
Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and freedom to think and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent upon God for life and breath and all else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon Him and fell from their high position. The image of God in them was marred and they became subject to death. Their descendants share this fallen nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies to evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself and by His Spirit restores in penitent mortals the image of their Maker. Created for the glory of God, they are called to love Him and one another, and to care for their environment.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
All mankind is created in the image of God, meaning we are the only living beings that were created with a soul, mind, and spirit. And unlike animal creatures, we are able to make choices of our own freewill. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” – Genesis 1:27.
When God created man, He began with Adam and Eve, He gave them one command, and if they did not obey that command it would bring death. Not a physical death, a spiritual, meaning He took would take His Spirit from their soul. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” – Genesis 2:7-9,16-17.
Adam and Eve, disobeyed that command, which led to God sending a curse to all their offspring, and that is death, but God had a plan, even then, that allowed man to come willingly to Him to be saved from the curse. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:6-7,13-15.
About The Bible:
The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. The inspired authors spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to humanity the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history. (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20, 21.)
What Does The Bible Say About This?
The Bible is the Word of God, penned down by Holy Spirit inspired men for the sake of all mankind to know how they can worship God as He commands, not in their own eyes. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” – II Timothy 3:16-17.
About Jesus:
God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly human, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God’s power and was attested as God’s promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
Jesus is in fact, the incarnate Son of God, the promised Messiah, God Himself, who was born of the virgin Mary, to fulfill the Law. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” – Matthew 5:17-18.
Yes, tempted at all points such as we, Jesus remained sinless, died on the cross, and resurrect three days later to give eternal salvation to all who believe and accept Him. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16.
Jesus is not in some sanctuary awaiting His return, He is sitting at the right hand of God. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56.
While He awaits God, the Father’s command to go get His children, Jesus is acting as our intercessor. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” – Romans 8:34.
About Salvation:
Disharmony erupted when a once-perfect being abused his God-given freedom. Satan “the accuser” chose self-centeredness and slander over truth and love. Satan claimed that God is not fair, that He’s harsh and controlling, depriving others of what they deserve. Satan’s deception convinced a third of heaven’s angels, whom God expelled from heaven. Satan claimed rulership of our planet when he swindled its first couple, Adam and Eve, making them doubt God’s trustworthiness and love. That first sin distorted God’s image in us, twisting the world in on itself and threatening its self-destruction. The universe watched to see God’s response to Satan’s accusations.
How strong is God’s love? Jesus’ self-sacrificing death showed that God is willing to pay the incalculable cost of our sins. His sacrifice unmasked the true horror of sin and made clear that God can be trusted. Why did Jesus’ death make such a difference? Because Jesus lived the perfect life that we’ve each failed to achieve and he died the death we each deserve. The result: We can live for Him, now and forever. Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to a perfect God while transforming our hearts. The Holy Spirit shows us our need for God and assures us that we are saved and forgiven. The Spirit writes a new script in our hearts, empowering us to live in freedom, service and joy. God treats us as if we had never sinned, never doubted, never gone our own way. The same Jesus who subdued demons during His life declared victory over all evil powers at His death. Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that death itself will die. Our new life in Jesus frees us from the fear of death and the shame of our past.
As we connect with Jesus, the Holy Spirit calms our hearts and transforms our outlook. Our spiritual life grows as we talk with God, ponder His Word, share our faith and worship through music and fellowship.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
First of all, Satan did not claim that God is unfair, he was first in command next to God, He wanted to be God. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15.
Second, he did not claim ruler ship over the earth, God cast him and one third of the angels that followed him out of heaven and to the earth. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” – Revelation 12:7-9.
It was out of pure vengeance that he went after the one creation that God created in His image, man, and we fell right into his trap because we are naturally born with the tendency to want to sin, we learned that from Adam and Eve. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Romans 3:10-12.
And while God does allow Satan His creation, He does not allow him to have complete control. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” – Job 1:12.
Third, Jesus did give His sinless life to pay for our sin, and He arose on the third day to abolish the curse of death once and for all who believe. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” – Galatians 3:13.
And yes, when we receive Christ as our Saviour, we are forgiven of every sin, it is never to be remembered as when He sees us, He sees His Son in our place. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” – Colossians 2:12-14.
About The Trinity:
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
God is one God in the form of three persons, God; the Father, Jesus; the Son, and God; The Holy Spirit. We also known Him as Father, Word, and Holy Ghost. “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – I John 5:6-7.
About Heaven:
Adventists do not believe that people go to Heaven or Hell when they die. They believe that the dead remain unconscious until the return of Christ in judgment. This doctrine was formulated in the middle of the 19th century and enabled the movement to argue against spiritualism, which had become very popular at that time. Adventists taught that since the dead stayed dead until the resurrection, which hadn’t occurred, there was no surviving soul or spirit for the spiritualist mediums to contact, and therefore, the spiritualists were simply peddling superstition.
Adventists sometimes use the term “conditional immortality”. This means that all human beings are mortals and die at the end of their life. But human beings who give their life to Christ will find that they are eventually resurrected to a new and immortal life. Sinners and unbelievers will ultimately die for eternity.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
All who are saved through Christ are taken directly into heaven, while their bodies are sleeping. When Christ returns, their bodies will resurrect and reunite with their soul as it comes down from heaven. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – I Thessalonians 4:13-17.
All who are not saved are taken directly to hell, while their bodies are sleeping. After Christ reigns on earth for a thousand years, that is when judgment begins for the unsaved, they will face Christ a second time, then be cast into the lake of fire, along with Satan. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” – Revelation 20:10-14.
About Baptism:
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings.
What Does The Bible Say About This?
Baptism is a public profession of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Baptism does not give us the Holy Spirit, we are baptized with the Holy Spirit the second we accept Christ as our Saviour. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” – Colossians 2:12-13.
Once we are saved, unless we renounce our faith in Him, we cannot lose our salvation, and we cannot lose the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Of course, living a sinful life hinders His presence as we are not allowing Him to work in and through us, but the only thing that will take away anyone’s salvation is if they stopped believing that Christ alone is their salvation. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” – I Peter 3:17-18.
“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” – Colossians 1:22-23.
Resources: adventist.org, carm.org, Encyclopedia Britannica