Key Doctrinal Heresies of the SDA Church

by | Posted May 10th at 8:06am

As we seek to follow only the wisdom and enlightenment of our Lord, I want to note that we love Seventh-day Adventists, and hereby ponder the Word of Christ by whom Truth alone is known: In John 17:19, Jesus states, “For their sakes I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Seventh-day Adventism (SDA) holds several doctrines that are considered heretical by both Reformed and Orthodox Christian traditions. Truth made known by Christ’s Spirit offers us purification — Sanctification by His Truth – Scripture without compromise. All true doctrine is delineated and cross-referenced only by The Sharper and most Active Word of God. Praise be to Jesus Christ our Lord! Glory alone be to Him as we weigh the Truth.

Doctrinal Heresies of Seventh-day Adventism Rejected by Reformed and Orthodox Christianity

Seventh-day Adventism (SDA) holds several doctrines that are considered heretical by both Reformed and Orthodox Christian traditions. Many of these teachings are rooted in, or were confirmed by, the prophetic claims and writings of Ellen G. White, who is regarded within Adventism as having divinely inspired authority. ¹ 

Key Doctrinal Heresies

1. Justification by Faith Plus Works (Denial of Sola Fide)

• SDA teaches that salvation is not by faith alone but requires obedience to the law, particularly the Ten Commandments, for final justification. This is a hybrid system where one’s works play a role in determining ultimate salvation, which contradicts the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide). ² 
• Ellen G. White’s writings, especially in The Great Controversy, reinforce the necessity of perfect obedience and suggest that only those who demonstrate this will be saved. She also falsely stated that we must be able to perfectly obey God, in a sinless condition, able to stand in the Final Judgment without our Mediator ³ — Christ the Lord — who is our High Priest– continually intercedes on our behalf! (Romans 8:34, 27; Hebrews 7:25)

2. Investigative Judgment

• SDA uniquely teaches that since 1844, Christ has been conducting an “investigative judgment” in heaven, reviewing the lives of believers to determine their worthiness for salvation. This doctrine is absent from historic Christianity and is rejected as unbiblical by both Reformed and Orthodox traditions. ⁴ 
• Ellen G. White was instrumental in confirming and promoting this doctrine through her visions, which were used to settle doctrinal disputes among early Adventists. ⁵ 

3. The Nature and Person of Christ

• Adventist theology has historically taught that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, a created being exalted to equality with God, and that Christ took on a fallen, sinful human nature and could have sinned (peccability). These views deviate from orthodox Christology, which affirms the eternal deity and impeccability of Christ. ⁶ 
• Ellen G. White’s writings have contributed to these views, especially the identification of Jesus with Michael the Archangel. ⁷ 

4. The Trinity

• While contemporary SDA statements use the term “Trinity,” their understanding often diverges from the orthodox doctrine. Adventist teaching sometimes presents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate beings united in purpose rather than being one in essence, which is closer to Tritheism or Monarchianism than orthodox Trinitarianism. ⁸ 
• The Adventist view of the Holy Spirit as a conscious person developed only decades after the movement’s founding, partly under the influence of Ellen G. White. ⁹ 

5. Soul Sleep and Conditional Immortality

• SDA teaches “soul sleep” (the dead are unconscious until the resurrection) and “conditional immortality” (the wicked are annihilated rather than eternally punished). Both views are rejected by Reformed and Orthodox Christianity, which affirm the conscious existence of the soul after death and the eternal punishment of the wicked. ¹⁰  

6. Satan as the Scapegoat

• Adventism teaches that Satan, not Christ, will ultimately bear the sins of the redeemed as the “scapegoat” (Azazel) in the final judgment. This contradicts the biblical teaching that Christ alone bore our sins. ¹¹  

7. Sabbath Observance as a Test of Salvation

• SDA elevates Saturday Sabbath observance to a test of faith and a sign of the true church, implying that Sunday worship is a mark of apostasy. This is contrary to the New Testament teaching that regards Sabbath observance as a matter of Christian liberty. ¹² 

The Influence of Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White was the principal founder and prophetic authority of the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Her visions and writings were considered the final arbiter in doctrinal disputes and were used to confirm or correct the movement’s teachings when consensus could not be reached. And from this perspective, Ellen G. White, though long-deceased, has stood in the way of SDA reform through her perpetuating delusional influence; moreover her insistence that her views were advancing Scriptual understanding, like no other denomination was privy to. ¹³ Her book, The Great Controversy, is central to Adventist theology, shaping its unique doctrines, such as the investigative judgment, perfectionism, and the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. ¹⁴ 

White’s influence is evident in the following ways:

• She provided prophetic validation for doctrines not found in Scripture or historic Christianity, such as the investigative judgment and the role of Satan as scapegoat. ¹⁵
• Her teachings on perfectionism and obedience to the law as necessary for salvation underpin the SDA rejection of justification by faith alone. ¹⁶ 
• Her identification of Jesus as Michael the Archangel and her evolving views on the Trinity influenced Adventist Christology and theology of God.¹⁷ 

Summary Table

Ellen G. White’s prophetic authority was the linchpin for these doctrinal developments, and her influence remains central to Adventist identity and theology. ¹⁸ These teachings are why Reformed and Orthodox Christianity reject Seventh-day Adventism as outside the bounds of historic Christian orthodoxy.

^{1 Answering Adventism}

^{2 Ibid}

^{3 Life Assurance Ministries}

^{4 GotQuestions.org}

^{5 Answering Adventism}

^{6 Ibid}

^{7 GotQuestions.org}

^{8 Answering Adventism}

^{9 Ibid}

^{10  Grace Church (John MacArthur)}

^{11  Ibid}

^{12 GotQuestions.org}

^{3 Answering Adventism}

^{14 Life Assurance Ministries}

^{15 Answering Adventism}

^{16 Life Assurance Ministries}

^{17 Answering Adventism}

^{18 Ibid}

Article posted by Glen R. Jackman, founder of GraceProclaimed.org

Glen has optimized his eldership role to teach the full scope of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ without boundaries.
You can read his testimony.