Christ “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:9-13).

Down the centuries the truth has suffered a sad history in the hands of its keepers.

“As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.”-The Desire of Ages, p. 232.

“The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner’s peace. Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, or honorary titles, they were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known.”-The Great Controversy, p. 46.

Overcome with anguish and grief, the early Christians saw that various forms of paganism were invading the church. For some time they sought to correct these evils, but to no avail.

“After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.

“Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people. There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, these are not of vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ.”-Ibid., pp. 45, 46.

Hidden in the mountains in different lands, small bands of faithful believers kept the truth alive until God aroused the Protestant Reformation.

Jehovah used the descendants of the sixteenth century Reformers to promote a great religious awakening in the early 1800’s. At that time, many were engaged in preaching the second advent message. William Miller, a Baptist preacher in America, became prominent for his teachings on the end-time prophecies. His messages influenced many Christians to a point that about fifty thousand left the churches in the summer of 1844 with the purpose of preparing for the immediate coming of Christ expected to occur near the end of that year.

After the disappointment, a small group of these people gathered together in Albany, NY, in 1845, to search the word of God for clearer understanding. Some of these believers received new light from the Lord and, in 1861, they began to organize themselves, covenanting to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). These became known as Seventh-day Adventists.

Repeated appeals for repentance and conversion were continually presented to the Advent believers (Acts 3:19). As a preparation for the coming of Christ, a reformation began to take place by the presentation of the message of Christ Our Righteousness in 1888. This reformation came into the open during World War I (1914-1918), when many faithful Adventists stood up in defense of the law of God and the faith of Jesus and were consequently disfellowshiped from the church they loved.

In 1925, these conscientious objectors and faithful believers came together from 16 countries and organized themselves with the purpose of following the counsel of the Faithful and True Witness in Revelation 3:18-20. It is by our daily transactions of life and the spirit we manifest toward this message that our eternal destiny is determined.

Since that time from that nucleus, we have distinguished ourselves both from the mainstream Adventist body and from many other branches of Adventism by the use of the name Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, based on the prophesied reformation (6T 119).

In publishing this book, Fundamental Christian Beliefs of the SDA Reform Movement, we are in no way formulating a man-made creed based on human tradition. Our main purpose is to turn the attention of truth-hungry souls to Jesus, our personal Saviour, in the hope that they will accept His word in its entirety as the foundation of their faith. Therefore, in this publication we are making known the basic doctrines found in the Bible, for which all true followers of Christ should be prepared to give a reason “to every man that asketh” (1 Peter 3:15).

We maintain that all doctrines must be tested by a “Thus saith the Lord.” “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Therefore, we use the Bible as the sole rule of our faith and practice. By the Word of God we are to be judged. “The Word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind, and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it” (Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 31).
“God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. . . . Satan is constantly endeavouring to attract attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his will.”-The Great Controversy, p. 595.

“The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner’s peace. Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, or honorary titles, they were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known.”-Ibid., p. 46.

It is imperative that we accept the teaching of scriptures and submit our will to the revealed will of God (John 7:7; James 4:7). By the complete surrender of our will, we obtain strength to overcome sin and darkness in this world (2 Peter 1:4).
In His Word, God has promised to give visions in the last days (Acts 2:17, 18), not for a new rule of faith, but for the enlightenment of His people and for correcting those who err from Bible truth (cf. Early Writings, p. 78).

We also use the writings of E. G. White for the following reason:

“The Lord designs to warn you, to reprove, to counsel, through the testimonies given, and to impress your minds with the importance of the truth of His word. The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed. Man’s duty to God and to his fellowman has been distinctly specified in God’s word, yet but few of you are obedient to the light given. Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given and in His own chosen way brought them before the people to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse.”-Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 605.

John Robinson, the pastor of the Pilgrims coming to America, made the following appeal to his flock as they were about to embark on their journey:

“‘Remember your church covenant, in which you have agreed to walk in all the ways of the Lord, made or to be made known unto you. Remember your promise and covenant with God and with one another, to receive whatever light and truth shall be made known to you from His written word; but withal, take heed, I beseech you, what you receive for truth, and compare it and weigh it with other scriptures or truth before you accept it.'”-The Great Controversy, p. 292.

The appeal of John Robinson is valid also today for all of us who want to be prepared for the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we all pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be with us as we make these Fundamental Christian Beliefs of the SDA Reform Movement the object of our earnest study!

The GC Doctrinal Council