The Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded by Ellen G. White in the 19th century, claims to preach the Gospel. Upon closer examination, its doctrinal foundation relies not solely on Christ but on a blend of law and grace, which undermines the completed works of salvation on the Cross. (Galatians 2:21: I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”). As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem” (John 4:21). The same principle applies today to those who are still bound to the Old Covenant—such as the Adventists who idolize the Sabbath rather than submitting to Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8, For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.).
Below are 20 biblical reasons the SDA Church does not reflect true born-again Christianity and instead promotes a works-based gospel, which Paul warns is “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9).
1. They Preach a Different Gospel
Galatians 1:6–9 – Paul warns about “another gospel,” which is no gospel at all.
The Adventist gospel is not based solely on grace, but rather, it incorporates Sabbath-keeping and dietary laws as necessary for sanctification and final salvation.
2. They Reject the Finished Work of the Cross
John 19:30—Jesus said, “It is finished.”
However, Seventh-day Adventists believe in an “Investigative Judgment” that began in 1844, suggesting that Christ’s work remains unfinished and that believers face ongoing works-based judgment.
3. They Bind Believers to the Law of Moses
Galatians 3:10–13 – “All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.”
Adventists promote obedience to the Ten Commandments (particularly the Sabbath) as a standard for righteousness, ignoring that Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4).
4. They Deny the New Covenant in Practice
Hebrews 8:13—”By calling this covenant ‘new,’ He has made the first one obsolete.”
SDA theology holds tightly to the Old Covenant law, indicating that they have not fully embraced the New Covenant sealed in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20).
5. They Worship the Sabbath Instead of Christ
Colossians 2:16-17—”Do not let anyone judge you… Regarding a Sabbath day.”
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9-10), yet SDAs elevate a day above the Person of Christ.
6. They Do Not Believe in Eternal Security
John 10:28-29—”No one will snatch them out of my hand.”
SDAs teach that salvation can be lost, which makes it dependent on human effort rather than Christ’s finished work.
7. They Promote Dietary Laws and Food Restrictions
1 Timothy 4:1 3 – “They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods.”
Ellen G. White taught vegetarianism as a moral and spiritual requirement, contrary to Mark 7:19, where Jesus “declared all foods clean.”
8. They Hold Ellen G. White as a Prophetess Equal to Scripture
Revelation 22:18-19 – Do not add to or subtract from the Word.
SDAs elevate the writings of Ellen White, thereby violating Sola Scriptura and attributing divine authority to her teachings.
9. They Teach Soul Sleep (Annihilationism)
Philippians 1:23 – Paul says, “To depart and be with Christ is far better.”
SDAs deny the conscious existence of the soul after death, contradicting Luke 16:19–31, where the rich man is conscious in Hades.
10. They Deny Hell as Eternal Punishment
Matthew 25:46—”These will go away into eternal punishment.”
SDAs teach annihilation—that the wicked cease to exist—rejecting the plain teaching of eternal separation from God.
11. They Require Sabbath Observance for End-Time Salvation
Romans 14:5-6 – One man esteems one day above another; another esteems all days alike.
The SDA Church teaches that keeping the Sabbath will be the final test of loyalty, essentially making salvation contingent on law-keeping.
12. They Misinterpret Prophecy to Fit Their Agenda
2 Peter 1:20—”No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s interpretation.”
Scripture does not support the 1844 prophecy that Christ entered a new phase of judgment, making it a false interpretation.
13. They Undermine the Deity and Work of Christ
Hebrews 1:3—Christ “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Their “Investigative Judgment” implies Christ is still ministering for sin, contradicting the finality of His priestly work.
14. They Promote Legalism over Grace
Galatians 5:4—”You who are trying to justify yourselves by the law have alienated yourselves from Christ.”
SDA theology uses the law for sanctification and assurance; however, misinterpreting it may cause a fall from grace.
15. They Discourage Assurance of Salvation
1 John 5:13—”That you may know you have eternal life.”
SDA members frequently live in constant fear of losing their salvation, indicating a lack of complete trust in Christ alone.
16. They Are Cultic in Structure and Control
2 Corinthians 11:4—Paul warns about those who preach “another Jesus.”
The SDA Church is highly centralized, exalting Ellen G. White’s visions and teachings while controlling the interpretation of Scripture.
17. They Obscure the Simplicity of the Gospel
2 Corinthians 11:3 warns that your sincere and pure devotion to Christ may lead your minds astray.
By adding requirements like Sabbath-keeping, dietary restrictions, and investigative judgment, they complicate the Gospel.
18. They Ignore Jesus’ Teachings on Worship, Freedom
John 4:21-24—”A time is coming when you will worship the Father… in spirit and truth.”
Jesus prophesied the end of location-based and ritual-based worship. SDA’s focus on the seventh day contradicts the New Covenant concept of liberty.
19. The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church teaches that believers can attain salvation through their obedience.
Titus 3:5—”He saved us, not by the works of righteousness we have done, but according to His mercy.”
The SDA’s emphasis on obedience and performance makes salvation partly man-centered.
20. They Are Not Recognized as Orthodox by the Historic Church
Acts 2:42 – The apostles’ doctrine is the standard.
The SDA movement emerged over 1800 years after the apostolic church, introducing new doctrines not taught by Jesus or His apostles.
Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath
Matthew 12:8—”For “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9–11). Those in Christ cease from their works, entering His rest through faith. The Adventist emphasis on keeping a literal Sabbath day demonstrates their misunderstanding of what Christ accomplished on the Cross.
Final Thoughts: SDA as a Non-Mainstream, Legalistic Sect
The SDA Church claims to uphold the Bible, but its foundation is not the Gospel of Christ. It teaches conditional salvation dependent upon human effort, Sabbath observance, food laws, and the teachings of Ellen G. White. These are hallmarks of a cult, not biblical Christianity.
Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Yet the SDA Church keeps its members in bondage to laws, rules, and fear of losing salvation. The Holy Spirit regenerates believers, making them new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), and leads them into truth, not into the shadows of Old Covenant rituals.
True salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, not Christ plus Sabbath, not Christ plus diet, and not Christ plus a prophetess. The SDA Church may use Christian vocabulary, but it does not preach the biblical Gospel. Therefore, it deviates from mainstream Christianity, resembling a legalistic sect more than a genuine community of believers.
Key Scriptures Summary
- Ephesians 2:8–9 – Salvation by grace through faith
- Galatians 2:16, 3:10, 5:4 – Justification not by the law
- Colossians 2:16–17–Freedom from Sabbath judgment
- John 19:30–”It is finished”
- Hebrews 10:10–14–Once for all sacrifice
- 1 Timothy 4:1–3–Doctrines of demons: abstaining from foods
- 2 Corinthians 11:3–4 – Another gospel, another Jesus
- Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness
- Matthew 12:8 – Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
- John 4:21–24 – Worship in spirit and truth
- 2 Peter 1:20 – No private interpretation
- Revelation 22:18–19 – Do not add or subtract from God’s Word
If you are currently in the SDA Church, the Lord Jesus invites you to come out of bondage and enter into His rest—not on a Saturday, but forever in Him (Matthew 11:28–30). He alone saves, and He alone is worthy.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” — Galatians 5:1
